RNLI thanks Fred Olsen Cruises

Congratulations to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines – and its generous passengers. After 40 years of fund-raising, the company is to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Cash is collected on board Olsen’s cruise ships through raffles, quizzes, church services, foreign coin collections and auctions. Fred. Olsen has also supported the charity by donating numerous cruise prizes, which in turn has helped generate funds through the Lifeboat lottery and other competitions.
The money donated by Fred. Olsen passengers has funded three inshore lifeboats, three mobile training units, kitted out three seminar rooms at The Lifeboat College, and paid for the development work on the RNLI’s DODO (drive on, drive off) lifeboat launching trolleys, in addition to funding three of them.
In autumn 2009, Fred. Olsen achieved its latest fundraising target of £150,000 for a fourth inshore lifeboat, an Atlantic 85 due on service in 2010/11, raising £91,000 towards it in 2009 – its best year to date.
Rhys Parker, the RNLI’s corporate partnerships officer, said: “By funding inshore lifeboats and essential training facilities, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has made a vital contribution towards helping our volunteer crews save lives at sea over several decades. Our lifeboat crews rescue 22 people every day and as a charity, we receive no government funding and rely on donations. We are extremely grateful for Fred. Olsen’s ongoing support and this is a great opportunity to say a huge thank-you to its passengers and crew who have helped to raise funds over the last 40 years.”
Matt Grimes, Director of Planning at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “The long-standing association with the RNLI is one of which we are immensely proud, and the enthusiasm of our passengers in their fundraising activities is wonderful. A lot of our passengers are members of the RNLI already, and we look forward to welcoming many more of them onboard in the future.’
The presentation will be made at the RNLI’s annual awards ceremony at London’s Barbican Centre on May 27.