Author: Sarah Eustace

On a recent ship-visit to the vessel car-carrier Glovis Courage, Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) ship visitors from the Port of Southampton encountered a tremendously warm welcome from the crew.
             Some of crew were eager to download movies using the Stella Maris MiFi device, while others took copies of this month’s Stella Maris magazine.
             Always a favourite, Peter Giles one of the volunteer ship visitor brought along some Toblerone chocolates for all the crew.
             Experiencing his very first ship-visit was Charles Stuart our newest volunteer to Stella Maris Southampton & Southern Ports Region. (Welcome on board Charles!)
             The Glovis Courage after departing Southampton is scheduled to visit ports in the United States, Mexico and then will continue on to various ports in the Far East.
             Please remember to pray for the seafarers of this vessel as they have not had Mass for many weeks. Our Lady Star of the Sea (Stella Maris)….pray for them.

Charles Stuart, new Stella Maris Southampton ship visitor on the left of the seafarer

 [snippet:aos-donate]

Following media reports of the Gibraltar court decision to drop charges against some of the Grace 1 tanker crew, it appears that the vessel is free to sail.
              Global seafarers’ charity, Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) hopes that this may lead to the release of the Stena Impero crew, detained in Iran since July 19. 
              Whilst Iran has claimed the detention of the Grace 1 was not connected to the seizure of the Stena Impero, this has been widely questioned. 
              Stella Maris has been concerned that the crew of the Stena Impero, who had been going about their professional duties, have been detained against their will with little evidence against them. 
              John Green, Director of Development said, "This has been a very stressful time for the crew of both ships and we hope that for these seafarers and their families this crisis can be resolved as soon as possible."
              Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea), is the largest charity in the world providing welfare support to seafarers in over 330 ports around the world as well as supporting seafarers’ families. The charity continues to monitor the situation.

* Below John speaks to BBC News, reiterating our concerns for the Stena Impero crew, whom we hope will be repatriated soon. Scroll to 1:14 for the start of his comments.
[video:https://vimeo.com/354581473]

Apostleship of Sea (AoS) port chaplain Reverend Roger Stone has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year’s Honour’s List 2018 for services to the pastoral care of seafarers. 
              Roger has served as port chaplain for the seafarers’ charity since June 2010 and has provided pastoral, spiritual and welfare support to hundreds of crew members who arrive on ships at ports along the South Coast of England. 
              Roger says he is truly honoured and humbled to receive the British Empire Medal from Her Majesty The Queen. He said, “I am proud to work for the Apostleship of the Sea, the greatest and most effective maritime charity in the world. I am privileged to serve so many wonderful seafarers from so many countries around the world. 
             “I will always regard the Medal as a symbol of the love I have for seafarers who rely on Apostleship of the Sea port chaplains and volunteers for pure pastoral care. Without the Apostleship of the Sea, seafarers would simply not receive the love and care they need,” he added. 

             A permanent deacon, Roger served in the parish of Billingshurst with Pulborough in West Sussex for four years before coming across a job advertisement for a port chaplain with AoS. 
             Despite not knowing anything about the world of seafarers and shipping at that time, he decided to respond to the advert, seeing it as a chance to embrace new challenges and do something different. 
             Seven years on, Roger is a familiar face with the local port and shipping community, and more importantly, has become a friend and confidant to the many seafarers he has supported and assisted in one way or the other – many of whom regularly keep in touch with him via Facebook and WhatsApp. 
             Roger has had to deal with some very difficult situations. On several occasions he has supported seafarers following the sudden death of one of their colleagues including serving crew on a cruise ship after a very young seafarer had taken his own life. 
             All through 2013 and 2014, Roger and his team supported a group of abandoned seafarers from two ships detained in Rye and Shoreham-by-Sea in Sussex after the company they worked for fell into financial difficulties. AoS raised emergency funds for the crew to send money home to their families and provided food, internet access and phone cards so they could contact their anxious families.
             Above all AoS was able to offer the seafarers hope as they were left vulnerable and worried about their futures. More recently Roger and his team supported nine fishermen who were found to be working in slave-like conditions on a fishing boat moored at Portsmouth Harbour. 

             He has also been instrumental in arranging pastoral visits by Vatican cardinals and bishops specially for crew of cruise ships when they dock in Civitavecchia, Rome; a recent initiative by AoS.
             Roger has also learned some Tagalog and Visaya to be able to communicate on a personal level with Filipino seafarers who make up a large proportion of seafarers worldwide. 
             AoS National Director Martin Foley said, “The British Empire Medal is a fitting recognition of Roger’s work and ministry with seafarers, and testimony to the vital support and assistance that AoS provides to seafarers and the wider shipping and maritime community.”
[snippet:aos-donate]

The Financial Times has published a Letter to the Editor by AoS Development Director John Green today. John writes about how the implementation of the International Labour Organization work in fishing convention (2007) can root out unacceptable working conditions for fishermen.       

              Improve fishermen’s working conditions
              From John Green, London, UK

              Sir, Your report ‘Vietnam warns fishing sector after EU threat’ (December 23) highlights the EU’s action to curb poor fishing practices in Southeast Asia.
              Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing affects not only fish stocks and the environment but also the just and fair employment of many of thousands of fishermen in the region.
              Cases of severe physical maltreatment, employment abuses such as non-payment of wages and bonded labour have also been encountered by our port chaplains and other agencies supporting the crew working in the fishing sector.
              Action by the EU, and in particular efforts to secure implementation of the International Labour Organization work in fishing convention (2007), will not only improve fish stock sustainability but also root out unacceptable working conditions for fishermen working in an industry that can be “out of sight, out of mind”.
              John Green
              Apostleship of the Sea
              London SW1
              UK
              Published in the Financial Times on 29 December, 2017. www.FT.com  

 [snippet:aos-donate]

Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) is pleased to announce that we have joined the National Free Wills Network.
             This means that we are able to offer supporters the opportunity to have their Wills written by a local participating solicitor free of charge – with AoS paying a discount rate for the writing of simple Wills (in other words, Wills that do not deal with complex issues).
             The network has been running for ten years and consists of over 800 solicitors across the UK who are in good standing with the Law Society, and operating within the stringent rules of the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The network also ensures compliance with the Charity Commission and the Institute of Fundraising. 
             We hope supporters will take this opportunity to settle their affairs, make provision for loved ones, and also include a bequest to support our work for generations to come, although there is no obligation to do so.
             This offer is available for a limited time period.

Find out more about leaving a Legacy to AoS here.
 

The chief officer of a ship anchored North of the Tyne has sent a thank you note to Apostleship of the Sea Tyne port chaplain Paul Atkinson who visited the crew and delivered presents over Christmas. 
              The vessel, MV Ikan Luding, arrived in Tyne in early December, and has been anchored North of the Tyne since that time while its seafarers on board await instructions about their next job. 
              On Christmas Eve, Paul visited the crew at anchorage with the assistance of local Harbour Master Steve Clapperton and their boat crew. 

              Paul wanted to find out if the men needed support and to deliver 27 Christmas shoeboxes, donated by local churches, groups and Newcastle-based marine insurer North P&I Club.
              In an email the ship’s chief officer wrote, “We Seafarer from Mv Ikan Luding sending our warmest Greetings of Merry Christmas to all the staff of AOS Newcastle. Appreciated much your generosity of sending us box of gifts though we are distantly anchored here in Tyne, UK. Many thanks and God will return in thousand folds your kindness.” 
              Paul said the Filipino crew are all fine and well-provided for. 
              “They are waiting to find out when and where their next job will take them. They are a little anxious and bored, as the waiting can be unbearable, but they keep themselves busy doing routine maintenance such as painting. 
              “It is also frustrating for the crew to be so near dry land yet not be able to go ashore. Our visit helped lift their spirits. They now know that there are people here who care and are ready to help,” said Paul.

[snippet:aos-donate]

During a visit to North Tees, the tanker ‘Gas Pasha’ berthed at the Conoco Phillips facility last year, and the Captain asked if arrangements could be made for Mass to be celebrated on board.
              Fortunately the ship was to be in the port overnight. AoS North Tees port chaplain, Deacon Peter Barrigan contacted Fr Jeff Dodds, the Parish Priest at St Peter and Paul parish, Stockton, who, despite the short notice, readily agreed to celebrate Mass on board.
              The following evening, ship visitors Hugh and Mary Ward, brought Fr Jeff to the port. Here they guided him through the stringent and strict security, entry and safety requirements at the Conoco Phillips facility before boarding the ship and celebrating Mass for the delighted crewmembers.
              This was Fr Jeff’s first Mass on board ship and he remarked, “It was a pleasure to board ship and celebrate Mass for the crew. Just let me know if I can be of any further help”.
              The photo shows Fr Jeff on the right, with Hugh and Mary Ward, our two ship visitors in North Tees.

 [snippet:aos-donate]

A group of seafarers were left in limbo in the port of Durban, South Africa, after their ship was detained following the non-payment of wages. 
             The crew from tug/supply ship PSD2 had not been paid for up to 15 months. They also needed food and fresh water, and two crewmembers were in need of immediate medical attention. 
             The Tanzanian-flagged vessel, which arrived in Durban on December 10 from Mozambique, was also found to have a problem with rats and cockroaches. 

             Catholic charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) and chaplains from other organisations in Durban port have provided assistance to the 11 seafarers, one of whom is Catholic. 
             AoS Durban port chaplain Fr Herman Giraldo said conditions were quite dire and there was an atmosphere of hopelessness when he first visited the crew to bring them food. 
             “They were tight-lipped and did not want to speak about their situation. We eventually found out that they were owed nine months’ wages; one hadn’t been paid for 15 months. Apparently the company kept delaying payment, promising to pay ‘next week’ but never doing so,” he said. 

             In addition to not being paid, the seafarers also needed food, water, toiletries and desperately needed money to send home to their families. Two of the men needed immediate medical attention. 
             AoS was able to secure an emergency grant £1,000 from the Guild of Benevolence of the IMarEST (The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology)for medical bills, food and sanitation. 
             Fr Herman said, “A pest control firm was brought in to fumigate the ship as there was an infestation of rats and cockroaches. We also bought food and water that was much needed for the crew members as well as clothing and toiletries.” 

             He added, “A doctor came on board to treat the two crewmembers that needed medical attention. One had a heart condition but his medication was out-of-date, while the other had burnt his arm and could not be treated as their first-aid kit was almost empty.” 
             Fr Herman said all the crew except the master and two engineers had been repatriated. The three men will be repatriated as soon as their passports are renewed. 
             “Arrangements are being made for the vessel to be sold and the men are expected to get paid when this happens. The remaining crew on board are not allowed to leave the port,” he said, adding that AoS would continue supporting their welfare and pastoral needs.

*Visit our South Africa website here.
[snippet:aos-donate]

“What I find most rewarding is a sense that AoS welcomes the stranger, and does so in the name of Jesus; seeing Christ in those we meet – in a work place and in situations which few see but on which all of us in the UK depend,” says David Chamberlain.
             David is an AoS ship visitor in Poole in Dorset. Ship visitors are volunteers who spend a few hours each week supporting port chaplains in providing pastoral care and spiritual help to seafarers.
             He decided to become a ship visitor after moving to Poole from Hertford in 2015.
             David says, “My knowledge of the maritime world was very limited in so far as merchant shipping is concerned but I’ve always had a love for the sea and ships.
             “I served for a while as a naval reservist in my twenties, in Leicester and Nottingham, so it was very much a case of ‘the dry land navy’. I have done a bit of sailing, dinghies and windsurfing. I’m now fortunate to have my own boat, in Poole Harbour.”
             
             Before retiring, David spent 30 years as a civil servant in what was then the Department of Health and Social Security, ending up as a district manager in Hertfordshire.
             He also spent 15 years working in a foster care project led by his wife Ingrid. “My first impressions when I began ship visiting were really ones of surprise. The crew on many ships is quite small, maybe five or six, including the captain, chief officer and engineer.
             “I was also struck by the loneliness of seafarers, who spend months away from their homes and families. The vast majority of seafarers of ships visiting British ports – and bringing in the greater part of the ingredients for the food we eat and a majority of the items we use in daily life – are from abroad, notably from the Philippines. And this isolation is compounded by the limited opportunities for interaction with other crew members.
             “Also, while conditions on nearly all of the ships I’ve visited have been good and clean in the mess and the crew’s quarters, these areas are invariably somewhat cramped – and the work on ship is still a hard way of earning a living.”
             Most of the ships that dock in Poole are known as coasters and short sea traders. Some load up with grain or Purbeck clay, which is taken to Spain and Portugal for the ceramics industry. A number of ferries operate to the Channel Islands and cruise ships also use the port.
             
             David’s role as a ship visitor is to offer whatever help he can to the seafarers he meets. This might mean providing mobile phone top-up cards or access to the internet (most ships don’t have this but if they do it can be quite limited), arranging transport to local shops, or for a priest to celebrate Mass on board a vessel.
             Going to sea might sound romantic, but the reality is very different. Seafarers can go weeks without having any contact with their families back home. This means they not only can miss the birth of a child or other significant family moments, but they can also experience anxiety over relationships.
             Seafarers live a semi-nomadic life that is hidden from view. Many ports are far from towns and cities, and they exist behind security fences. The turnaround time for ships is quick and the shifts continue when a vessel is in port, so the opportunity for any kind of change of scenery or change in general is very small. In some cases, the ship can feel like a prison.
             Having someone to talk to about what they are feeling can be of enormous help to a crew. Following the sudden death of the captain of a ship last year, David, along with port chaplain Rev Roger Stone and Fr John Webb, parish priest of St Mary’s, Poole, were on hand to support the devastated crew. 

* David's story appeared in our 2017 Annual Review which you can view and download here.
 [snippet:aos-donate]