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Stella Maris launches Tanzania operation as region feels strain of Red Sea attacks

Posted on July 2, 2024 by -

  • Stella Maris Tanzania will provide practical, pastoral and spiritual support to seafarers at the port of Dar es Salaam and on visits to fishing communities along the Tanzanian coast.
  • New mission will serve increasing number of ship visits in East Africa as vessels divert away from perilous Red Sea routes
  • Rising numbers of seafarers face longer journey times, increasing stress and isolation
  • Stella Maris now has a presence in every major port from Kenya to Namibia.

The world’s largest ship visiting charity Stella Maris is extending operations in East Africa with the opening of a new operation in the port city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to support seafarers and fishing communities.

Stella Maris Tanzania was officially inaugurated on Friday June 28 at a ceremony attended by the Archbishop of Dar es Salaam and representatives from local seafaring and fishing communities as well as those from the Kenyan Port Authority in Mombasa.

The new team is being spearheaded by chaplain Father Patrick Musumbu, a Kenyan national who has lived and worked in Tanzania for 7 years and is leaving the parish he has built there to lead Stella Maris in Dar es Salaam. He will work with a team of volunteers as part of a network including neighbouring centres along the East and South African coast. Their work will also take them into local fishing communities and to the island of Zanzibar.

L-R: Mr Kirima (Chair of the Fish Sellers association, Dar es Salaam), Mr Alfonse Mocoma
(chair of the national fishers Association), (volunteer, unknown), Jon Heard (Stella Maris UK),
Archbishop Jude Ruwa-Ichi (Archbishop of Dar es Salaam), Rev.Fr. Vincent Nzabandora CMM,
Regional Superior of the Missionaries of Mariannhill, Mrs Rose Shiundu, Fr Patrick Musumba
(National Director, Stella Maris Tanzania)

Stella Maris’s Jonathan Heard, who is helping establish the team in Tanzania, said more seafarer support is vital on Africa’s East Coast with seafarers under increasing strain in the region.

“Our new mission opens at a time when seafarers need additional support with the rising numbers of vessels diverting here to avoid the Red Sea,” he said, “Not only does this mean more crews passing through the region; it also means that seafarers face being at sea significantly longer – sometimes months longer – than they anticipated.

“When seafarers spend very long periods of time at sea without adequate stops to rest and recuperate and without seeing anyone from outside their immediate crew, they are more likely to experience mental and physical health problems, and feelings of isolation and loneliness.

“We want to ensure that every seafarer visiting the African continent can get the help they need. That might be as simple as offering friendship and the opportunity to talk without judgement; providing free Wifi connectivity and the chance to make contact with family at home; arranging medical help for sick or injured seafarers; giving spiritual support regardless of faith or religion, or pastoral care for crews facing bereavement after a death on board.”

Fr Pat and his team will also work with local fishing communities along the Tanzania coast where a relatively high mortality rate of 1% is linked to unsafe practices as well as drug and alcohol misuse more common in poorer, rural areas. Their role will be to support these communities to fish more safely through education and practical support.

Stella Maris’s East and Southern Africa network is one of eight regional networks* set up and operated by the global charity to support seafarers and fishers around the world.

Jonathan Heard explains: “Our regional networks are coming together to share information and expertise and to advocate for seafarers and fishers in this part of Africa. Being part of a regional network means that we’re not waiting for a problem to arise in port. Instead, we’re communicating with our colleagues in neighbouring countries to understand the needs of a ship’s crew or an individual seafarer and preparing to offer the right type of support, in-person, when they arrive in our port.”

L-R: Mr Alfonse Mocoma (chair of the national fishers Association), Mr Aki Boma (vice chair),
Mr Kirima (Chair of the Fish Sellers association, Dar es Salaam), Mr Malfi and Mr Gregory (local fishers),
Fr Patrick Musumba (National Director, Stella Maris Tanzania)

Speaking at the launch, Archbishop Ruwa-Ichi, Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, said: “The life of the fisher and seafarer is very tough and they deserve the attention of the church … [the archdiocese] are willing and ready to support this noblest of endeavours. Fishers and seafarers live unseen lives and the church has a duty to reach those living on the margins. We thank Stella Maris for taking up this mission on our behalf, and we thank Stella Maris UK for their support in helping us start this mission, and their commitment to helping us.”

Speaking on the day the new mission was inaugurated, Stella Maris CEO Tim Hill said: “We are delighted to welcome Father Pat and his team to our international network. Stella Maris Tanzania enhances our existing programme in the region and our ability to provide continuous welfare assistance, collective advocacy and direct action for seafarers, fishers and their families around the world.”

Stella Maris is the largest ship-visiting network in the world, and the official maritime charity of the Catholic Church. Its global network of more than 200 chaplains and 800 volunteers, and support staff are available in 353 ports across 57 countries and visit hundreds of thousands of seafarers and fishers every year. They provide practical and pastoral care through ship visits, welfare facilities, and a range of community-building activities.

*Other regions are North America and Caribbean, South America, North and West Africa, Indian subcontinent, South East Asia, Australasia, and Europe.

~ Article written by Polaris Media

Maritime charities help ensure better working lives at sea for seafarers and fishers

Posted on June 12, 2024 by -

Grant funding from The Seafarers’ Charity enables Stella Maris to help achieve better and safer working lives at sea for seafarers and fishers

Hundreds of thousands of seafarers and fishers in the UK and other parts of the world have benefited from practical, pastoral and spiritual support provided by global ship visiting network Stella Maris over the past 10 years, thanks to over £1 million in grant funding provided by The Seafarers’ Charity over that period. The Seafarers’ Charity’s sustained grant funding over the last ten years has enabled Stella Maris to help ensure better and safer working lives at sea for seafarers and fishers. 

Through its global network of over 200 port chaplains and more than 800 volunteers, Stella Maris is present in 353 ports in 57 countries, and collectively they undertake up to 70,000 ship visits globally each year. The Stella Maris teams provide fishers and seafarers with a listening ear, practical assistance, warm clothing, reading materials, transportation into towns, faith materials, and communication tools for contacting family and friends back home.

Unrestricted core funding provided by The Seafarers’ Charity over the last decade has enabled Stella Maris to continue carrying out vital daily ship visits, offering friendship, advice and timely support to seafarers and fishers faced with challenges whilst working at sea. Some of these challenges have included: abandonment, modern slavery, non-payment of wages, hospitalisation and deaths at sea or back home.

As a recent example, an Indian crew abandoned in Troon, Scotland had not received their wages for several months. The local Stella Maris chaplain, Deacon Joe O’Donnell, visited and provided them with free mobile phone SIM cards, food, clothing and transport into town. The uncertainty of having no income put them under huge mental strain, so Stella Maris offered them pastoral support and reassurance. Following this intervention, the crew were eventually paid and they were able to return home.

Grants from The Seafarers’ Charity have also supported the growth and development of Stella Maris’ activities in South Africa and Kenya during this period.  In Kenya, this has enabled the growth of Stella Maris Kenya from one port chaplain and three volunteers to a team of one port chaplain, three staff members, and 30 volunteers, greatly increasing the number of ships visited and seafarers helped.  The funding has also helped Stella Maris Kenya to support over 8,000 seafarers, fishers and their families through access to training, educational programmes and counselling support.

Tim Hill MBE, CEO at Stella Maris said: “None of our work is possible without that unrestricted core funding provided by The Seafarers’ Charity.  Who would pay Deacon Joe’s salary, the fuel for his car, his personal protective equipment?  Core funding isn’t glamorous, it’s not aligned to a specific project or deliverable, but here in the UK it is essential to enable my 22 chaplains and 80 volunteers to carry out their duties, so we are very grateful to The Seafarers’ Charity for their visionary and flexible funding approach.”  He also added that “we are delighted to receive restricted funding grants that have supported our growth in Kenya and South Africa.”

Deborah Layde, Chief Executive at The Seafarers’ Charity added: “The Seafarers’ Charity is proud to support Stella Maris’ crucial role on the frontline delivering much needed welfare support to visiting seafarers. While their work in port is very visible, less visible, but just as essential, are the hidden core running costs of an organisation. Our funding of essential running costs means Stella Maris can focus on what they do best – helping seafarers. Thereby enabling them to pay their bills and deliver on their mission in the most effective and sustainable manner over the long-term. We encourage all funders and donors who want to support seafarers to consider contributing to the essential core costs of maritime welfare charities. Funding core costs may not be sexy or exciting and you can’t stick your logo on it, but it is a critical source of funding which enables a maritime charity such as Stella Maris to get on with helping seafarers to enjoy better working lives at sea.”  

Stella Maris provides support in face of alarming rise in abandoned crew

Posted on May 30, 2024 by -

Cases of seafarers abandoned by shipowners without money, support, or the means to get home have reached alarming levels around the world, and global maritime charity Stella Maris is providing support to some of those affected.

The rise in the number of distressing cases in the sector has become a humanitarian crisis with many seafarers suffering mental issues as they struggle to find a way to resolve their parlous situation.

“This is a call to action for the entire maritime industry,” said Stella Maris CEO Tim Hill. “We must unite to enforce international laws, hold negligent companies accountable, and provide immediate assistance to abandoned crew.

“Ship abandonment has reached alarming levels, leaving many seafarers stranded without support, wages, or a way home. They deserve respect, dignity, and the assurance that they will never be forgotten.”

Tim Hill

Data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) highlights the huge rise in abandonment cases, which occur when shipowners withhold wages, repatriation, and even basic needs such as food, accommodation and medical care. In just 10 years, known cases have soared from little more than a dozen-a-year to 143 in 2023 with more than 100 cases already reported in 2024.

Deacon Joseph O’Donnell, Stella Maris Senior Area Port Chaplain for Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: “We ask those companies and organizations which benefit from the maritime industry, such as major retailers, to join us to put a stop to abandonment.”

A major issue in numerous labor supply countries is the role of formal recruitment agencies and “unlicensed agents,” who visit villages with promises of wages and conditions that often don’t materialize. “It will really help if we can cut out these unlicensed agents, better regulate the formal recruiters and properly introduce new skilled work visas,” said Deacon O’Donnell.

He highlighted a recent issue when an Indian crew, which had not received their wages for several months, was abandoned in Troon in south-west Scotland.

“We supplied groceries, clothing, and free mobile phone SIM cards so they could talk to their families back home,” he said. “We also must consider how much mental strain they are under with no money, no means of getting home and absolutely no idea what their future is.”

Stella Maris provided the Indian crew with pastoral support and reassurance. Following the charity’s intervention, the crew was eventually paid and repatriated back home.

Stella Maris Kenya supported crew on an abandoned vessel in Mombasa port

In recent years, Stella Maris has supported other abandoned crews in countries around the world such as Kenya and Taiwan. Its team in Taiwan supported the crew of eight Indonesians on a cargo ship abandoned in Kaohsiung port, who needed provisions and help to return home to their families. Its team in Kenya supported crew members on an abandoned fishing vessel in Mombasa port for over a year with food, water and Wi-Fi.

Margaret Masibo, the Stella Maris chaplain in Mombasa, Kenya, recalls: “Men were crying, others were shouting, some had withdrawn into silence. For several days, they’d had no food or fresh water. They were starving to death. Since the ship had been abandoned, not a single person had stepped on board to help – until I did. The men had no money and couldn’t disembark because they didn’t have papers to be in Kenya. It was a terrible, heart-breaking sight to see people abandoned so carelessly.”

“Awareness of these issues needs to be raised to higher government levels. It is a truly global issue,” added Deacon O’Donnell.

~ Story written by Polaris Media

Seafarers face mounting risks running the Red and Black Sea gauntlet

Posted on May 8, 2024 by -

Leading maritime charity Stella Maris is warning of the growing dangers facing crew members running the gauntlet of the world’s most perilous shipping route.

The seafarers are working on vessels travelling to Ukraine via the Red then the Black Sea, navigating Houthi and Russian military threats as they sail through two major conflict zones.

Stella Maris is one of the few seafarer charities with chaplains based in Ukraine, carrying out ship visits from the southern port city of Odesa. Here they work with seafarers on the frontline, witnessing the impact it is having on them.

The seafarers face the threat of Houthi missiles, drone attacks and raiding parties in the Red Sea. And once they enter the Black Sea the danger levels remain high, with the collapse of a ‘grain corridor ‘agreement in July 2023 heightening the tension.

Shortly after the collapse of the deal allowing Ukraine to ship grain, it was reported that the Russian military would regard any vessel bound for Ukraine to be a potential carrier of military cargo, in effect making it a legitimate target.

Houthis from Yemen resumed their attacks on shipping last week, firing missiles and drones. Since last November they have targeted more than 80 merchant ships.

Stella Maris also highlights that safe arrival in port offers little or no respite from jeopardy for seafarers.

Russian drone and missile attacks on the strategically vital Ukrainian port of Odesa occur regularly, with devastating consequences – claiming human casualties and destroying infrastructure.

The charity’s chaplains in the port report high levels of stress and anxiety among many of the seafarers on ships that dock there.

Stella Maris Odesa port chaplain Father Alexander Smerechynskyy, known as ‘Fr Alex’, and Rostyslav ‘Rostik’ Inzhestoikov, director of its local centre, make regular visits to ships that arrive in the port.

Fr Alex and Rostik on one of their ship visits

Here they hear first-hand the experiences of the international community of seafarers working on the vessels, drawn from countries ranging from Syria and Turkey to, Egypt and Indonesia.

With many shipowners not allowing crew members to go ashore during their time in port, for security reasons, these visits are proving increasingly important in countering feelings of isolation and loneliness among seafarers.

The ship visits resumed in January last year, after being banned at the start of the conflict for safety reasons. During that time, the Stella Maris team ensured the practical delivery of food parcels to seafarers trapped on ships in the Black Sea, as well as using social media for remote pastoral support.

Fr Alex says the resumed visits have a big role to play in supporting seafarers living and working in dangerous conditions. He explained: “One of the most important things we do is to listen, to show them they are not forgotten and that we are here for them, whatever their troubles or problems.

“Having someone independent from the ship to talk to in confidence can really help them.”

He added: “Some of the seafarers have travelled through the conflict area of the Red Sea, with its risks of attacks from Houthis, then have travelled onto the Black Sea with its own dangers, given there is no agreement on maritime safety.

“They have signed on knowing the risks and receive additional pay as a result, but there is no respite for them and that has an effect. Once here in Odesa they can witness the drone attacks on the port and the town at close hand.”

Rostik recalls talking to one seafarer shortly after they had witnessed one of those attacks close to where their ship was docked. He said: “When you look up and see a drone just a few hundreds of metres from a ship, or see an explosion close by, it is little wonder it adds to the stress and anxiety you are feeling.

“Not being able to go ashore can also have a negative impact on people’s mental health and wellbeing, especially after large periods of time at sea. It can be a very difficult time for them.”

Stella Maris Ukraine organises Mass on board for seafarers

It is not only visiting seafarers that are experiencing difficulties and who are in need of Stella Maris’ support.

The charity, which has had a base in Odesa for 20 years, is also hard at work helping and supporting local Ukrainian seafarers who are facing an increasingly difficult situation.

They are unable to join a ship and go to sea because of Ukraine’s wartime rules, which mean adult men cannot leave the country without receiving special permission.

Rostik said: “It means that they haven’t been able to work at sea for more than two years and many have found it extremely difficult to get a job onshore to support themselves and their families.

“It is not an easy situation to be in and it is taking its toll on people who are feeling increasingly powerless.”

The situation, coupled with the impact of more than two years of war on their community, has piled the pressure on those seafarers, leading to increasing stress levels and signs of loneliness and depression.

Fr Alex and Rostik continue to provide both spiritual and practical support to these seafarers and their families in what are desperate times.

They have run soup kitchens to provide much-needed meals. Through Stella Maris’ Centenary Emergency Fund, the charity has also provided grants to hundreds of needy Ukrainian seafarers and their families.

It has also set up a digital emergency mental health counselling service, which exists to provide relief for some of the increasing number of men, women and children suffering trauma and poor mental health because of the ongoing and relentless war.

* Story written by Polaris Media

Stella Maris establishes cross-sector steering group to help tackle modern slavery in UK ports

Posted on January 30, 2024 by -

Stella Maris is taking proactive measures in the fight against modern slavery with the establishment of a dedicated Steering Group.

The group comprises 23 individuals representing a spectrum of stakeholders, including ferry operators, port businesses, recruitment agencies, port owners, port authorities, charities, Border Force, and the police. It aims to build on the success of Stella Maris’ recent Modern Slavery Identification and Awareness workshops and create a comprehensive action plan to help address modern slavery  UK ports.

Stella Maris partnered with Align Ltd in 2023 to hold six Modern Slavery Identification and Awareness workshops led by an expert panel and those with Lived Experience of the issue. The workshops, funded by the Department for Transport through the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, explored critical aspects of modern slavery prevention, indicators of exploitation, risk reduction strategies, emerging threats, and access to support networks for survivors.

Pre-and post-workshop surveys provided valuable insights. Highlighting the scale of the issue, 52% of participants revealed that they were aware of modern slavery victims being identified within or by their organisation, and 60% expressed concerns about potential exploitation in their supply chains.

The workshops identified five key challenges faced by the maritime sector in combating modern slavery and human trafficking:

1. Lack of Awareness and Knowledge

2. Difficulty in Identifying Victims

3. Challenges in Reporting and Sharing Information

4. Trust and Communication Issues

5. Organisational and Leadership Challenges.

Responding to these challenges, Stella Maris and Align Ltd have formed the Steering Group to catalyse positive change within the sector.

Mark Gibbens, Head of Logistics at Drax Power Limited, expressed his commitment to the issue, stating, “My company operates a global supply chain, and the workshop has inspired me to join the Stella Maris Steering Group in 2024 to use our position of privilege to promote greater awareness of modern slavery, and to be proactive in improving our industry.” 

Tim Hill MBE, Stella Maris CEO and National Director, emphasised the significance of the initiative, saying, “With over half of the workshop participants being aware of modern slavery victims being identified within or by their organisation, it’s clear this is a big issue for the maritime sector. The steering group, bringing together diverse perspectives from across the port infrastructure, provides a great opportunity to create a comprehensive and effective action plan for lasting change.”

The first Steering Group meeting was held on January 24th and marked a significant milestone in the collaborative effort to help combat modern slavery in UK ports.

Read more: Workshop launched to help combat modern slavery in the maritime industry

New vehicle to boost our vital work in Ukraine

Posted on November 20, 2023 by -

Stella Maris is pleased to announce the deployment of a new vehicle for its chaplaincy and ship-visiting work in Ukraine, funded by leading mutual insurer, the UK P&I Club.

The vehicle, a Renault Express van, will be used to carry out vital ship-visiting work in Odesa and along the Black Sea coast, as well as deliver financial aid to out-of-work Ukrainian seafarers and their families, and support port workers, retired seafarers and their families in the region.

Stella Maris has maintained a physical presence in Ukraine throughout the war and this new vehicle provides a significant boost to its operational efficiency and morale. The vehicle will enhance the charity’s work supporting seafarers and their families and allow its chaplaincy team to extend their outreach as the war in Ukraine continues.

“We are very grateful to the UK P&I Club for stepping forward to fully fund the purchase of a vehicle that is essential for the work of our chaplaincy team in Odesa. The team continues to support seafarers and their families in desperate times and the new vehicle is already being put to great use in Ukraine, led by our local port chaplain Fr Alexander Smerechynskyy, and assistant chaplain Rostyslav Inzhestoikov.

“This is an excellent example of how financial support from our corporate partners and the shipping industry helps ensure that we can go that extra mile in the support we provide to those affected by crisis.” said Stella Maris CEO Tim Hill MBE.

Patrick Ryan Sustainability Director and Head of Club Secretariat from UK P&I Club commented: “The Club has a firm commitment to a range of maritime charities including Stella Maris.  The life of a seafarer can be incredibly tough at the best of times, but during war, the challenges facing these individuals increase exponentially.  Despite the obvious operational hurdles caused by the conflict, Stella Maris has never wavered in its commitment to Ukrainian seafarers and their families and we’re proud to be able to support them to continue to deliver support in these communities.”

Fr Alexander Smerechynskyy, Stella Maris port chaplain in Odesa, added: “This wonderful donation from UK P&I has made a massive difference, not just to our operations but also to our morale. We can now be much more effective and impactful, the sheer value of knowing we are supported and not forgotten after 19 months of war is beyond measure.”

Stella Maris’ response to the war in Ukraine

Stella Maris is the maritime agency of the Catholic church and is physically present and actively working in Ukraine to support seafarers and their families.

Since February 2022, Stella Maris has provided accommodation in Poland for 150 refugees displaced by the war, provided hardship grants to over 400 families affected by the war and distributed food parcels to retired seafarers, port workers and their dependants around Ukraine. It has also facilitated the distribution of over 3,000 mobile phone SIM cards across Europe to Ukrainians and other seafarers affected by the war, to ensure they can continue to maintain contact with loved ones back home.

In late 2022, Stella Maris launched a digital emergency mental health counselling service in Ukraine, to provide relief for some of the increasing number of men, women and children suffering trauma and poor mental health because of the war.