The Sailors’ Society’s 200th anniversary celebrations continued with the annual ING wine-tasting evening, during which tributes were paid to pastor Joseph Chacko and his wife, Leena, who both died in a road accident earlier this year.
Joseph was the society’s regional superintendent for India and his vision — during his lifetime — was to see a seafarers’ centre in every port.
Sailors’ Society chief executive Stuart Rivers said to help fulfil that dream, the Joseph Chacko Memorial Fund had been launched with the aim of raising an initial $130,000.
It will be used to fund the society’s work across India, where it is estimated that 70% of seafarers arriving in the country are unable to get shore passes and access local amenities.
It intends to build a seafarers’ centre in the port of Haldia in Joseph’s name. Money raised will also help to fund other projects in India, where the society has seven port chaplains.
Contributions can be made at www.sailors-society.org/joseph
Rivers said Joseph had a “massive vision for the welfare of seafarers and the work we could do to help them”, and one way to celebrate his life was to “continue to pursue his vision”.
Among the society’s biggest supporters is ING, which hosts the annual wine-tasting event at its London headquarters in the City.
Rivers said the bank had raised more than £16,000 ($20,800) over the years and, in recognition of this, he presented ING ship-finance managing director David Grant with a certificate of support.
A new supporter of the society is Cosco Shipping (UK) Co, whose chief executive Wang Gang attended the wine-tasting evening.
Also present were Jiacheng Shi and Hu Bin of Sinochem, and Chinese charter Unipec was also represented.
As a former committee director with the China Shipowners’ Association, Wang told TradeWinds that he was well aware of the problems faced by some Chinese seafarers and felt the society had a role to play in helping them.
Expert sommelier Richard Yates of Ellis Wines guided the approximately 50 guests through four white and four red wines sourced from countries where the society operates.
