Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) distributed Christmas gift boxes
While one gave free internet, another collaborated with shipping lines to honour seafarers this holiday season. WISTA members and friends converged at Bermuda Sailors Home to prepare festive boxes for seafarers.
WISTA’s Christmas hat trick
This is WISTA’s third successive year of spreading the festive joy with crew. A spokesperson said, “WISTA Bermuda started hosting the annual shoebox gift wrap social in 2019 with seniors being the initial beneficiaries.” Cheryl Hayward-Chew, WISTA’s Director added, “While each link in Bermuda’s supply chain is critical, 3 dedicated cargo carriers provided the lifeline between our local and global economy. Therefore it was meaningful to present gifts of toiletries to the crew – items that we take for granted and brought to our shores by their labour.”
Items were donated by Butterfield and Vallis, BGA, Janice Gutteridge and other WISTA members, and assembled by the WISTA team, comprising President Angelique Burgess; Directors Cheryl Hayward-Chew, Heather Cooper, Carmen Tucker, Donnelle Swan; Secretary Jennie Kelly; Members Laura Blee-DeFrais, Chamaigne Dill, Wendy Percy and Linnell William.
The spokesperson added, “Seafaring is synonymous with extreme weather, long contracts, limited crew changes, restricted shore leave, minimal medical care, lack of connectivity and isolation from loved ones. These subject seafarers to heightened stress and anxiety – which only magnified during the pandemic. These boxes will hopefully help the seafarers weather the long days at sea. The gift boxes were hand delivered to the crew onboard the MV Somers Isle, MV Bermuda Islander and MV Oleander by WISTA members and representatives of each of the three lines.”
Burgess remarked, “Seafarers were unable to disembark due to strict COVID-19 restrictions, it was agreed to gear the Christmas gift bags to the crew onboard the 3 cargo lines that service Bermuda as an appreciation.” The spokesperson highlighted, “We are delighted to be supported by the 3 cargo lines. Managements of Bermuda Container Line, Bermuda International Shipping Ltd and Somers Isles Shipping Ltd, expressed appreciation to WISTA for recognising their crew. While all are enjoying time with friends and family, the crew onboard would be spending their Christmas crossing the Atlantic. WISTA Bermuda is pleased to have played a small part among individuals, organisations, and industry players in this initiative.”
Crewing Online News Team
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