Thank you to seafarers on Merchant Navy Day 3 September
Posted on Wednesday 2nd September 2015
On Merchant Navy Day, Thursday 3 September, Newport City Council will fly the Red Ensign at Newport civic centre to raise awareness of the UK's on-going dependence on Merchant Navy seafarers.
At 10am on 3 September Newport City Council will hold a flag blessing and raising ceremony outside the main reception area of the civic centre. The service will be led by the Mayor's Chaplain, Reverend Canon Raymond Hayter, and will include a reading by the Mayor, Councillor Herbie J Thomas with the message from HRH The Earl of Wessex being read by The Vice Lord-Lieutenant for Gwent, Commodore Toby Elliott OBE RN.
The flag will be flown by Mr. Alan Speight of Newport Merchant Navy Association and representatives from various armed services will be in attendance as well as councillors and employees. Members of the public are welcome to join the occasion.
Newport is supporting a nationwide call from the Seafarers UK charity and the Merchant Navy Association for the UK Merchant Navy's official flag to be flown on public buildings and landmark flagstaffs.
As an 'island nation' the UK relies on Merchant Navy seafarers for 95 per cent of its imports, including half the food we eat. The UK has the largest ports industry in Europe. 75 per cent of our exports (by volume) are shipped from UK ports, some of which are supporting the campaign by encouraging visiting ships to sound their horns at 10am on 3 September.
www.merchantnavyfund.org/merchant-navy-day