Accessibility.SkipToMainContent
Community

Quarantined Nautilus members run 200 miles around their rooms for charity

19 June 2020

Two Nautilus members under mandatory quarantine used their time waiting to join their next ship by fundraising – completing 200 miles in 10 days – all in just the small space of their hotel bedrooms.

Members Captain Steve Tindale and chief officer Tommy Weir joined another colleague second officer James Pine in the endeavour which has smashed it targets. The seafarers all work for Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) and were confined to their rooms in Equatorial Guinea on a mandatory quarantine period in May prior to joining their ships.

Rather than being restricted by their environments, however, the three dreamed big and took on the challenge to raise funds, to be split equally, between international maritime welfare charity Sailors' Society, Sailors' Children's Society and children in care charity Become.

Capt Tindale said: 'We were due to do a charity bike ride which was unfortunately cancelled because of the pandemic. We still wanted to do something, so came up with the idea of the run. Certainly, a bit more difficult when you are confined to a hotel bedroom!

'Being seafarers, we wanted to support Sailors' Society and all they do to help crews through their wellness and mental health work. SPO has made Sailors' Society's Wellness at Sea programme available to us all and we've found it really helpful.'

The trio created 'running tracks' by pushing furniture to the edges of their rooms and ran an incredible 5,600 laps each to complete their challenge.

Capt Tindale added: 'It was tough, but the challenge got a little bit easier each day and we changed direction frequently to keep the dizziness down. We've kept each other's spirits up with socially distanced meals between balconies, WhatsApp group chats, and a daily quarantine quiz!'

Melanie Warman, Sailors' Society's Director of Advocacy, said: 'It's wonderful that Steve, Tommy and James wanted to help their fellow seafarers. We are in absolute awe of them for doing this and honoured that Sailors' Society has been chosen as one of the beneficiaries.

'We're providing support to seafarers and their families across the world, many of whom have been impacted by COVID-19 and are under huge mental strain. This contribution towards our vital work is very gratefully received.'

Further donations are still welcome.


Tags

More articles

Community

Superyacht crew welfare toolkit fundraiser motors into life

Research highlighting mental health challenges faced by superyacht crew will soon result in a dedicated online yacht help 'toolkit' being created by the International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN).

  • News
  • 08 June 2020
International

Netherlands top country for crew changes as repatriations grind to a halt

The Netherlands was the top country for successful crew changes in May, with Port of Rotterdam enabling more crew transits than any other worldwide, according to data from the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

  • News
  • 17 June 2020
Health and safety

Health ministers have crucial role in facilitating crew changes in EU ports

The ministers for health of all EU Member States must do their part to ensure that crew changes, medical care and shore leave for seafarers happen in their ports, said the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) and the European Communities of Shipping Associations (ECSA).

  • News
  • 17 June 2020
Welfare

Connecting merchant and royal naval mariners and building friendships

Mariners Park residents are being encouraged to take part in a new free phone chat friendship project connecting retired Merchant Navy and Royal Navy seafarers in the UK.

  • News
  • 29 May 2020
Welfare

Free Relate counselling offered for UK seafarers

A new partnership between Seafarers UK and counselling agency Relate means seafarers and their families whose relationships are at stretching point from the stress of the coronavirus pandemic, can be referred for free relationship counselling.

  • News
  • 26 May 2020
Community

New Stella Maris rose reminder for charity's centenary year

As the 2020 RHS Chelsea Flower show goes virtual due to the Covid-19 pandemic, gardeners looking for plant inspiration are reminded they can still buy the new variety of rose developed for maritime welfare charity Stella Maris.

  • News
  • 18 May 2020
Community

Working with charities: no seafarer should feel alone, says master mariner befriender

  • Telegraph
  • 21 May 2020
Health and safety

Nautilus helps produce topical new guidance on seafarer wellbeing

  • Telegraph
  • 15 April 2020
Welfare

Life from a distance

  • Telegraph
  • 19 May 2020
Community

Working with charities: focus on crew wellness at ISWAN SeafarerHelp

  • Telegraph
  • 21 May 2020
Community

Working with charities: no seafarer should feel alone, says master mariner befriender

  • Telegraph
  • 21 May 2020