On World Maritime Day in September, Britannia P&I staff visited ports, ships and crew in Southampton, Felixstowe, Hong Kong and Tokyo, to experience first-hand the important work carried out by Apostleship of the Sea (Stella Maris).
They’ve written about their experience in CrewWatch, the company’s newsletter, which you can find here https://britanniapandi.com/public…/crew-watch-november-2019/ 
The Holy See has called on shipping’s main global regulatory body to improve the safety of fishers and to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Under the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Safety of Life at Sea Convention the safety of the world’s 1.5 million seafarers are protected, but there is no such protective regulation for the 40 million fishers, said Cardinal Peter Turkson.
Cardinal Turkson was addressing the IMO General Assembly held today in London where he led the Holy See’s delegation.
In a press briefing, IMO Secretary General Kitack Lim reiterated the Organization's commitment to fishing vessel safety and safety at sea.
Cardinal Turkson said the Holy See was grateful for the leading role the IMO and other organisations have played in ratifying and implementing global conventions that seek to promote the rights of seafarers and fishers.
He applauded global maritime charity Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) whose work has been at the forefront of providing welfare, practical and pastoral support to seafarers and fishers.
Earlier this year Stella Maris in the Seychelles reported an incident in which four Filipino fishermen whose work contracts had expired were desperate to return home to their families. However, the Captain of the trawler refused to let them go and pay for flight tickets to the Philippines. Following the intervention of Stella Maris and other agencies the men were eventually paid and repatriated.
Martin Foley Stella Maris European Regional Coordinator said, “We are delighted that Cardinal Turkson, representing the Holy See, has addressed the IMO General Assembly. His call to member states to uphold the human rights of those working at sea, particularly fishers, is most welcome, as is his support for the work of Stella Maris with seafarers and fishers in over 300 ports globally.”
Cardinal Turkson also conveyed Pope Francis’ appreciation for the IMO’s commitment to develop measures to control shipping emissions, which include regulations that mandate the use of cleaner fuel at sea.
“This places shipping at the forefront of efforts to decarbonise the global economy and promote investments in clean energy for sustainable shipping,” he said.
Fr John Lavers (Stella Maris South Coast Regional Port Chaplain), Tebaldo Vinciguerra (from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development), Cardinal Turkson, Dr Esteban Pacha (Stella Maris Chair of Trustees), Martin Foley (Stella Maris European Regional Coordinator) and Monsignor Vincent Brady (from the Apostolic Nunciature in the UK)
Cardinal Turkson being received at IMO Headquarters by Juvenal Shiundu, Director of IMO Technical Cooperation Division and former trustee, Stella Maris Chair of Trustees Esteban Pacha, Trustee William Azuh and members of the Holy See delegation Stella Maris National Director/European Regional Coordinator Martin Foley and Stella Maris South Coast Regional Port Chaplain Fr John Lavers.
Our East Anglia Port Chaplain Patricia Ezra writes…
Sunday the 1st Dec was a first for me. My ship visitor Julian Wong had contacted me earlier in the week to say he was arranging for Mass to be said on the CPO Baltimore on a Sunday morning!
I wondered how he had managed this bearing the mind the shortage of priests and the fact that the Port Chaplain Fr John Barnes would indeed be saying Mass for his parish on a Sunday morning. It turned out that Julian’s parish currently has an assistance priest who has only arrived recently from India so currently is not fully committed for Sunday Masses and Fr Bineesh was eager to help. It turned out that his father was a retired fisherman so he was wanted to understand more about life at sea. 
Julian and Fr Bineesh
Meanwhile, Julian had been in contact with the Captain of the MV Barry that had berthed next to the CPO Baltimore and mentioned that they could have Mass on board if they would like, as we were already saying Mass on the ship ‘next door’, so to speak.
He was pleased to accept this offer so the scene was set for two Masses to be said, both on a Sunday morning, on container ships, in Felixstowe. I collected Julian and Fr Bineesh from Ipswich and we headed to the port.
A pass was obtained for Fr Bineesh, from Adrian, a very helpful member of the port police and them we could go through security and on to the dock. Pulling up by the ship it was clear we were expected and the seafarers helped us bring our bags aboard.
Julian had kindly arranged Christmas presents for the crew and also some food ‘goodies’ for them. We were shown into the crew mess where a table had already been set up for us to use as an altar.
We set up for the Mass and a call was put out to the crew to come along. Before the Mass go underway Julian said thank you to the captain and crew for inviting us to say Mass for them and to Fr Bineesh for offering to help. As you can see there a plenty of smiling faces. 
With crew of CPO Baltimore
The captain told us that it was probably more than fifteen years since he had been able to have Mass on his ship. The captain kindly gave us lunch and told us that ten of the crew were off to London for the afternoon.
He has a wellbeing budget and he uses it to arrange trips like this for the crew. They were very excited at the prospect of even a brief trip to London. Bearing in mind that they needed to get away for their London trip we then left the CPO Baltimore and went to visit the MV Barry.
We were a little early for Mass on the MV Barry as we had planned it for 1pm but no one seemed to mind and a table was prepared for us to use as the altar. Several of the seafarers also brought statues and icons to be blessed by Father. During the Mass we all exchanged the sign of peace and this was lovely as everyone wanted to shake everyone’s hand. 
WIth the crew of mv Barry
The crew then gave us drinks and cake to say thank you and also a small hamper. We are planning to give this a raffle prize for the forthcoming AoS Carol Concert at Felixstowe labelled as ‘genuine seafarers’ food!’
So as we left the ship there was a general sense that we had provided a real service to the seafarers. Both of the ships we visited were extremely friendly and welcoming and it was a pleasure to be able to serve them.
Particular thanks must go to Julian and Fr Beineesh for being prepared to undertake this ministry.
Patricia with Fr Bineesh
Not too long ago, Stella Maris Tees ship visitors Hugh and Mary Ward visited the ship Eco Invictus.
They were welcomed by a Sri Lankan Master and Filipino crew.
This was the first visit to Tees for the Master, who said he had never had Stella Maris visitors on his vessel so High and Mary took this opportunity to explain to him their role and how we could help the crew.
At this point they were approached by a crew member who asked if we could get him to Mass so Hugh and Mary asked the Master if we could bring a Catholic priest on board to say Mass for the crew.
He agreed without hesitation, then asked if a Buddhist Monk could be brought on board for him. It so happens that Billy Barnett, a member of our Tees ship visiting team is an ordained lay Buddhist.
So the next day, they went on board the ship again. In the presence of the Master and the crew, Billy performed a short ceremony for which the Master was very grateful.
Later that same night Stella Maris Tees Port Chaplain, Deacon Peter Barrigan and Fr Jim Angus of St Patrick’s Hartlepool went on board. Mass was said in the presence of all of the crew including the Master. Everyone was very uplifted.
It turns out that although the Master is a Buddhist, his three children are educated in a Catholic school in Kandy.
The Master and crew thanked Hugh and Mary for their visit. The Master gave them a box of foodstuff which they donated to the local foodbank.
We have so much to be grateful to seafarers who among other things help us keep warm in winter. Listen to our Immingham port chaplain Steve Willows in this beautiful sharing on BBC Humberside's Thought for the Day. Click this link to listen .
While most businesses and companies have started winding down operations in preparation for the Christmas holidays, global maritime charity Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) will be busy supporting the many seafarers who face unseen difficulties this time of year.
The organisation’s port chaplains and ship visitors in Great Britain and around the world are working through Christmas to ensure that crew members, and particularly those going through crises, receive vital pastoral and practical support.
In one recent case, Stella Maris stepped in to help the Kenyan crew of a vessel who lacked food and water and had received death threats from the ship’s owner.
The charity arranged with the local church for the crew to be visited and is working with colleagues to get the situation resolved.
“This will be a hugely stressful time for not only the crew but for their families back home too. Christmas can be a lonely time for many seafarers, without family around, but for those caught up in such awful circumstances, the effect upon their mental wellbeing is huge,” said Martin Foley, Stella Maris European Regional Coordinator.
Conditions on board the fishing vessel
Last week, a Stella Maris chaplain in Southern Africa learnt about a fishing vessel that was arrested in port with six seafarers on board who are without sufficient food and water. They have also not been paid their wages for a few months now.
The local Stella Maris team intervened, providing emergency food and water supplies.
One of the seafarers was shivering from the cold so the chaplain gave him his own warm jacket for which he was really grateful to have. Stella Maris continues to monitor the situation.
Martin said, “Sadly, situations like these are not unfamiliar with Stella Maris port chaplains and ship visitors, as the charity’s Life at Sea Report – the second edition of which will be published next year – has shown.”
He added, “The sight of a Stella Maris port chaplain or ship visitor going on board a ship is a welcome one for many seafarers, especially at this time of year when we ensure that seafarers are not forgotten and show our appreciation for the sacrifices they make throughout the year.”
Conditions on board the fishing vessel
Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) has launched a brand new version of its global port chaplains’ directory which helps seafarers get quick access to pastoral and practical support wherever they are in the world.
The Stella Maris Port Chaplain Directory 2020 lists phone numbers and email addresses of the charity’s 230 chaplains in over 300 ports and terminals across 41 countries.
It also highlights the ports in which Stella Maris Seafarers’ Centres are located; these centres provide a space where seafarers can go to relax, contact family, socialise, and speak to a chaplain away from the environment of their ships.
Stella Maris CEO Martin Foley said, “Stella Maris has the largest ship visiting network globally and our experience shows that face-to-face contact is unique and irreplaceable. This directory provides seafarers useful points of contact should they need urgent support and assistance.” 
Stella Maris Development Director John Green said, “We have chaplains in most of the world’s ports. The Directory is a handy source of information for seafarers to get quick and easy access to assistance and advice.
“Providing up to date and accurate details enables our network of chaplains to provide holistic care for seafarers in port after port worldwide and is a valuable resource both for seafarers and stakeholders in the maritime industry such as P&I clubs, shipping agents and port officials,” he added.
The support offered by Stella Maris – which celebrates its Centenary this year – includes counselling and befriending, hospital visits, transporation to local shops and facilities and providing WiFi connection and phone cards.
The Directory was sponsored by Tindall Riley, Managers of The Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited.
Copies of the Directory are being sent out to Stella Maris chaplains globally for distribution to seafarers and ships. The Directory can be downloaded by clicking here.
We're in the middle of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and our Immingham Port Chaplain Steve Willows was invited to give a sharing on Pause for Thought on BBC Radio Humberside.
Steve says that the work he and our other port chaplains do to support and provide welfare for seafarers means a relationship is needed with many different organisations.
Stella Maris is there for seafarers of all faiths and none. It's only by working together and having the same mission are we able to help the seafarers we meet everyday.
You can listen to his sharing here.
Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) kicked off what promises to be a momentous year as we celebrated our first Sea Sunday appeal of the New Year in St Patrick’s, Dumbarton, Scotland.
Jim Timmoney, who is the parish contact there, spoke at all four Masses over the course of last weekend with parishioners taking the time to respond generously.
Stella Maris was founded on the banks of the River Clyde back in 1920, and will celebrate our centenary in Glasgow later this year when the World Congress will also come back to the city of our birth.
Euan McArthur, our Scotland Development Officer, said, “We would like to offer our sincere thanks to Canon Conroy for allowing us to hold the Sea Sunday appeal in St Patrick’s, and for all those parishioners who gave their generous support.” 
AoS are due to return to the surrounding area when we hold Sea Sunday in St Kessog’s parish, Balloch in the middle of February.
Jim said, “This is an area rich in maritime history and it’s great to be part of this exciting time for the charity.”
Jim was assisted by another volunteer, Margaret King, who gave out Stella Maris prayer cards to parishioners, some of whom had a seafaring connection.
Thank you Jim, Margaret, Canon Conroy and parishioners of St Patrick’s for your wonderful support.
* Interested in volunteering with us. Go here to find out more.
Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) is providing support to six fishing vessel crew members while their ship is detained in Cape Town.
The Yong Qing Fa No. 666 arrived in Cape Town on November 30 but was barred from entering the port and had to drop anchor while it waited to get the greenlight to dock.
The ship was finally allowed to enter the port on December 13. Nicholas Barends, Stella Maris National Director based in Cape Town discovered that the six seafarers – four from Myanmar and two Taiwanese – had very little food and drinking water on board as the ship had run out of supplies while sailing from Senegal to Mauritius.
The vessel turned back and came into Cape Town where it was detained. It had also run out of fuel. 
“I provided the crew with warm clothing as they were shivering. Stella Maris also arranged for emergency food supplies to be brought to them. The smiles on the men’s faces when they received these items spoke volumes,” Nicholas said.
“One diabetic seafarer had run out of medication. Luckily we managed to get a doctor on Christmas Day to draw up a prescription and ensure he got the tablets he needed,” Nicholas added. This has now been provided on two occasions to the seafarer.
Stella Maris has also been in contact with the Taiwanese consulate who brought food gift bags to the crew during the recent Chinese New Year celebration.
“Communicating with the Myanmar seafarers has been quite challenging as the Burmese language is not widely spoken but we have been using the internet and a contact in Myanmar to help out with translations,” Nicholas said. 
“It is sad that the crew have found themselves in this situation but they are grateful for Stella Maris’ assistance and we will continue to support them until they are safely repatriated. It is all part of Stella Maris’ ministry of the Church in outreach to those on the margins,” he added.
Stella Maris celebrates its Centenary this year. The charity will hold its 25th World Congress from September 29 to October 4 in Glasgow, Scotland where it was founded. (Go here for some details)
