Friday, June 1, 2012


The ISS Lighthouse Relay Voyage Baton Arrives in the Asia-Pacific – Over $120,000 already raised for local charities around the globe

The ISS Lighthouse Relay Voyage baton, which is raising money for local charities supporting sick and disadvantaged people around the globe, is making its way through the Asia Pacific region. Having raised over $120,000 since its journey began at the Inchcape Reef, Scotland, this is an ambitious fundraising initiative to contribute back into the local communities where it operates by Inchcape Shipping Services, the world’s largest maritime services provider.


From its departure at the Inchcape Reef, home of the Bell Rock Lighthouse, the baton is now En route to Hong Kong. Over the last six months, the baton has travelled around the Middle East before moving onto India, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. Containing details of nominated charities from each country where ISS has a presence (65 countries to date), the baton is working its way around the world raising thousands of dollars for local charities at each location thanks to the efforts of local ISS employees, customers, suppliers, and match funding by the company.
The baton travelled to Bahrain from Kuwait where a ceremony was held with a donation presented by Kim Michael Ulrich, General Manager, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to Captain Ali Ai Ghawas, Chairman of ISS Bahrain’s chosen charity, the Bahrain International’s Seafarers Society, and Bryan R. Levett, Treasurer. The baton was then transported to Qatar onboard MT Sidra where ISS Qatar raised funds for its chosen charity, the Qatar Cancer Society.
Onto Oman, where a presentation was held by Robert Walker, General Manager ISS Oman with Maryam Al Zadjali, chairwoman of its chosen charity, Dar Al Atta, Nada Al Jamali, board member of the foundation and Solomon Lewis. The Oman office decided to raise funds for Dar Al Atta'a by running in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon with six strong team led by Robert Walker. Dar Al Atta'a is a holistic charity which provides assistance to Omani families in need.
From Oman to Mumbai, India. Here, Pradeep Mishra from ISS India presented a donation to Praneeta Hajara, President of its chosen charity the Prerana Charitable Trust, followed by a baton handing over ceremony onboard Hapag Lloyd’s MV Valerie Schulte. Pradeep Mishra handed the baton to Cpt. Litvinov Aleksandr for its voyage to Singapore, ending the second leg of the Lighthouse Relay Voyage around the Middle East and India and commencing the third leg around Asia Pacific.
At Singapore, a donation was made at the Henderson Student Care Centre, the base of ISS Singapore’s chosen charity, the Singapore Children’s Society by Das Nair, General Manager ISS Singapore to Albert Tan, Executive Director of the Singapore Children’s Society. The exceptional effort of the Singapore team raised nearly $8,000 and put them in fourth position for highest funds raised by individual ISS offices.
Arriving in Port Kelang, Malaysia, on board the MV Santos Express, Capt. Atul Sarin delivered the baton to General Manager of ISS Malaysia, Capt Khoo. The Malaysia office raised funds for two charities, the Yayasan Sultan Indris Shahthe and Mouth and Foot Artist.
From Malaysia it travelled to Gemadept, Vietnam, where ISS-Gemadept, Managing Director, Khanh Do Tran, Country Operations Manager, Hai Phan and other members of staff visited The Thi Nghe Old People Care Centre, ISS-Gemadept’s chosen charity, which takes care of elders and dioxin victims.

The baton set sail from Vietnam on board container ship, The San Cristobal. From here, it will travel onwards to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taiwan. 

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