Last week was Seafarers Awareness Week. The city of Newport has a very proud maritime heritage. On Sunday, a special service was held to remember the sacrifice of Newport seafarers who took part in D-day landings 75 years ago. The service was held alongside the unveiling of a commemorative anchor at the Mission To Seafarers near Alexandra Dock. This year also marks the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the Newport branch of the Merchant Navy Association. Special mention must be given to Alan Speight, chair of the branch, for his dedication to the association, and to other stalwarts like Edward Watts for their contribution to the local community. Over the last two decades, the Newport branch has worked to commemorate members of the mercantile marine and the merchant navy. The branch is very active, and their work includes plaques dedicated to Newport seafarers lost in the first world war, a monument to the members of the arctic convoys famously described as the worst journeys in the world, and a monument to Raymond Victor Steed, who at just 14 years old was the youngest Welsh person to be killed in action during the second world war when his ship, the Empire Morn, was mined off the north African coast. Newport lost more merchant seamen in world war two than it did of all members of the army, navy and air force put together. I know that the Merchant Navy Association in Newport will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that, as a city, we will never forget those lost at sea.