THE Red Ensign was raised at the civic centre in Newport to mark Merchant Navy Day, in one of a series of ceremonies held across Britain.
The city council was among more than 400 local authorities across Britain to be invited to fly the flag, which represents Merchant Navy, as part of a nationwide call from the Merchant Navy Association and the charity Seafarers UK to raise awareness of its past and ongoing role.
The flag blessing and raising ceremony incorporated a service led by mayor’s chaplain the Reverend Canon Raymond Hayter.
It included a reading by the mayor, councillor Herbie Thomas, with a message from the Earl of Wessex read by vice-Lord Lieutenant for Gwent, Commodore Toby Elliott OBE RN.
Alan Speight, chairman of the Newport branch of the Merchant Navy Association, raised the flag in front of representatives from various armed services, and city politicians.
Ninety-five per cent of the UK's imports and 75 per cent of exports are shipped to and from UK ports by Merchant Navy seafarers.
There has been a Merchant Navy Day since 2000, the September 3 date marking the anniversary of the sinking of the SS Athenia, the first British merchant vessel lost during the Second World War.
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