The ISS Lighthouse Relay Voyage baton leaves USA for Central and South America

inchcapelogo1– Over $135,000 now 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, has left the USA and is now making its way to Central and South America. Having raised over $135,000 since its journey began at the Inchcape Reef, off the coast of Abroath in Scotland, this is an ambitious fundraising initiative by Inchcape Shipping Services, the world’s largest maritime services provider.

From its original departure at the home of the Bell Rock Lighthouse, the baton’s recent journey saw it travelling from New Zealand to Papua New Guinea, then Japan and onto the USA.

The baton, containing details of the nominated charities from each country where ISS has a presence (65 countries), is working its way around the globe raising thousands of dollars for local charities at each location with the efforts of local ISS employees, customers, suppliers, as well as additional funding by the company.

Arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, on board Costa Cruise’s ship MV Costa Neoromantica, the baton was received by the Managing Director of ISS New Zealand, Captain Craig Harris. A small presentation was made to ISS New Zealand’s chosen charity the ‘Make a Wish Foundation’ to CEO Scott Simpson and Vicky Price, Manager of the New Zealand Make a Wish centre on board MV Dawn Princess.

Onto next stop, Papua New Guinea on board MV Sofrana Tourville V166 arriving at Port Moresby. ISS Port Moresby raised money for their chosen charity PNG Heart Foundation and ISS General Manager Bob Bennett presented their donation to the charity’s presentatives, Marilyn Ward and Cathy Pickworth.

Then it was onto Yokosuka, Japan, on board NYK Line’s vessel, MV Brussel V004 where it was received by ISS Japan’s Operations Representative, Kazuya Uesaka.

A small ceremony was held at ISS Japan’s head office in Tokyo, where Managing Director, Hisao Kawabata, presented ISS Japan’s donation to Akifumi Komada, a country representative of their chosen charity, Medecins sans Frontieres, which gives life-saving assistance to people in need around the world.

Then onto the USA leg of the journey arriving in Mobile, Alabama. ISS USA raised money for its charity, American Cancer Society. Webb Winsor and Swep Fraiser, ISS Operations Representatives and Tereasa Cotton, presented their donation to Blair Bullen and Kathy O’Neill on behalf of the American Cancer Society.

The baton is now enroute to Panama in Central America before heading for South America. For full details on the baton’s continued progress around the world visit: http://www.iss-shipping.com/ISS-Lighthouse-Relay-Voyage.aspx

Marilyn Ward and Cathy Pickworth, of the Papua New Guinea Heart Foundation,
holding the baton with Bob Bennett, General Manager, ISS Port Moresby.

ISS Mobile employees presenting their donation to representatives of The American
Cancer Society.

Inchcape Shipping Services is the world’s leading maritime services provider. With 297 proprietary offices in 65 countries, and a workforce of over 3,800, the company’s diverse global customer base now includes owners and charterers in the oil, cruise, container and bulk commodity sectors as well as naval, government and inter-governmental organisations.

ISS provides landside commercial and humanitarian logistics, transit, offshore support, informational and other associated marine services. The company also provides a growing range of outsourcing services including global crew and marine spares logistics; port hub agency management; and sophisticated Enterprise Resource Planning solutions through its subsidiary ShipNet.

Inchcape Shipping Services – A World of Local Expertise

www.iss-shipping.com