ms@ms-sc.org

The Marine Society is the world's most enduring seafarers' charity. Founded in 1756, it is dedicated to the well-being, personal, and professional development of those who go to sea, delivering a range of well managed services that are appreciated by seafarers throughout the world.

The four main delivery channels are education/professional development, financial support, book/media services, and advice and guidance.

The Marine Society's learning provision is offered to all professional seafarers, irrespective of sea service, rank or rate; it caters for all levels of learning, covering all ages, abilities and aspirations. The society has encouraged, enabled and educated generations of seafarers from all the sea services - Royal Navy, Merchant Navy and the fishing fleets.

Financial support for the personal and professional development of seafarers is provided through a range of scholarship schemes for both officers and ratings. Interest-free loans can be provided to all eligible seafarers. The Marine Society also administers the John William Slater Scholarship Scheme for the advancement of ratings in association with Nautilus International.

An exchange library service is supplied to hundreds of ships supplying more than 120,000 books annually. The enormous purchasing power that drives Marine Society libraries is used to promote the charity as a leading supplier of books to individual seafarers and corporate interests throughout the maritime sector.

The society runs an online bookshop at  www.msbookshop.org offering excellent prices, a fast turnaround, and genuinely good customer service. Any profit made from this service is ploughed back to help offset the cost of other seafarer services.

The Marine Society has long been a respected source of authoritative, impartial and confidential advice and guidance to seafarers on any matter of concern to them. It deals with over 6,000 enquiries annually. As a recognition of the quality of its provision in this respect it holds the Matrix Standard - the national quality standard for any organisation that delivers information, advice and/or guidance on learning and work.