Port of Larne Post
Port of Larne Post
Port of Larne Post
Merchant Navy Day 2017
1 September 2017
Red Ensign raised for Merchant Navy Day
The Red Ensign flag was raised by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Port of Larne and P&O Ferries on Friday to mark Merchant Navy Day.
Merchant Navy Day falls on Sunday and raises awareness of the UK’s ongoing dependence on Merchant Navy seafarers.
Deputy Lord Lieutenant of County Antrim, Liam Kelly, Larne Port Harbour Master Antony Van Damme and Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Paul Reid were joined by invited guests and members of the public in a short ceremony at Larne Port.
The flag was also flown at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s four main offices in Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus.
This was to support 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 flagpoles.
Councillor Paul Reid, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough said: “As a Borough steeped in maritime history and home to one of Northern Ireland’s biggest ports, we have always depended on merchant seafarers to defend our shores and import vital food and fuel.
“We’re pleased to be supporting the ‘Fly the Red Ensign for Merchant Navy Day’ in honour of the merchant seafarers who have made the ultimate sacrifice throughout our history.”
In the First and Second World Wars nearly 15,000 merchant seafarers were killed.
Larne Harbour Master Anthony Van Damme added, “We are delighted to be supporting the Fly the Red Ensign for Merchant Navy Day again this year. The Day gives us an opportunity to not only remember seafarers of the past but to also look to the future. Larne Harbour continues to be a welcoming place for Seafarers and supports their welfare whilst carrying out this vital work.”
The UK relies on Merchant Navy seafarers for 95% of imports, including half our food. The UK has the largest ports industry in Europe. 75% of our exports (by volume) are shipped from UK ports.
Merchant Navy Day has been commemorated since 2000 on 3 September, the anniversary of the sinking of the SS Athenia, the first British merchant vessel lost during World War 2.
Seafarers UK is a leading grant-making charity that helps people in the maritime community, by providing vital funding to support seafarers in need and their families. www.merchantnavyfund.org/merchant-navy-day
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Irish Sea Marketing Acquisition Manager | Marketing & eCommerce
T: 02828 872194 M: 07917 335 724 E: joanna.walsh@poferries.com
We would like to invite you to our Christmas Carol Service on
Thursday 12th December 2013 at 18.45
in the Passenger Terminal, Larne Harbour
Music: Magheramorne Silver Band
Choirs: Olderfleet and St. MacNissis Primary Schools
Refreshments will be served
Wishing you a Ferry Merry Christmas
The Larne-Troon service, with a crossing time of 1h 50 minutes complements the long-established Larne-Cairnryan route which offers crossing times of just one hour on the fast ferry service and 105 minutes on the superferries.
The Larne-Troon service is the only ferry service from Northern Ireland to Troon.
Short sea crossings and convenient sailing times have been a key to our successful fast ferry season. Our crossing times offer the widest choice of sailing times and are the only operator to sail to Troon and to offer a choice of two Scottish ports."
The Express will offer superb onboard facilities and also has greater capacity, carrying up to 195 vehicles and 850 passengers.
Mr Esler Scottish Services comments: "European Highlander and European Causeway which operate our Larne-Cairnryan service are exceptional ships with first-class onboard facilities and an excellent reliability record. The P&O Express will complement these ships perfectly and ensure that our customers can choose to speed across the Irish Sea on our fast craft or cruise the shortest crossing on our superferries, knowing that either way, they will enjoy an excellent service."