Topaz Runs for the Flying Angel
25 February 2010Topaz Energy and Marine showed its continued commitment to the Angel Appeal Charity by running the RAK Half Marathon earlier this week. Six Topaz team members participated in the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, running 21km to raise funds needed to run the ‘Flying Angel’. The Angel is a seafarer support vessel that visits ships anchored off the east coast of the United Arab Emirates offering comfort to thousands of seafarers every year.
More than 46 runners from various companies participated in the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in aid of the Angel Appeal raising over AED 85,000 to help maintain the ‘Flying Angel’. Each runner agreed to raise AED 1,000 towards the Angel Appeal by running either the whole 21km or 5km as part of a four man team.
In October of last year, Topaz Energy and Marine announced that it would sponsor the full running costs of the ‘Flying Angel’ for a year. Fazel A. Fazelbhoy, CEO of Topaz was quoted as saying at the time: “We consider it an honor and a privilege to be able to give something back to the sea and the seafarers that have given us so much. In supporting the Flying Angel and the Mission to Seafarers, we hope to improve the quality of life for as many at sea as we can.”
At the sidelines of the RAK Half Marathon, the Reverend Stephen Miller, of the Mission to Seafarers, Dubai, said: “The Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon is a great way to increase awareness about the incredibly important role seafarers play in our lives here in the UAE, we are extremely grateful to all those that were involved and the huge effort they put in. Originally we estimated that we would raise around AED 40,000, but through the generosity of those who supported us, we managed to more than double that figure which is a fantastic achievement.”
The UAE’s east coast is the second largest bunker anchorage in the world which is used by over 11,300 ships each year. During this time, more than 215,000 seafarers are unable to communicate with family and friends back home for weeks, sometimes months, leading to isolation and loneliness. The vessel has an Internet café, a library with DVDs and books, a medical clinic, access to telecommunications and pastoral support.
About Topaz Energy and Marine
Topaz Energy and Marine is today one of the world’s leading marine services and energy engineering companies, with over 35 years of experience in the Middle East. Topaz is a wholly owned subsidiary of Renaissance Services SAOG, a publicly traded company on the Muscat Securities Market. Operating throughout the Middle East and the Caspian, with vessel operations in North Africa and S.E. Asia, Topaz employs over 5,200 people. With its operational headquarters in Dubai, UAE, Topaz operates under two primary business divisions – Topaz Marine and Topaz Engineering. Topaz Marine; the offshore support vessels division comprises Nico Middle East, Doha Marine Services, Topaz Marine Saudi Arabia, BUE Caspian, BUE Kazakhstan & BUE Turkmenistan. Topaz Engineering comprises Adyard (Abu Dhabi) and Nico International.
For further information on Topaz Energy and Marine:
Monika Baranwal
Corporate Communications Officer
Tel: +971 4 440 47 00
[email protected]