The vital role of seafarer welfare services in the United Arab Emirates and the importance of women in the maritime industry were celebrated by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, the President of The Mission to Seafarers, on her recent visit to Dubai.
Her Royal Highness took part in a number of engagements including a tour of DP World’s Jebel Ali Port. This was followed by a conference on seafarer welfare, jointly hosted by The Mission to Seafarers (MtS), DP World and WISTA UAE, in conjunction with Stephenson Harwood. The day concluded with a dinner at the One&Only Royal Mirage Hotel, attended by many leading supporters and potential sponsors of the Mission.
At Jebel Ali Port, the Princess was given a tour of Box Bay, an innovative solution for handling containers, and met with the Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. The Princess went on to visit DP World Headquarters, where she also met several members of the MtS Dubai-based welfare team, who explained more about their work to support seafarers calling at ports in the UAE.
The Princess then joined a conference on Women in Shipping and Seafarers’ Welfare, held at the DP World Expo Centre. The event featured two panels, the first on seafarer wellbeing and increasing female participation in shipping, and the second on attracting and retaining the next generation of female seafarers.
The Princess delivered a speech to delegates, where she highlighted the contribution that women can make in tackling the global crew shortage and the importance of ensuring that women in shipping are listened to and supported. The Princess also met with WISTA UAE Ambassadors, including Rania Tadros, President of WISTA UAE and Managing Partner of Stephenson Harwood in Dubai, as well as other members of the MtS Welfare team in Dubai.
The day concluded with a dinner at the One&Only Royal Mirage Hotel for senior leaders from across the shipping industry and the wider business community, as well as the British Ambassador and the Consul General. Her Royal Highness spoke of the work of the Mission to Seafarers in Dubai and globally, reminding guests how much we continue to depend on seafarers, and how they in turn need our sustained support. The Revd Canon Andrew Wright, Secretary General of the MtS, thanked attendees for their support for the vital work of the Mission in the UAE.
Speaking after the event, Andrew Wright, Secretary-General of The Mission to Seafarers, said: “Today’s visit by our President, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, has shone a deserved spotlight on the longstanding service of The Mission To Seafarers in the UAE. Significant advances have been made in seafarer welfare in the UAE and we are grateful to everyone that has played a part in this, from our volunteers and supporters to the government and maritime authorities.
Rania Tadros added: “It was truly an honour for WISTA UAE to join forces with the Mission to Seafarers and DP World, supported by Stephenson Harwood, for this significant event to discuss the invaluable contributions of female seafarers to global trade. Prioritising their welfare, we are dedicated to ensuring their well-being and fostering greater female participation in the maritime sector.”
This event also marked a significant milestone as WISTA UAE signed Memoranda of Understanding with both the Mission to Seafarers and the Nautical Institute to further support individuals throughout the maritime industry.
The post HRH The Princess Royal visits Dubai for Mission to Seafarers appeared first on Latest Maritime & Shipping News Online – The Maritime Standard.