Flying Angel News, Summer 2014

Flying Angel News

News from The Mission to Seafarers | Summer 2014 | Issue 11

Mission steps in to support Sewol families

Inside this issue of Flying Angel News IN THIS • Celebrating Sea Sunday 2014 • Mission wins welfare awards • Volunteering in Hong Kong

ISSUE

• Caring across the seas • The latest fundraising news • News from ports around the world

Thousands of seafarers are abandoned on ships every year.

They are left to fend for themselves, cut off from the world, unpaid and without food or water.

In many ports The Mission to Seafarers is the only help at hand.

We need your prayer and support to continue our vital work for merchant crews and their families in need.

Join us at www.seasunday.org Flying Angel News is published by The Mission to Seafarers St Michael Paternoster Royal, College Hill, London EC4R 2RL Tel: +44 (0)20 7248 5202 Fax: +44 (0)20 7248 4761 Email: Fan@missiontoseafarers.org Website: www.missiontoseafarers.org

President: HRH The Princess Royal Chairman: Robert Woods CBE Secretary General: The Revd Andrew Wright

Facebook: themissiontoseafarers Twitter: @FlyingAngelNews Editor: Michael Keating Cover: Reuters

Founded in 1856 and entirely funded by voluntary donations, The Mission to Seafarers offers emergency assistance, practical support, and a friendly welcome to crews visiting over 260 ports around the world. Whether caring for victims of piracy or providing a lifeline to those stranded in foreign ports, we are there for the globe’s 1.5 million merchant seafarers of all ranks, nationalities and beliefs.

In the UK, The Mission to Seafarers is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, number: 6220240, registered charity no: 1123613. The Mission to Seafarers Scotland Limited is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland, number: 389483, registered charity in Scotland: SC041938. Registered office: 109 Avalon Gardens, Linlithgow Bridge, Linlithgow, West Lothian, EH49 7PL.

Contents

From the

In this issue...

Secretary General

Caring across the seas

Andrew Wright

Chaplains in the UK, Europe and the United States use technology to team up to help a crew being mistreated by their cruel captain

Dear Friends, Welcome to the Summer edition of Flying Angel News.

It has been a busy start to the year. In January, we launched our ‘Strategic Reorganisation’, with the aims of further regionalising our work and restructuring our International Headquarters in London. The reorganisation is designed to build strong foundations for the future in a time of much change in the shipping industry. It is imperative that we use our resources wisely, and we’re committed to making sure that our work is focused, creative and relevant.

A man on a Mission

Port stories

Celebrate Sea Sunday

Looking further forwards, I was recently asked what the Mission may look like in 2050, but one need not look so far away to see significant change. Communications developments will have major implications for our work and we may see more online chaplaincy in the future, while talk of drone ships suggests crew sizes will continue to shrink.

No one knows what lies ahead, but while seafarers’ needs remain, we will be there to support them. With your help, we will continue to deliver dynamic and courageous work which will make a huge difference to seafarers’ lives.

Andrew Wright Secretary General www.missiontoseafarers.org

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Read the latest stories from some of the Mission’s ports around the world, including case studies from our chaplains in the UK, Europe, Australia and the Middle East

We are looking closely at ports where extended or new operations are needed. To this end additional chaplaincy support will be added in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and Singapore, and we hope to be able to announce an exciting development in India in the near future.

But before that comes around, I’m off to take part in this year’s Flying Angel Ride. Wish me luck: I’m doing the long one this year!

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Will Bryant traded the mountains of North Carolina for the Mission in Hong Kong for a year of voluntary work. Read his story here

In April, The Mission to Seafarers in East Asia, and The Gulf & South Asia became new regions, headed up by the Revd Stephen Miller (Hong Kong) and the Revd Dr Paul Burt (Dubai) respectively. The Southern Africa region now includes wider Africa, and we welcome the Revd Cedric Rautenbach (Durban), who’s taken the post of development officer there, while Ken Hawkins (Seattle) now has a similar role in the United States. They face many challenges and we are already seeing the benefits of their work.

In the more immediate future, Sea Sunday is coming up.

This year’s theme, abandonment, is a serious issue for many seafarers that often leaves them unpaid, unable to support their families, and stranded without food or water.

Find out more on page 12.

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Sea Sunday is coming.

Find out how you can take part and give thanks for the work of seafarers with our fundraising and church materials

Regulars Mission news

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Fundraising news

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Interview

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Events calendar

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Mission news

MLC amendments to “better protect seafarers”

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he International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva has agreed in principle two key proposals for amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC 2006), which will give seafarers and their families better protection in the event that a ship is abandoned, or a seafarer is killed or injured on board.

It is proposed that financial security systems are put in place to provide for crews in the event of their abandonment, or in the case of workplace death or long-term personal injury. Should the recommendations be passed, ships will be required to carry a certificate proving that they are covered.

The Mission was heavily involved in the debate which led to the changes being proposed, attending the Special Tripartite Committee meeting and a week-long session to shore up the proposed amendments. The adopted amendments must now be presented to the ILO Conference in June before they can be implemented.

The Revd Canon Ken Peters, director of justice and public

affairs, said: “The consensus that has formed around the protection of seafarers is significant. It shows that governments, shipowners and seafarers’ representatives realise that they must not be left without repatriation.

“The Mission will continue to provide the necessities, such as food and water, to those relying on us, knowing that repatriation is in sight.”

When ships are abandoned, seafarers are generally left without food or water on ships that are in very poor conditions.

As of March 2014, the ILO’s Abandonment of Seafarers Database listed 159 abandoned merchant ships, some dating back to 2006 with abandonment cases still unresolved. This is a figure which, The Mission maintains, reflects the under-reporting of the problem, and it is often the case that crews are trapped on board their ships for much longer before issues are resolved.

You can find out more about abandonment in this year’s Sea Sunday materials (page 12).

Arrested Seaman Guard Ohio crew bailed after six months

Left to right: Mission director of development Nicky Wynne; Alan Reid MP; family representatives Lisa Dunn and Yvonne MacHugh; and Secretary General the Revd Andrew Wright

A fundraising partnership was also launched to ensure that the crew were getting the supplies and support they needed while in prison.

On the day, the Mission’s Secretary General, the Revd Andrew Wright, accompanied representatives of the families to 10 Downing Street, where they handed over a change.org petition to have the matter discussed in Parliament. The online petition gained over 150,000 signatures.

After several hearings, 33 of the 35 were granted bail until their next hearing date in June. The ship’s Ukrainian captain, along with the British head of the security team, were denied bail at the time.

To keep up with the latest news on the crew’s situation, visit our website at www.missiontoseafarers.org

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he majority of the crew of the Seaman Guard Ohio were granted bail in April after being held in jail in India for over six months.

The Seaman Guard Ohio, an anti-piracy patrol vessel, was arrested back on 12 October, after it was alleged that it strayed into Indian territorial waters carrying undocumented firearms.

The crew were then arrested on weapons smuggling charges.

The 35-man crew, made up of 10 seafarers and 25 private maritime security contractors had been denied bail several times. Of the 35 men, there are 14 Estonians, 12 Indians, 6 Britons and 3 Ukrainians.

Since their arrest, The Mission to Seafarers has supported the families of the crew, and also visited the seafarers in jail.

The Mission held a press conference at its International Headquarters to announce its support for the families of the arrested seafarers and raise the profile of their plight, attracting national coverage on ITV and the BBC.

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Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Summer 2014 | Issue 11

News

Mission responds to Sewol ferry disaster

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he Mission to Seafarers chaplain in South Korea, the Revd Dr Simon Ro, has described his work in recent weeks as “completely heartbreaking”.

Simon was a leading member of one of the first emergency support teams to reach Jindo following the sinking of the Sewol ferry, which sank in April with the loss of over 300 lives.

When news first broke about the tragedy, a team from the Pusan Christian Maritime Association (PUCMA), of which Simon is President, travelled to Jindo to offer passengers, crew and their families counselling, comfort and spiritual support.

Simon said: “I understand the extraordinary grief of the passengers’ families. We have offered them all our services and support at this terrible time. We are still in shock. It is very sad that the captain and 22 crew members have been at the centre of public uproar for having allegedly been among the first to be rescued. Some of the crew have now been arrested and we are all very concerned for them and their families.

“We have also been made aware that the president of the Korean Register of Shipping and the chairman of the board of the Korean Shipping Association have both resigned in the wake of the disaster. I hope and I pray that this tragedy enables the government and all the shipping agencies and industries in Korea to re-evaluate their plans for seafarer and passenger safety.

“This has been the most terrible ordeal for those involved and for the South Korean nation as a whole.”

The Revd Andrew Wright, Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers, said: “A major disaster of this nature, particularly involving the very tragic loss of young lives, is extremely traumatic for families and they need as much help as possible. I am so grateful that PUCMA were able to mobilise a team and get down to the port to offer their considerable expertise in trauma counselling and support. Our thoughts are with all the families who have lost their loved ones at sea.”

The Revd Simon Ro, pictured here ship visiting, has been involved firsthand with the families of those who lost their lives in the sinking of the Sewol ferry in April 2014.

Mission to Seafarers picks up prestigious welfare awards

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he Mission to Seafarers won two prestigious welfare prizes at the International Seafarers’ Welfare Awards, held at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva in April.

The Flying Angel Club in Fremantle, Australia, won the Seafarer Centre of the Year Award and The Dr Dierk Lindemann Welfare Personality of the Year prize was awarded to Mission chaplain the Revd Paul Noel, based in Durban, South Africa.

Last year, the Revd Canon Dennis Claughton, the Mission’s chaplain at the Fremantle centre, shared the Welfare Personality Award with Father Giacomo Martino of the Apostleship of the Sea in Italy.

The Revd Canon Ken Peters, director of justice and public affairs, The Mission to Seafarers, who attended the awards ceremony, said: “Congratulations go to Fremantle Seafarers’ Centre; it is very high praise indeed to win an award from the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN). The centre opened back in 1931 and has a long history of dedication and service.

“It is also a fabulous achievement for Paul Noel to win the personality of the year. He has given over 50 years’ dedicated service to seafarers in the Port of Durban, one of the busiest in the world. Durban provides a full welfare service including daily ship visiting and the club in Port provides meals and recreation facilities as well as access to legal and medical services.”

The Revd Paul Noel said: “I am honoured and delighted to receive this award from ISWAN and want to thank all the team at Durban for their continued hard work and enthusiasm for helping seafarers from all nations. I have campaigned on the dire effects of non-payment of wages and against unsafe working conditions; the Mission will continue to press for improvements.

“One of the most important aspects of my work is talking and providing ministry to seafarers. Showing care for their welfare and making the time to learn about their homes and countries puts them all at ease and is the key to establishing and maintaining supportive relationships.”

Top: The Revd Canon Dennis Claughton collects the Seafarer Centre of the Year award; Bottom: The Revd Paul Noel with his award, accompanied by his wife Virginia Noel (Photos: ISWAN) www.missiontoseafarers.org

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Caring for seafarers aroun

The Mission works in 260 ports worldwide, with ch locations, but that doesn’t mean that they aren together as ships sail away, ensuring crews get

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any of the 260 ports in which The Mission to Seafarers operates around the world are in isolated or inhospitable places.

Aden, in the Yemen, is one such remote port. So is Fujairah, in Dubai, with its Mogadishu wharf. Ports in these areas are in heavily industrialised settings, removed from population centres, kept out of sight.

It can be easy to see the work of a chaplain in a similar light. Seafarers can arrive in a ship that may only ever dock in a particular port once, never to return after its cargo has been unloaded, as markets develop and needs change. Chaplains visit many such ships, providing pastoral and practical support to the crews that need assistance, responding in time of emergencies, or welcoming crews to centres, knowing they may well never see this vessel again. Even if the ship returns, its crew may not, as they join new ships, get new contracts, or return home.

However, this doesn’t just happen in smaller or remote ports - the same goes for ports such as Singapore and Rotterdam – two of the world’s busiest. These ports, so sprawling and large, have so many berths that the sheer volume of ships means that they could come and go regularly, arriving in different parts of the port each time.

To counteract this, many teams have highly organised ways of working, ensuring each part of larger ports, where it would be impossible for single chaplain to reach every ship, receive the proper amount of attention and care.

Antwerp is one such centre where this kind of setup exists and

Ship visiting is increasingly important to seafarers who are often under immense pressure to turn ships around as quickly as possible

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Chaplains are often providers of the first news that seafarers have read or received for several days, if not weeks works effectively. On a recent visit, the Revd Andrew Wright, Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers, told us: “Antwerp highlights the enormous variety of not only the ports we operate in, but the work that our chaplains undertake.

Antwerp is one of Europe’s busiest ports, with 2,000 berths and hundreds of ship movements a day. This operation is highly organised, and the work of the maritime welfare organisations certainly match it. Our chaplain, the Revd Brian Millson, works alongside representatives of the Apostleship of the Sea and the Sailors’ Society, who work closely together to make sure that the needs of seafarers in every area of the port are met.”

But just because a ship may only arrive in port once, or be seen by the port chaplain on one occasion, doesn’t mean that they’re out of sight and out of mind. Websites dedicated to reporting the locations of ships through AIS, and the amount of data available to port staff through systems such as Lloyd’s List Intelligence has never been greater. Not only do our port chaplains use systems such as these to organise their workloads but also to see where their ships are off to next, which in some cases, can make all the difference.

John Attenborough, the Mission’s former Tilbury chaplain (now based in Southampton), received a request to visit a tanker that had just docked. Upon arrival, John sensed that the ship, the Pretty World, made up of a Filipino and Chinese crew with a Russian captain, had an unusual atmosphere. After his initial visit, John said: “Something didn’t fit. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it…but I knew I needed to return to this ship.”

Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Summer 2014 | Issue 11

Feature

nd the world

haplains often supporting seafarers in very remote n’t all connected. In many cases, chaplains work the best care possible. Michael Keating reports

The following morning, when John came back, the crew were delighted to see him. Several crew members asked to speak to him privately and tales of mistreatment, bullying and endangerment came flooding out, followed by complaint after complaint about the ship’s captain. It was alleged that in some cases, the captain was even using the crew’s phonecards – most seafarers’ only connection with their families during their long contracts at sea – so that he didn’t have to buy his own.

The crew asked John to refer the matter to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), but he was told that there were no inspectors available to visit the ship. Taking matters into his own hands, John did some research and found that the ship was headed for Antwerp, so John referred the case to the Mission’s chaplain there, Brian.

Brian read John’s warning with alarm, and visited the ship on its arrival, but he was refused access to the crew by the captain. Fortunately, the ship’s chief officer spotted Brian on the gangway, and took him aside to explain the situation. While ship visiting is part of Brian’s daily routine, this particular visit took a strange turn. As they had with John, members of the crew came forward and shared their stories all of which included verbal, psychological and physical abuse. However, all of these stories were told while the group were hidden on the ship, out of sight of the captain, such were the seafarer’s fears of being discovered.

Brian did his best to comfort the crew, and they implored him to take action, so he contacted the shipowner’s crew manager. However, the response he received was less than

The Revd Brian Millson on board a ship in the Port of Antwerp, which sees as many as 40 ships arrive every day

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John Attenborough distributing Mission to Seafarers materials on board during a ship visit in the Port of Tilbury satisfactory. While they promised to undertake an “investigation”, they said they had full confidence in their captain and would only ask him to “moderate” his behaviour if it was strictly necessary.

Brian said: “I have been a military and maritime chaplain for over 25 years, and John also has 20 years’ experience. We were disturbed by what we heard on this ship. I have seldom come across men so upset and frightened as this crew: not even men who had been under fire in Afghanistan and Bosnia.”

The ship has not appeared in Tilbury or Antwerp since these incidents, but both John and Brian have been keeping track of it through online shipping tools, so local port chaplains can be warned of its arrival.

Recently, the Pretty World resurfaced off the east coast of the United States. Having kept track of the ship since his encounter with its cowed crew, Brian put in a call to the chaplain in Houston, Texas, the Revd Lacy Largent, who paid them a visit to make sure everything was okay on board.

Thankfully, she was able to report that the crew were in good spirits. The captain had since changed, and none of the issues detected by John and Brian seemed to be in evidence, meaning things have turned around for this crew.

What is certain is that seafarers all around the world will continue to receive this kind of care and support from The Mission to Seafarers, wherever they may find themselves and whatever their needs may be.

To find out more about the Mission’s global work, visit our website at www.missiontoseafarers.org

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Bright lights, big city: one man’s Mission in Hong Kong

Will Bryant, volunteering for the Mission in Hong Kong, tells us how it has taken him to see places – and to meet people – he never expected…

So how does a kid from the North Carolina mountains end up working with The Mission to Seafarers in Hong Kong?

After I finished college, I felt like I was beginning to grow away from the church, so when I heard about the Young Adult Service Corps it seemed like a great way to rekindle that relationship and also to see the world. I didn’t have a clue where the program would send me, but I knew that I wanted to travel and do something exciting with my life and I was assigned to The Mission to Seafarers in Hong Kong.

I’m from a really small town in the mountains of North Carolina, so I had a very limited interaction with the sea when I was growing up. To be honest, the majority of people in my community do not know the work of seafarers or the Mission. It’s been an eyeopening experience as I have learned so much about the global shipping industry and the much-needed work of the Mission.

Did you find it easy to settle in Hong Kong?

Honestly, no. At first I was completely overwhelmed by the population density and culture difference. My hometown has 06

a population of 2,500, so you can imagine my shock when I was suddenly thrust into a population of 7 million, but I have come to love Hong Kong.

There are so many d i ff e r e n t k i n d s o f people crammed into this tiny island and there is always something new going on. It’s difficult to be bored here.

A huge part of the reason why I feel so comfortable in Hong Kong is due to the hospitality shown to me by the Revd Stephen Miller, his wife and the rest of the staff at the club. The Mariner’s Club has been a really welcoming place.

Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Summer 2014 | Issue 11

Volunteering What was your first day like?

Unforgettable. I had spent zero percent of my life on the water up until then, so to find myself climbing up a 15-metre rope ladder in the middle of the South China Sea was quite incredible. I kept imagining that I was going to wake up in my bed back home any minute and think to myself, “Wow that was a really weird dream!”

What part of the placement have you found most rewarding?

Being a ship chaplain can be lonely work; you’re not in a parish, seeing the same people week in, week out. It involves meeting people who you will never see again, which can be frustrating, so the most rewarding part of the job has been creating a community of seafarers that regularly visit Hong Kong. I now know many seafarers by name, and I know a good bit about their lives back home. But they know me too; my name, where I’m from, about my family, and they are genuinely interested in how I am doing. They are my friends.

What was travelling on the launch vessel like?

Traveling on the launch is one of my favourite things about working with Mission to Seafarers; I think I may have the best commute in the world. Every morning I get to ride through beautiful Victoria Harbour. It’s about a thirty minute trip from the pier out to the anchorage, which is plenty of time for reflection, so I usually do morning prayer and start to focus on the seafarers I’ll be visiting.

What was the most surprising story a seafarer shared with you?

I have heard a lot of crazy stories, but the most surprising one came from a young captain, Jeffrey, who told me about his five-hour chase with pirates. It was something straight from a movie; I simply couldn’t believe that the guy sitting before me had fended off pirates, armed with automatic weapons and a rocket launcher, for five hours. Afterwards, Jeffery said he would never return to the sea, so he taught at the maritime school in his city. However, a few months later, he was bored working on land, so he went back to being a captain! I was shocked by his passion for being a seafarer, even after it nearly cost him his life.

Did you experience any heavy weather when you were out on the ships or was it all smooth sailing?

Every now and then we will get a storm, which makes our job a bit more dangerous as the swells increase dramatically during storms, making our transition between boats a little more difficult. But I like that challenge! Luckily I haven’t fallen in during one of our ship visits... yet.

How has your placement changed your perspective of the sea and the lives of seafarers?

In North Carolina, I would walk into the grocery store in the dead of winter and be shocked if the store was out of bananas or oranges. Being in the mountains, we don’t see the massive container ships constantly coming and going - it’s a world that is hidden from view, so I never gave any thought to how items like out-of-season produce made it to grocery stores around the world. I just thought it was a given that those items would be there.

But now I know that there are thousands of seafarers who are constantly working in sometimes terrible conditions to make sure that consumers are always getting what they want. There is just so much about our lifestyle that we take for granted, and we are allowed to live that lifestyle because of the hard work of seafarers everywhere.

Making connections with seafarers is difficult as their lives are like one big commute. They are constantly on the move, unable to attach to anyone. So when I do make those connections, it makes me feel like I have done something to make their lives better. That’s a huge reward for me.

What comes next after Hong Kong?

My placement ends in August 2014, but I think my mission will continue. I want to educate my friends and family about what I have learned.

Next up, I’ll be working in Rome as a parish assistant at St. Paul’s within the Walls Episcopal Church, and as an intern at the church’s Joel Nafuma Refugee Centre. Rome will be completely different to working in Hong Kong, but I think the Mission has equipped me with the skills to do a lot of good for the migrants and refugees in Rome. I’ve loved working with The Mission to Seafarers and I hope to do it again one day.

Find out more If you would like to find out more about volunteering with The Mission to Seafarers, visit our website at www.missiontoseafarers.org/volunteering. Alternatively, you can use our online ports map to find your local centre, and contact them directly. To find out more about the work of The Mission to Seafarers, visit our website, or keep up to date by following us on Twitter or on Facebook using the details below. www.missiontoseafarers.org

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Fundraising news Ferry partnership is smooth sailing for Scotland Mission

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he Mission in Scotland has announced a new pastoral partnership with Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries. The company, also known as Cal Mac, operates passenger and vehicle ferries between mainland Scotland and its surrounding islands.

The partnership allows port chaplains from the Mission to visit Cal Mac ships and spend time offering practical and pastoral support to their crews.

In practice, this has been going on in Scotland for some time, but the formalisation of the arrangement will give the Mission in Scotland a further publicity boost.

The Mission will also be providing a confidential counselling service to Cal Mac’s office staff.

The Mission’s team in Scotland will be working closely with Catholic maritime welfare charity, the Apostleship of the Sea (AoS), on the project, in order to reach as many seafarers in the area as possible.

Laura Brown, national fundraising manager for The Mission to Seafarers Scotland (MtSS), said: “I am delighted that this partnership has come to fruition. It is an excellent opportunity for MtSS, and for AoS, to work in partnership with Cal Mac on the west coast of Scotland.

“We are looking forward to developing relationships with Cal Mac crew and the communities they serve.”

Top: Caledonian MacBrayne ferry MV Finlaggan; Bottom: the Revd Tim Tunley, our Scottish port chaplain

New tips and tricks for would-be fundraisers

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e’ve created a range of helpful materials such as a sponsorship form and a fact sheet full of new fundraising tips and advice to help you make the most of whatever event or personal challenge you decide to take on.

To request a set, please contact Rebecca Watson on 020 7246 2939 or email her at Rebecca.Watson@missiontoseafarers.org.

Alternatively, you can download your fundraising pack from our website at www.missiontoseafarers.org/events

Flying Angel Ride 2014

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nfortunately this year’s Flying Angel Ride is taking place just a few days after this edition of FAN goes to print, so we aren’t able to show you our brave cyclists taking on the 35-mile and 75-mile routes in the New Forest in this edition.

However, we’ll have the photos from the day, including our award winners for Champion of the Ride, Largest Team and Best Team Spirit, online a few days after the ride. To see them, visit our website at www.missiontoseafarers.org/far, or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/themissiontoseafarers 08

Cyclists taking on last year’s Flying Angel Ride to fundraise for our work with seafarers around the world. The 2013 event raised £20,000

Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Summer 2014 | Issue 11

Fundraising

Woolly Hat Day returns: 24 October 2014!

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old on to your hats – Woolly Hat Day is back for 2014! This year’s event will take place on 24 October 2014.

Last year’s Woolly Hat Day saw individuals and companies put on woolly hats to show their support for seafarers around the world and to fundraise for our vital work.

This year, we’re offering new fundraising packs filled with ideas of how to make the most of the day, including guidance on how to get as many people involved as possible, advice on sharing your photos online and promotional posters to advertise your event.

To register for a Woolly Hat Day pack, please call Josh Kubale on 020 7246 2982 or email him at Josh.Kubale@missiontoseafarers.org. If you’re seeking some additional inspiration for this year’s Woolly Hat Day, you can have a look at our collection of photos from last year on our Flickr page at www.flickr.com/themissiontoseafarers

Stamp duty

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e would like to thank our supporters who have sent us stamps over the years.

However, following the recent reorganisation at International Headquarters, we will be unable to process stamps in future.

But that doesn’t mean that you can’t still support our work.

Those of you who are able to collect a large quantity of stamps (weighing more than 1kg) can still support the work of the Mission by sending your stamps directly to our processor.

Before sending in your stamps, please follow our top preparation tips: Stamps should be left on their backing paper, with a border of no more than 4-8mm.

Please pack the stamps in clear plastic bags, labelling each bag with the following information: Fundraising, The Mission to Seafarers, St Michael Paternoster Royal, College Hill, London EC4R 2RL. Pack the bags in a box or parcel and send them to: Robert Murray, 5 Iverleigh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 5PU.

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The stamps that are most valuable to the Mission are • UK stamps with a picture (excluding Christmas issues); • UK pre-decimal stamps (all dates); and • Foreign stamps (including Channel Island stamps).

Please note that it’s not worth separating stamps into individual countries unless you have a large amount of each one.

For further information, visit www.murraystamps.co.uk or e m a i l us at Fan@missiontoseafarers.org

Dubai’s annual tea hits highs

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he Mission in Dubai recently held its hugely successful annual High Tea fundraiser.

The event, an afternoon tea held at the British Embassy, featured Young Roge and performer Lucy Hunter-James, and a fundraising auction with a range of prizes donated by corporate sponsors, including a cricket bat signed by the England Ashes team and business-class flights to London.

Funds raised from the event will be used to support the Mission’s Flying Angel boat, which is used to visit seafarers on ships anchored off the coast.

Fundraise for us!

We need your help! Could you organise a coffee morning or quiz night, or would you like to literally go that extra mile and take on a run or challenge event in aid of The Mission to Seafarers? These events can be a great way to get people together, have fun, and raise funds for seafarers at the same time. We can offer tips, advice and resources to help ensure that your event is a huge success. To find out more, visit www.missiontoseafarers.org/support-us www.missiontoseafarers.org

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Ports around the world Rotterdam, Netherlands: ship service heals scars

The Torm Lene crew witnessed first-hand the effect an on board accident can have, even during routine procedures

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anish tanker Torm Lene was performing a routine loading and unloading with a barge when tragedy struck.

During the process, the barge’s cargo came loose from its moorings and crashed down onto the barge’s Belgian master.

The Mission to Seafarers’ chaplain in Rotterdam, the Revd Stephen Hazlett, visited the injured barge master in hospital and kept in regular contact with his family, providing them with updates on his condition and counselling. However, sadly, he later died from his injuries.

Many members of the crew of the Torm Lene had been on

deck when the accident occurred, and having witnessed it in full, were understandably shaken by what they had seen. When Stephen visited the crew, they asked him to perform a service on board to bless the ship ahead of its next voyage.

Despite some initial hesitation from the ship’s young Danish officers, the entire crew attended the blessing, with more and more edging their way into the room as the service went on.

Afterwards, Stephen was able to talk the crew about their experiences, offering them pastoral support and guidance, and kept in touch as they continued their journeys around the world.

Yokohama, Japan: chaplain steps in to support crew after collision claims several lives

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he Pegasus Prime was heading into Tokyo Bay to deliver its cargo of containers when it collided with a cargo ship, Beagle III in the middle of the night.

The coastguard immediately sent helicopters and rescue boats to the scene, but the Beagle sustained heavy damage, and in the dark, freezing waters, it quickly sank. Of its 20 crew, 12 were rescued, but tragically one later died from his injuries. The remaining eight have not been found.

The 12 crew of the Pegasus survived, only suffering minor injuries, and the ship was brought into Yokohama to undergo repairs.

The Pegasus had been a regular visitor to the Mission in Yokohama, travelling a fortnightly route between South Korea and Japan.

The Mission’s chaplain, the Revd Andrew Dangerfield, had been a regular on board since 2012, when he helped resolve some shore leave issues for the ship’s crew at the time. After the accident, the Pegasus was laid up in the port for three weeks. Andrew visited the ship regularly, providing pastoral support and on board Wi-Fi to help them contact their families. The crew were also desperate to find out information about the crew from the Beagle, in a show of solidarity with their colleagues.

Andrew said: “It was clear that the crew were very affected by the accident, but it was very reassuring to see them make contact with their families. They were extremely grateful for the visits, and for the assistance that the Mission gave them.”

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Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Summer 2014 | Issue 11

Port news

Vlissingen, Netherlands: at the forefront of crew welfare

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Ank Muller (right) chairs the port’s first welfare meeting, with the aim of increasing co-operation between organisations in working in Vlissingen and the surrounding areas

he Mission’s port chaplain in Vlissingen, the Revd Ank Muller, has established a new port welfare committee to help improve the services seafarers receive in the area.

Ank’s work has brought welfare organisations and officials from the port together for the first time, and the new committee will meet on a regular basis, aiming to provide seafarers with the best possible care and raise the profile of the Mission’s work in the area, generating new fundraising opportunities in the area.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers, the Revd Andrew Wright. Also present were: Vlissingen’s harbour master, Manon Baartmans; port nautical advisor, Bart van Asch; Vlissingen Mission board members Koos Postma and Herman Maas; and representatives of another local centre, the Seamen’s Club Terneuzen, Arthur Schot and Erik Verhoef.

Andrew said: “This is an excellent initiative and it was a privilege to be present for the meeting. Watching a process like this take its first steps is invigorating and we hope it makes a real impact on seafarers’ welfare in the port.”

Fujairah, UAE: Mission gives abandoned hope

Barrow, UK: counselling provided for ferry crew

he Mission’s port chaplain for Dubai, the Revd Dr Paul Burt, came across two seafarers on a ship that had been converted for use as an anti-piracy vessel.

However, since the work was completed, it has never seen the sea. These seafarers have been employed since May 2012, but in that time, they haven’t been outside the harbour.

They have received no pay for over a year and a legal dispute is ongoing between the owners and the company who did the conversion work. With legal obligations to ensure that the vessel is manned, no access to their passports, no pay and no permission to leave, these two seafarers are trapped.

Paul has been working to ascertain who should take responsibility for the welfare of these land-based seafarers.

Thanks to this effort, he has been able to track down the ship’s stakeholders, and arrange a meeting to get them to finalise the future of this ship – and its long-abandoned crew.

ur chaplain in the North West of the UK was recently called out after a disturbing accident on board a passenger ship in Barrow.

The ship’s motorman fell five decks, from the 10th down to the 5th and sustained severe injuries in the fall. The incident was spotted by the ship’s 2nd officer, and a medical emergency was announced immediately.

Two seafarers tried to resuscitate the injured man, but with no success, and after he was airlifted to a local hospital, he tragically died from his injuries.

Geoff visited the ship’s crew, who were clearly very shaken by the event. Fortunately, Geoff was able to provide them with some comfort, and has agreed to visit the ship whenever it arrives in port again, to make sure that the crew are getting all the support that they need after bearing witness to such a traumatic accident.

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Hobart: visits comfort hospitalised seafarer

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Thai seafarer was hospitalised when his ship arrived in the Tasmanian port of Hobart after suffering a breakdown working on board.

The Revd Bruce Mitchell and his colleague, welfare officer Andres, were given notice of this development by the ship’s agent, so they went to visit him in hospital, bringing him phone cards, so that he could keep in touch with his family, and newspapers and magazines so that he could pass the time in relative comfort during his treatment.

The seafarer found Bruce and Andres’ kind company and support helpful, and after a short time, his health improved and he was allowed to return home to be with his family.

In other Hobart news, the team have just received a new minibus (pictured) which will help them support more and more seafarers in this growing port.

Find out more about our work around the world To read more about the work of our welfare teams around the world, and to support The Mission to Seafarers, please visit our website at www.missiontoseafarers.org or contact us at Fan@missiontoseafarers.org. www.missiontoseafarers.org

0300 555 1505

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@FlyingAngelNews

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Support our seafarers on Sea Sunday

their lives at sea.

Over 90 per cent of all goods that we could not live without – including food, fuel, medicines, raw materials, clothes and household goods – are transported by sea, and our Sea Sunday materials contain everything you and your church or community group could need on the day to support seafarers around the world.

spair on ty and de ased in a rt e c n er, u y incre face dang be greatl Seafarers lems which can b t board, pro at of abandonmen re th e th y b

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n Sea Sunday churches and communities from all over the world come together to remember seafarers and pray for them, their families and those who support them.

As well as raising money to help those who work at sea, the day is celebrated with services, parades and ship blessings.

Sea Sunday will be held on 13 July 2014, but it can be held on any convenient date in the church calendar.

As a Mission agency of the Church of England, The Mission to Seafarers provides vital welfare services to those who risk

Abandoned seafarers: suffering, uncertainty and despair Thousands of seafarers are abandoned on ships every year without pay and often with no water, food or fuel. Since the 2008 world financial crash, this problem has increased hardship and suffering for seafarers all over the world.

Take the crew of the Donald Duckling, for example. When this ship sailed into the Port of Tyne, it was detained by the authorities due to a long list of health and safety issues. The crew, left unsupported by the shipowner, had run out of food and water, and had no funds to repair the ship’s problems.

They were also suffering from the trauma of the news of Typhoon Haiyan, which killed over 5,000 people, and they were still seeking news of the fates of their families, thousands of miles away.

The Mission in South Shields stepped in to look after the crew, supplying food and clothing, and ensuring that the men could get ashore to our centre to contact their loved ones. They also raised awareness of the situation in the local and national press.

How your church can celebrate Sea Sunday

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aptain George Sutcliffe supports The Mission to Seafarers through his local church, St Margaret of Antioch (pictured), in St Margaret-at-Cliffe near the Dover coast in south-east England. Here he talks about his life at sea and how his church supports Sea Sunday.

I

became a seafarer at the age of 17, joining a ship as an apprentice in Hull. I was far from home, being a Cockney, but at many points in my career I ended up much

further away!

During my life at sea I travelled all around the world, and on many occasions I’d find Mission centres where you could relax and have a nice evening. They were great, a real Godsend. The work they do is so important.

I still remember some of the old Mission chaplains I met during those days and I have been lucky enough to be able to

keep in touch with some of them.

I became an honorary preacher for the Mission, doing readings in the local area in and around east Kent to spread the word of their work and their ministry.

At St Margaret, I prepare the literature for Sea Sunday, as well as the collection envelopes. The vicar often asks me if I would like to say a few words, too, with my background. I also do some of the funeral services for ex-colleagues in the area.

Seafaring is very important in our local community. We’re a seaside town and we have a lot of seafarers here. Some of the conditions for seafarers in general these days are shocking, and it’s good that we can support them through events such as this.

Take part in Sea Sunday 2014 To find out more about this year’s Sea Sunday, or to download or order church and fundraising materials, please visit our website at www.seasunday.org 12

Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Summer 2014 | Issue 11

Interview with

Order your Sea Sunday materials today!

The Revd Brian Millson Chaplain, Antwerp, Belgium Brian works for the Mission in Antwerp. The port is one of Europe’s busiest, and sees a range of ship types visiting every day, so there are plenty of seafarers to keep him and the ecumenical team he works with busy What’s the port of Antwerp like?

Antwerp’s a very busy, well organised port with a full range of different types of ships. It’s the second-busiest port in Europe, after Rotterdam.

What’s the Mission centre in Antwerp like?

We run an ecumenical centre, so in addition to myself, we have a chaplain from the Sailors’ Society, two from the Apostleship of the Sea, and another chaplain from the Deutsche Seemannsmission, who also has students assisting him.

There’s also a local presence from the Finnish and Swedish seafarers’ welfare organisations.

We’ve been operating with this sort of structure for around 40 years. We divide the port up by five, and we each cover our own area, which means we don’t duplicate work. It also means you have a pretty good idea of which ships you’re going to visit, which is really useful. We can track ships using AIS tools, and then we can plan what language materials we bring with us – sometimes it helps you prepare for what welcome you’re going to get on the gangway! These tools can also tell you where a ship has been and where it’s off to, so if any issues arise, you know the ship’s history – and its future – straight away.

What goes on during a typical day for the team?

I tend to spend four days a week ship visiting, with one day in the centre. The Mission is connected to a local Anglican church, St Boniface, and on Sundays I spend time there, as well as time taking care of administrative issues that have arisen during the week or about to come up in the new week.

Is the Mission well known within the community?

Our Sea Sunday materials have everything you need to make your Sea Sunday a success.

It is, yes, and Antwerp has a strong maritime tradition. As a result, we attract a lot of volunteers, and some have been helping us at the centre for 40 years!

This year, we have pew leaflets and sermon notes, collection envelopes and children’s materials for Sunday schools, as well as dated and undated posters, in case you are holding your Sea Sunday service on an alternative date.

Several of the Mission’s local committee are St Boniface parishioners, and the vicar is chairman. I am officially licensed as the Associate Priest, so I help out on a weekly basis, and it’s also a very good way to maintain important connections.

To find out more about Sea Sunday, you can visit our dedicated microsite at www.seasunday.org, where you can download all of our church packs and fundraising materials. If you would prefer to order paper copies, you can do that online too.

For any additional information on Sea Sunday, please contact our regional fundraisiing manager, Josh Kubale, on 020 7246 2982 or by email at Josh.Kubale@missiontoseafarers.org. www.missiontoseafarers.org

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The church has also been vital with getting settled in the area, and I’ve also been learning Dutch with my wife in my spare time.

What part of your work gives you the most satisfaction?

Just being able to do something for someone that makes a difference to their lives, really. No matter how small an action it is, whether it’s bringing newspapers in someone’s native language, listening to them or helping them contact their loved ones. Early on when I was an Army chaplain, you would see people waiting at the phones, desperate to speak to their families, and on ships I’m constantly reminded of that, so being able to alleviate that need gives me satisfaction. @FlyingAngelNews

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How you can support us There are many ways in which you can support our work with seafarers around the world.

Find out more about getting involved

Events 2014 Sea Sunday, 13 July

Please tick the box below and fill out the contact details panel at the bottom of the page to find out more about: Fundraising

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Each Sea Sunday, we say thank you to the brave men and women who work tirelessly, often battling harsh and difficult weather conditions, so that we can have the goods we use every day. To order Sea Sunday fundraising materials, please contact Josh Kubale on 020 7246 2982 or visit www.seasunday.org

Zipslide events, September

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Scotland, UK Have you ever wanted to fly? If so, here’s your chance to do it, and raise vital funds for the work of The Mission to Seafarers with our fundraising zipwire event at Xscape Braehead, Scotland. To register your interest and get your wings, contact Laura Brown on 07799 901868 or by email at Laura.Brown@missiontoseafarers.org

Woolly Hat Day, 24 October

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Please detach this form and send it to: Flying Angel News The Mission To Seafarers St Michael Paternoster Royal College Hill, London EC4R 2RL FB2014

Worldwide The woolly hat is an essential item for any seafarer, and on Woolly Hat Day, we ask our supporters to put on woolly hats to show their support for seafarers around the world and to fundraise for our vital work. To register for a Woolly Hat Day pack, please call Josh Kubale on 020 7246 2982 or email him at Josh.Kubale@missiontoseafarers.org