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Bep’s Story

When two of our ship visitors, Hugh and Mary, went on board a ship in Hartlepool they were greeted with exciting news – one of the seafarers’ wives had given birth to triplets!

Bep had been a seafarer for years. He had often been away from home for months on end, he was used to missing birthdays, wedding anniversaries and Christmases. But missing the birth of his triplets was particularly hard for him. Nevertheless, Bep was full of joy at their arrival and the mood on the boat was jubilant.

A week later things were very different.

When Hugh and Mary next visited the ship a week later, the mood on the ship was very different. Bep told them that one of the babies was critically ill, weighing only two pounds.

The cost of health care in the Philippines is high, and their bill was financially crippling. His family were taking out loans that Bep would never be able to repay and his wife was discharging herself early to save money. Bep was attempting to extend his contract to try and cover the spiraling costs which would mean even less time at home with his family. Bep was distraught.

But because of support from generous people like you, our volunteers were there. They gathered copies of hospital bills and arranged for Stella Maris’ welfare fund to settle the debt. It meant that his family could get the care they needed, and Bep could return home at the end of his contract, the bills taken care of.

One year later and the triplets are thriving, Bep and his wife Sheila are so grateful to the volunteers and everyone who supports Stella Maris, it is a story they will tell for many years to come!

Malaviya Seven

When the Malaviya Seven ship was detained in Scotland, the crew were abandoned without wages and unable to return home for nearly 18 months. Here, Captain Ashish tells his story

” I remember the first visit by the Stella Maris port chaplain Rev Doug Douglas in the initial days. I was a little wary of all the whole situation namely the detention and the stranding which were all new to us .

There were many many visits by Doug . He was always smiling , cheerful and ever ready to help us out. He was always full of joy no matter the situation.

Over the months, he was a regular visitor to the extent of three to four visits a week. It was not only Doug who was helping us out, he would also get his friends to accompany him . There was no dearth of people to talk to. Each visitor wanted to help us in their own way. There were weekly visits to parts of Scotland in Doug’s minivan and ship visitor John Murray also took us on a Tuesday named ‘John Day’. There was a sense of excitement amongst the crew for the visits and the prevailing sense of despondency used to be forgotten.

From material support to moral support, Stella Maris represented by their port chaplain was always there. I remember a situation when the diesel was running short and we had to curtail the generator running hours. Doug was always thinking one step ahead and he had already organised local support . Places where we could get burners to cook food and heaters to keep us warm were already planned by him.

When the ship’s crew started running out of phone top-ups, he was ready with portable Wi-Fi which was kept on board and made accessible to all crew. The Ship’s requirement with regards to a generator was also discussed and a generator was promptly placed on board to reduce fuel consuption.

There were incidents when a local trip to the hospital was required, enter Doug and his minivan and the matter would be sorted out. Several visits were also required for emergency dental treatment.

Whenever the crew was demoralised, there would be a new thing organised for us. We had regular outings – a horse riding event (courtesy of Stella Maris ship visitor Pam Millar), an archery event (Stella Maris ship visitor Pam and her husband Keith), badminton evenings at the local club (Stella Maris ship visitor Pam and her husband Keith), and several other outings to museums, art gallery, visits to churches and also to the charity ceilidhs.

The port chaplain also brought in the local Indian community to help us out. Having local Indians on board regularly and talking to them also helped us a lot. The crew was graciously invited to their homes. At times, the crew were invited to movies playing at the local theatre. One of the highlights was a visit to the local football club where we were given a guided tour of the stadium, boardroom and dressing room.

All this added to the morale boosting on the ship and the existing tension used to be temporarily forgotten. Stella Maris Port chaplain Doug was also a stabilising factor. He was one person everybody used to listen to. He was also instrumental in pacifying the agitating parties on the rare occasions when there was a dispute.

One of my most memorable visits of the port chaplain was him visiting us on one of our most important festivals (Diwali) he was wearing a bright red pullover, one that would be at home on Christmas day. We of course , made fun of him but he took it all in good spirits.

When the battle became longer and no end was in sight, it was to Doug that we used to turn too for legal advice. He used to advise us, keep us updated and tell us to keep our chins up. Through the port chaplain , we were visited by the local MP of Aberdeen. Bishop Hugh came and blessed the vessel and crew and had lunch with us and also Bishop Robson the Stella Maris Bishop Promoter also paid us a visit. The senior management of Stella Maris Mr. Martin Foley and Euan Mc Arthur , also paid us visits. Local media were also informed so as to spread awareness about our plight .

Although we were stranded and away from home for a long time, there was always a surety that we were not alone. There was an implied assurance that as long the Stella Maris was present, justice would be served.

I would like to end it by saying that had it not been for the Stella Maris team, the crew condition would have been far different in the end. The photos of the crew leaving the vessel finally after the struggle would have shown a totally different picture. The bond between the Stella Maris Port chaplain and the crew of Malaviya Seven has been so strong that crew made it a point to get together to meet the Port chaplain Doug on his visit to India.

As a seafarer, if I were to be in any kind of difficulty in the future , my first action would be to look up the local Stella Maris address. I know ,for sure , that they have the seafarers best interests at heart.

Harvest Appeal

Rebel attacks. War. Insecurity.
In a hostile world seafarers and fishers need you.

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It’s alarming to think of the dangers seafarers face these days. Just under a year ago, a car carrier called Galaxy Leader was hijacked in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels from Yemen. Armed raiders flew in by helicopter and boarded the vessel. Every day ships are being attacked with missiles and drones.

Can you imagine how terrifying it must be?

One of our chaplains met seafarers from a sister Galaxy ship recently. They showed him videos on their phones of the attack. “We’re scared,” they told me, “We are just crew, why does this happen to us?” It was heart-breaking to see their helplessness and distress.

That’s why regular support is so vital. Anxious seafarers need a friend in port. Someone to listen to their worries, offer practical support, provide reassurance and care. Someone who’ll be there, month in, month out.

You are our output valve. Everyone else is input… port authorities, inspectors, captains, even family asking us for money. But you are our output. You listen to us.

You are the only people who ask how we are

– Chief engineer

It costs £13 to share the love and kindness of Christ with one seafarer or fisher, and provide practical support and care during a ship visit.

Your faithful support means there’s a listening ear for a seafarer who needs to talk, a friendly face who visits a worried crew, and an arm around the shoulder of a seafarer in distress. This simple ministry of friendship is so critical. The gentle, steadfast, daily act of visiting ships and caring for seafarers and fishers underpins everything at Stella Maris.

Please, this Harvest, will you support seafarers month after month?    

Lent Appeal

This Lent, could you help exploited fishers?

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Many fishers arrive in the UK hoping to earn a fair wage and provide for their families. Instead, some find themselves exploited, forced to work long hours with little or no pay, threatened with violence, and left without legal protection. They are isolated at sea, afraid to speak out, and sometimes even detained for visa breaches they had no control over.

Stella Maris is there for them – but we need your help.

This Lent, your donation can give fishers a voice. With your support, Stella Maris chaplains can rescue exploited fishers from unsafe conditions, fight for their rights, and provide vital care. We visit those held in detention, connect them with legal aid, and offer practical and emotional support.

Your generosity means a fisher in crisis has someone to turn to. Please, will you give today?

This Lent, you can help exploited, vulnerable fishers and seafarers

Christmas Appeal

Please give a gift to a seafarer or fisher this Christmas

At Christmas, seafarers feel more alone than ever. Can you imagine working on the ocean throughout the cold, dark, long winter? Seafarers and fishers miss their families desperately. You can make their Christmas special this year. Please could you give a gift to a seafarer – to share God’s love and show you care?

Please choose your gifts for a seafarer from the range of wellbeing, faith, clothing, connection and pastoral gifts below* . Or if you prefer, you can make a donation here

Donate now

Wellbeing Gifts

Faith Gifts

Clothing Gifts

Connection Gifts

Pastoral Gifts

*These are just some of the ways your donations can support seafarers visiting our shores. Some donations may be used for other gifts/services for seafarers depending on supply, demand and need at the time

Modern slavery survivors reunited with families after four years

Three seafarers, who are survivors of modern slavery in the UK, have been reunited with their families for the first time in four years, with the help of Stella Maris.

The men’s ordeal began in 2021, when they were recruited to work aboard a fishing vessel in UK waters. Forced to work long hours without rest, given insufficient food, and subjected to threats and physical abuse , they eventually fled their vessel and were later identified as victims of modern slavery.

Now, with the support of Stella Maris, who covered the cost of their flights, the men have been able to travel home for some respite with their families. For one of them, the return is especially joyful, he will be married during the visit.

“Stella Maris is absolutely thrilled that the seafarers have been reconnected with their families after such a long period of being apart. One of them will also get married making their return home more special,” said Tim Hill CEO of Stella Maris UK.

“This wonderful occasion is even more meaningful as we celebrate The Jubilee of Families in this Holy Year and Stella Maris is delighted to have played a part in giving the men some encouragement and hope,” he added.

After fleeing their vessel and seeking help, the fishers entered the UK National Referral Mechanism and were accommodated in a safe house. They were later rehoused and given permission to work, but their case is still being investigated by the authorities and they have been living in limbo since they fled their vessel.

Stella Maris chaplains and volunteers have supported the men throughout this time, offering pastoral care and practical assistance as they await progress in their case.

“Stella Maris continues to provide pastoral support to the men while they await justice and a resolution,” Tim said.

“Whilst the majority of the fishing industry provides a safe workplace for fishers, we continue to come across instances of exploitation and our modern slavery advocacy work, in collaboration with our partners, remains vitally important. All fishers need to be treated equally with respect and dignity,” he added.

Seafarers should not have to choose between shore leave and rest

No One Should Have to Choose Between Shore Leave and Rest – Stella Maris UK Urges ILO Action.

As the International Labour Organization (ILO) meets to consider changes to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) this week, leading maritime charity Stella Maris UK  is calling for urgent protections to stop seafarers being forced to choose between shore leave and adequate rest, a decision that no seafarer should have to make. 

“This should never be a choice,” said Tim Hill, CEO of Stella Maris UK. “But for many crew, it’s an unacceptable reality.  We regularly meet seafarers who are either denied shore leave on vague ‘operational’ grounds, or are too exhausted to go ashore even when permitted.” 

 A recent International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) report backs up what Stella Maris chaplains and ship visitors witness daily: shore leave is becoming harder to access, and many seafarers are sacrificing it out of necessity – not choice – due to relentless working hours. 

In one case, a crew was told not to leave the ship as they were needed to receive provisions – despite already working long hours.  In another, a crew on a detained vessel was denied shore leave for two weeks and told to keep working until repairs were complete.  When visited by a Stella Maris chaplain, they were visibly exhausted, demoralised and morale was very low. 

Elsewhere, crews showed signs of severe fatigue and deteriorating mental health.  One seafarer resigned due to stress, while others were considering breaking their contracts just to get home. 

“There are many ship operators who do the right thing and put crew welfare first,” Hill added. “But the erosion of shore leave and disregard for meaningful rest are having a clear and dangerous impact on crew wellbeing.  Without stronger safeguards and consistent enforcement, unsafe working conditions risk becoming the norm.  Adequate rest and access to shore leave must be treated as operational essentials, not optional extras. 

Stella Maris UK is calling on the ILO to  strengthen protections and tighten enforcement to ensure that seafarers don’t have to choose between rest and their right to shore leave.