Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines supports Filipino crew members affected by ‘Super Typhoon Haiyan’

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is taking urgent action to support those of its Filipino crew members who have been affected by the terrible impacts of ‘Super Typhoon Haiyan’ upon their homes and families.

The majority of Fred. Olsen’s crew aboard its four cruise ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch – are from the Philippines. Many have family and friends who have been affected by the recent flooding and devastation caused by ‘Super Typhoon Haiyan’ – one of the most powerful storms ever to make landfall – and have seen their homes and belongings destroyed, and many families left homeless and some, sadly, feared lost.

Fred. Olsen is facilitating the return home of a number of staff from the most devastated areas in the Philippines, and is sending a sizeable donation to its crewing agent in the region – Bahia Shipping – to distribute to families in urgent need of help.

A number of Fred. Olsen customers, past and present, have also expressed their concern and asked how they can help. In response, the cruise line is establishing a fund to help victims related to its crew members, and donations will be distributed through its crewing agent. Those guests currently on board Fred. Olsen’s ships can contribute through their onboard cabin accounts by completing a donation slip and returning it to Reception; cheques can also be made out to ‘Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ and sent to Deborah Moore, Accounts Department, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Fred. Olsen House, White House Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 5LL, United Kingdom. 

Mike Rodwell, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

"This is a very worrying time for many of our crew, with families in the Philippines, and we are offering them as much support as we can at this extremely difficult time.

“As a company, we want to do as much as possible to help those of our seafarers and their families who are most in need, and we are all very touched by the concern shown by so many of our guests for the crew and their loved ones."

Fred. Olsen is also co-ordinating activities and events amongst its staff at its Headquarters in Ipswich, Suffolk, to raise desperately-needed funds.