Author: Nathaniel Xavier

Celebrating Easter as a cruise chaplain

Posted on April 21, 2022 by -

Fr David Burke, Stella Maris Trustee and Cruise Chaplain spent Holy Week and Easter on board the MV Azura, ministering to crew and passengers. He reflects on his time on board.

Words by Fr David

Usually, at this time, I would be preparing for the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter either in a parish (or two) …but this year has been quite different – with my Holy Week being spent on the cruise ship MV Azura – an unusual way to spend this most holiest of weeks, and yet an incredibly blessed week too! 

I arrived in Valletta, Malta on Maundy Thursday to meet the Azura. The Azura is the biggest vessel I have ever seen (pictured) with approximately 2,000 passengers onboard and 1,000 crew.

From Valletta, we journeyed around the Mediterranean celebrating the Triduum and the beginning of Easter week along the way. 

As I arrived onboard the ship, I was immediately greeted with such great warmth and welcome by the crew. The crew members – predominately from South India and the Philippines – were delighted that a priest was with them at this time.

They immediately asked if Mass could be celebrated that evening for they hadn’t the opportunity to go to Mass since Christmas. Can you imagine!!!

“Of course” came my humbled reply “what time were you thinking?” They looked at me and said, “Would 11:30pm be ok? We are not off duty until then.” And so, our Triduum began…. 

Each day I had the privilege to celebrate early Mass with the passengers before their organised tours and last thing at night with the crew.

Both celebrations contrasting in numbers, style and representation…and yet equally special with people from both parts of the vessel bringing their joys, concerns and challenges to the celebration of the Eucharist. 

For myself too, it has been such a blessing and pleasure to celebrate the Triduum in this most unusual of places and to experience first hard, such great witnesses of faith. Faith of people on board away from their families and homes on contracts of between 6-10 months of duration.

It is hard to give one highlight at this stage, but the Easter Vigil has to be up there. In this holiest of nights, over 200 crew came to celebrate our Lord – the Light of the World – who dispels all darkness and conquers sin and death. An experience I will never forget! 

Please continue to keep seafarers in your prayers and if you can, please help Stella Maris in its outreach and support to seafarers from around the world who enter our shores.

Ukraine: Stella Maris brings kindness and compassion

Posted on April 13, 2022 by -

Stella Maris chaplains in Great Britain and around Europe are working tirelessly to support the immediate needs of the seafarers and their families, providing support such as SIM cards, food, transport, and temporary accommodation.

For many Ukrainian and indeed Russian seafarers arriving at ports in Great Britain, apart from the practical assistance given to them by our chaplains and ship visitors, it’s often the small gestures – the friendly smile, the arm around the shoulder and the listening ear – that the seafarers take comfort in.

Below are just some of the many examples where Stella Maris has brought compassion and kindness where they may be anxiety, anger, confusion and chaos.

Our Scotland senior area port chaplain Deacon Joe O’Donnell, who also looks after Northern Ireland, met Ukrainian seafarer Roman on a container ship in Belfast port. Roman is from Odesa and Joe informed him about what Stella Maris is doing to support Ukrainian seafarers. Joe explained to him about what our colleagues are doing in Odesa. Roman was delighted to hear this and says a big “Thank You”. 

In Aberdeen our ship visitor John Murray provided six Ukrainians on a cargo vessel with free £20 phone top-ups before the ship headed on to the Netherlands.

Hugh Ward, our Tees ship visitor was in touch with a Ukrainian seafarer, Viktor, who he and his wife, Mary, has developed a friendship with over the last few years. Viktor had not been able to contact his family for a few weeks. When he did manage to contact them they told him they had escaped the war and got into Poland. The vessel Viktor works on has a regular port call into Wismar, Germany, and when they docked there recently, the seafarer’s wife and two daughters, were there to meet him, having driven continuously for 24 hours from Poland.  The ship’s captain allowed them to stay in Viktor’s cabin for two nights and the family spent the two days sight seeing and enjoying time together in the city.

Our ship visitors in Poole, Linda and Alf visited the ship Celtic Commander which had an exclusive Russian crew. It was clear that the seafarers were up set by the war. One AB in particular explained how his father was Russian and mother Ukrainian. His wife is Latvian and is Catholic. He was very emotional and in disbelief at what was happening in the conflict. He accepted a prayer book and rosary beads and our prayers. Alf also had some fine rosary beads which he gave for the seafarer’s wife. Alf and Linda left a bag of goodies including a tin of chocolates for the crew.

The crew on board this Condor ferry, which included 30 Ukrainians, were visited by our Falmouth & Fowey regional chaplain John Pinhay. John says, “The shipping company sent groups of the Ukrainian crew to a local hotel with some spending money to try and give them some light relief. They were all concerned about what was happening back in their homeland, as contact was very limited. The chance to go ashore and our gift of 40 Easter Eggs brought kindness and compassion, and by the smiles that came back to me, my visit was very welcome.”

Our Tilbury chaplain Wojciech Holub met a Ukrainian seafarer and asked him how his family was coping back home. The question brought tears to the seafarer’s eyes. The seafarer asked Wojciech to include him and his family in prayer. Wojciech also helped three other Ukrainian seafarers on board the same vessel to sign off. One will go through France staying for short with family, on to Gdynia, and the other two will travel to their next port in Italy. Wojciech provided the whole crew with phone sim cards, and helped them with shopping as they are not allowed to go ashore.

Our East Anglia regional chaplain Julian Wong met this Ukrainian bosun whose family is from Mariupol. He is still in touch with his wife, but she keeps the contact very brief for safety reasons. Julian gave him a free 13Gb 12mths sim card to help him maintain contact with his family.

Stella Maris on BBC Business Daily: Russian and Ukrainian seafarers

Posted on April 12, 2022 by -

What is life like for the many Russian and Ukrainian seafarers working together on board ships during a war?

BBC Business Daily’s Vivienne Nunis speaks to Fr Bruno Ciceri from Stella Maris International, Rostik Inzhestoikov, Stella Maris assistant port chaplain in Odesa, a Mariupol seafarer and Guy Platten, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping. Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds below at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct3160

Supporting seafarers caught up in Ukraine-Russia war

Posted on March 10, 2022 by -

Stella Maris chaplains have been speaking about the dilemmas and worries of both Ukrainian and Russian seafarers as the war in Ukraine deepens.

Wojciech Holub, Stella Maris regional port chaplain in Tilbury and London Gateway, said several Ukrainian seafarers he has met are incredibly anxious about not being able to return back home or see their families.

“One Ukrainian ship master I spoke to at Tilbury port told me that his contract had ended, and a replacement captain had already joined the ship. However, he has had to remain on board because of the difficulties getting flights home,” said Wojciech.

He said, “Another young seafarer was on a vessel heading for drydock in Gdansk, Poland. He comes from Crimea and has Russian and Ukrainian nationality. He said he hoped to find safe accommodation in Gdansk as he feels he has no chance of getting home. His sister and other relatives have escaped to Turkey.”

“Through tears another seafarer from Kyiv spoke of his grief and told me he was thinking of his home and family, and cannot wait to get home,” Wojciech added.

It is not just the Ukrainian seafarers who are worried about getting home, said Wojciech, but also those from Russia and the surrounding countries such as Georgia and Armenia.

Wojciech said both Ukrainian and Russian seafarers are shocked and horrified by what they are seeing and hearing about the war. On board vessels of mixed Russian and Ukrainian crew, they are united and have no animosity towards each other, he said.

This sentiment is echoed by Deacon John Fogarty, Stella Maris regional chaplain for Kent and the Medway ports, who spoke to the Russian captain of a vessel with 13 Russian crew members.

“The captain, whose mother was half Ukrainian was almost apologetic, as were the crew members, simply for being Russian. It struck me that there may be many more seafarers feeling the very same. Russian seafarers who are really struggling at this time as well as for their brothers and sisters in the Ukraine,” said John, adding, “It was very humbling, although saddening, to be taken into their confidence on how they are feeling.”

Deacon Doug Duncan, Stella Maris Northeast Scotland regional port chaplain met with three Ukrainian seafarers who had finished their contracts in the oil and gas sector. Their employer was looking at placing them on another vessel, the men told Doug.

“Three of them have decided to go home, while the three who are staying know that if they return home, they probably would not be able come back to the UK to work. They have advised their families to flee while they would carry on working and supporting their families in some way.”

Recognising the anguish of Ukrainian seafarers at this time, anxious for the safety of their family and friends at home, Stella Maris is making phone cards and data SIMs available to Ukrainian seafarers free of charge. 

Martin Foley, Stella Maris chief executive officer said, “Stella Maris chaplains in the UK and around the world will redouble their efforts to support all seafarers affected by this war. It is desperately unfortunate that Ukrainian, Russian, and other seafarers are getting caught up in this war.”

“Stella Maris urges all governments to ensure the safety of all seafarers caught up in this war, their entitlement to adequate shore leave and their access to our welfare services.”

Stella Maris statement on Ukraine

Posted on March 2, 2022 by -

Stella Maris chaplains, volunteers and staff from around the world today joined together in prayer for peace in the Ukraine.

The prayer service, joined by Fr Alexander Smerechynskyy, Stella Maris Ukraine National Director, and port chaplain in Odessa, was convened in response to the call from Pope Francis that Ash Wednesday, 2 March, be designated as a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the Ukraine.

Stella Maris chaplains and ship visitors have been supporting all seafarers during the current crisis. More particularly, they have been providing support to both Ukrainian and Russian seafarers and those seafarers whose ships have had to navigate areas affected by the conflict.

Recognising the anguish of Ukrainian seafarers at this time, anxious for the safety of their family and friends at home, Stella Maris is making phone cards and data SIMs available to Ukrainian seafarers free of charge.

Fr Bruno Ciceri, Stella Maris International Director, said, “Today, we united ourselves in prayer with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters. We prayed for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Stella Maris chaplains around the world will redouble our efforts to support all seafarers affected by this crisis. We fully support the recent call from Kitack Lim, International Maritime Organization Secretary General, that ‘innocent ships, seafarers and port workers engaged in legitimate trade should not be adversely impacted by this growing crisis. Shipping, particularly seafarers, cannot be collateral victims in a larger political and military crisis – they must be safe and secure’.

“Stella Maris urges all governments to ensure the safety of all seafarers caught up in this crisis, their entitlement to adequate shore leave and their access to our welfare services.”

Stella Maris is the largest ship-visiting network in the world with over 1,000 chaplains and volunteers in 330 ports across 60 countries. This team makes 70,000 ship visits in a normal year to vessels of all flags and nationalities to look after the wellbeing and welfare of seafarers and fishers – regardless of their race, creed or faith.

* You can watch a recording of the prayer service at https://www.stellamaris.org.uk/a-day-of-prayer-for-ukraine/

Media interview: Priority of crew shore leave post Covid-19

Posted on February 15, 2022 by -

Our CEO Martin Foley gave an exclusive interview to Safety4Sea publication, reproduced below.

In an exclusive interview to SAFETY4SEA, Mr. Martin Foley, CEO of Stella Maris, highlights that seafarers are among the heroes of the pandemic and the charity will continue its work to ensure seafarers receive support and assistance. Mr. Foley acknowledges the significant efforts that our industry has already made with regards to crew welfare and encourages us to focus on the many positive stories rather than allow the negative ones to dominate the headlines. Furthermore, Mr. Foley notes that priority should be given to shore leave for seafarers, not only to improve their physical and mental health but also to enhance the appeal of seafaring as a career and thus aid recruitment and retention.

SAFETY4SEA: What are the top priorities in your agenda for this year?

Martin Foley: Stella Maris’s overarching priority for 2022 is to further improve and expand our support for seafarers in ports around the world, building on the progress made during 2020/21 when we re-established our work in Denmark and provided significant help to seafarers in the Philippines, India and elsewhere whose lives had been adversely impacted by the pandemic. Seafarers are among the heroes of the pandemic. Working with our industry partners, we are determined to ensure seafarers receive the support and assistance their critical work merits.

S4S: From your perspective, what are the key challenges that the maritime industry is currently facing? What are your suggestions to move forward?

M.F.: National priorities have overridden international efforts to designate seafarers as keyworkers. Seafarers need full and unfettered access to vaccines, an internationally recognised vaccine passport system and timely, efficient repatriation at the end of contracts. The scourge of abandonment must also be addressed. Abandonments have increased during the pandemic. The impact on the seafarers involved, and their families, is immense. Concerted action is required.

S4S: What lessons has the industry learned with the pandemic? Where should we improve for a future crisis situation?

M.F.: The pandemic has demonstrated the importance of international collaboration between UN agencies, governments, industry, unions and welfare charities like Stella Maris. As a result of Covid-19, the mechanisms are now in place to ensure a swift response in future crisis situations. Stella Maris welcomes the opportunity to play our part in bringing the voice of the seafarers to these international forums.

S4S: Are you satisfied with industry stakeholders’ response on the issue of crew welfare until today? Where should ship operators focus on and how could your organization help towards?

M.F.: There are some excellent organisations in the shipping industry who care deeply about the welfare of the seafarers operating their vessels and with whom Stella Maris feels privileged to work. They have made strenuous and often expensive efforts to repatriate those finishing their contracts, to effect vaccinations in foreign ports and to generally improve seafarers’ lives through increased connectivity, better food, and a greater focus on physical and mental welfare. Let’s acknowledge where work needs to be done but let’s also focus on the many positive stories rather than allow the negative ones to dominate the headlines.

S4S: In your view, has the industry been successful in enhancing its safety performance? What should be the next steps? How can we further enhance safety culture onboard?

M.F.: Lonely, depressed, tired and unmotivated seafarers are more prone to accidents and self-harm. Improving mental and physical health through regular shore leave, increased social activity, internet connectivity, improved food and facilitating more frequent contact with families, are all ways in which the onboard safety culture can be enhanced.

S4S: As we move forward, how do you feel the challenges of digitization and decarbonization will impact the way that we provide training to seafarers and the skills required by seafarers in order to operate ships?

M.F.: Seafarers take great pride in their work and their contribution to society. Consequently, they welcome opportunities to enhance their skills through improved training. Digitization and decarbonization are inevitable but not antithetical to seafarers’ welfare. Seafarers are skilled professionals. Stella Maris is committed to communicating this more clearly across industry and beyond.

S4S: Considering the ongoing humanitarian crisis (due to the pandemic) and recent accidents (i.e. Ever Given), how may the young generation think of the shipping industry? How should we work to raise industry’s profile to the next talents?

M.F.: Most of the seafarers Stella Maris encounters enjoy their work. Working in partnership with the industry, we need to amplify their voices and experiences. If we want to raise the industry’s profile then we must emphasize its professionalism. This means improving access to shore leave, internet connectivity and welfare support services. These are all things that the young generation takes for granted. Failure to ensure their availability risks a talent drain elsewhere.

S4S: If you could change one thing in the industry from your perspective, what would it be and why?

M.F.: Part of the appeal of a career in maritime is the opportunity to build a professional career that allows one to experience life in other countries and other cultures very distant from one’s own. Increasingly short turnaround times and the effects of the pandemic have meant seafarers get little or no experience of the places they visit. Priority should be given to shore leave for seafarers, not only to improve their physical and mental health but also to enhance the appeal of seafaring as a career and thus aid recruitment and retention.

S4S: What is your key message to industry stakeholders in order to enhance crew motivation and competence during these challenging times?

M.F.: Shipowners, management companies, P&I Clubs and flag states cannot be everywhere and do everything. I would encourage them to partner with and access the global resources of Stella Maris. We add personal, pastoral and spiritual enrichment to seafarers’ lives and remain absolutely committed to working in partnership with the shipping industry.

* Source/Copyright: Safety4Sea

New seafarers welfare and wellbeing app

Posted on February 1, 2022 by -

Stella Maris is partnering with FrontM on their development of onship – a new crew collaboration and wellbeing platform and super-app.

As a result, seafarers and fishers across the world will be able to gain quick access to Stella Maris’s global chaplaincy directory, media content and faith resources.

Stella Maris is the largest ship-visiting network in the world with over 1,000 chaplains and volunteers in 330 ports across 60 countries. This remarkable team makes 70,000

ship visits in a normal year to vessels of all flags and nationalities to look after the wellbeing and welfare of seafarers and fishers – regardless of their race, creed or faith.

Now that Stella Maris is partnering with FrontM and joining the onship digital marketplace platform of free welfare services, seafarers and fishers will be able to quickly access its chaplains and devotional materials. They will also be able to use the app’s built-in voice, instant messaging, and video conferencing tools, as well as a growing suite of welfare and virtual assistant services.

Martin Foley, CEO, Stella Maris said, “Faith is important to many seafarers and fishers who rarely get the chance to attend religious services. The prayer resources on the app supplements the Stella Maris magazine, prayer books and rosaries that our chaplains and ship visitors take on board to crews. onship ensures seafarers and fishers always have access to the services they need to help sustain their spiritual needs and to remain healthy, happy and connected, regardless of location.” 

onship is a free seafarer communications and welfare super-app designed to bring all seafarers, maritime organisations and welfare charities closer together under one digital roof. The app uses up to 30 percent less data than some other apps, enabling seafarers to send and receive more messages and calls.

Kiran Venkatesh, CEO FrontM, described the collaboration as: “a breakthrough in the way devotional support and content is currently consumed and distributed to seafarers and the global maritime community. We are delighted to partner with Stella Maris to bring this devotional application and directory of chaplains to seafarers and fishers, everywhere.

“At FrontM we believe faith and communications are two basic human rights; technology plays a vital role in ensuring the under-connected can gain access to the welfare, communications, and faith support services they need, when they need them the most. The partnership with Stella Maris will help to expand onship’s welfare focus whilst ensuring our seafaring community will always have access to faith services and a friend in port via the Stella Maris network,” he said.

Crew abandoned in Kenya face bleak Christmas

Posted on December 16, 2021 by -

Ten seafarers from the Ra-Horakthy fishing vessel, abandoned in Mombasa, Kenya for the past nine months, face a bleak Christmas as efforts to seek legal redress and repatriation have been delayed.

A court hearing originally scheduled for 23rd October, has been postponed three times. The case is now due to be heard on 22nd December, making it unlikely that the men will be reunited with their families any time soon.

The crew’s disappointment is further compounded by financial worries, as they have not been able to support their struggling families since March 2021 when their employer stopped paying their wages.

The vessel’s captain, Seo Hyundo, has expressed his frustration over the decision to further postpone the ruling, saying that this is pushing the psychological capacity of the crew to the limits.

Global maritime charity Stella Maris is working alongside The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and other local partners to support the seafarers.

The Kenyan-flagged fishing vessel was abandoned by its owner with more than 16 crew members on board in March. They consisted of Kenyans, Tanzanians, Koreans, Indonesians and Vietnamese.

The Kenyans and Tanzanians have been repatriated and their salaries paid, and on 15th December, the six Indonesian seafarers finally flew home with the help of the Indonesian Embassy. 

In September, Stella Maris stepped in to provide emergency support to the crew after the ship’s owner stopped providing food and fresh water. The charity was informed of the crew’s dire situation by the ITF.

Stella Maris Kenya, with the help of the Archbishop of Mombasa, Rev. Martin Kivuva Musonde, bought groceries, including oil, meat, rice, and drinking water. The charity’s team in Mombasa also provided pastoral support, visiting the crew who had become increasingly stressed, worried, desperate, and exhausted. (See the story here)

Stella Maris continues to provide the men with food, drinking water, and emotional support, but fears are growing about their welfare and that of their families.

“We are concerned with how long the court case will take, and the financial struggle and psychological strain on the crew and their families,” said Margaret Masibo, Director of Stella Maris Mombasa Kenya.

“It is very distressing that the remaining ten seafarers will spend Christmas away from their families. The delicate humanitarian situation that the seafarers are in should rightfully prompt the fast tracking of the case to a just and quick conclusion,” she said, adding that Stella Maris will keep looking out for the crew’s wellbeing and monitoring the situation until the case concludes and their ordeal ends.

This case illustrates a wider problem of seafarer and fisher abandonment, as highlighted by the number of reported cases on the International Labour Organization Abandonment of Seafarers database.

Stella Maris in Kenya provided emergency supplies to the crew.

Bringing Christmas cheer and support to seafarers

Posted on December 14, 2021 by -

Stella Maris is bringing Christmas cheer and support to seafarers who are working harder than ever this year to ensure goods are delivered in time for the festivities.

Our chaplains and ship visitors in ports in the UK and worldwide are visiting as many ships as they can to distribute Christmas shoeboxes and gift bags packed full of warm clothing, toiletries, mince pies, chocolate and Christmas cards written to seafarers by the charity’s supporters.

Hundreds of these shoeboxes have already been given out at ports in the UK, and more will be handed out over the next few weeks until after the New Year.

Besides the presents, Stella Maris chaplains and ship visitors take with them mobile phone top-up cards and mobile WiFi units, so that seafarers can contact their families back home during the festive period. They also take crew members to Mass or organise Christmas services, if Covid-19 guidelines permit.

“Like most of us, seafarers have had a difficult couple of years due to the pandemic. Many are facing Christmas away from home, some for a second consecutive year,” said Stella Maris Chief Executive Martin Foley.

“Seafarers have also had to deal with supply chain delays, reduced or no shore leave, extended time on board, and worries about providing for their families. Many seafarers are exhausted,” he added.

Martin said Christmas provides a good opportunity to show gratitude to the men and women of the sea, in what can be a lonely time of the year as they go about their shifts in port or on the ocean.

“Giving seafarers gifts reminds them that people care and are thinking of them at Christmas. These small acts of kindness are often met with much thanks and happy smiles.”

More information about our support for seafarers over Christmas, and to see our Christmas Appeal go to: https://www.stellamaris.org.uk/christmas

Holy See calls for seafarers’ rights to be upheld

Posted on December 10, 2021 by -

The Holy See is calling for seafarers’ dignity and welfare to be protected and upheld, as concerns continue over unjust treatment and violence at sea.

Addressing the International Maritime Organization’s 32nd Session of the General Assembly in London on 7th December 2021, Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States, said that many seafarers are still being denied shore leave and access to welfare services.

He pointed out that seafarers are also vulnerable to violence and abuse at sea, including pirate attacks and modern slavery.

“There are thousands of seafarers who are currently stranded on ships well beyond the term of their original contracts and who are unable to be repatriated due to COVID-related travel restrictions. Furthermore, there are seafarers who, because of lockdowns or other similar constraints, are unable to join their sea crews and secure their salary,” Archbishop Gallagher said.

“This is deplorable and severely affects their families as well,” he said, adding that the pandemic has only served to bring such despicable violations into greater focus.

Archbishop Gallagher expressed the Holy See’s support for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its Member States in upholding the fundamental human rights and integral development of all seafarers, as well as a fairer future for them.

“We join this Organization in considering as a priority the protection of seafarers and their fundamental human rights, as well as the importance of avoiding the pollution of the environment as parts of an integral ecology.

“Moreover, the IMO has an essential role to play in urging the international community to take into consideration more safe and regular migration pathways, for the large numbers of people migrating by sea in overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels.”

The Catholic Church’s support to seafarers and fishers worldwide is conducted through global maritime charity Stella Maris – which is the largest ship-visiting network in the world.

The charity improves the lives of seafarers and fishers through its local chaplains and seafarer centres, expert information, advocacy, and spiritual support. It operates out of more than 300 ports in more than 50 countries.