A Christian maritime charity is inviting all seafarers to join a virtual service from boats and ports across the world this Sunday. 

The Mission to Seafarers is organising the service, lead by Rev Canon Andrew Wright, Secretary General of the Mission, and featuring chaplains and seafarers from around the world and the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, the charity's President. 

Princess Anne has a long association with the Royal Navy and holds the rank of Admiral as Chief Commandant for Women in the Royal Navy. 

The online service, available from midnight, will jump from Falmouth to Dubai, with a reading from the Philippines and a prayer from Seattle. 

'Sea Sunday' has been a long-term fixture in The Mission to Seafarers' calendar, but the charity says the event this year carries even greater poignancy due to Covid-19. 

It says seafarers have played an important role in keeping the global economy turning - ensuring that cargoes of food, medicine and other supplies reach various countries. 

The Revd Canon Andrew Wright said: "Throughout this challenging time, our chaplains and port centres across the world have been adapting their usual activities to safely meet the needs of seafarers. Connecting this Sea Sunday to everyone around the globe provides a great opportunity to thank so many for their dedicated service alongside seafarers."

The service will feature Lloyd's Choir and Hadrian Primary School Choir from South Shields, which is one of the most historic UK shipping centres, with a deep heritage in seafaring.  

The service will be available to watch again after its initial streaming.