Spring 2013

Flying Flying Angel Angel News News

News from The Mission to Seafarers | Spring 2013 | Issue 8

All aboard: New Secretary General talks about the journey so far

IN THIS

ISSUE

• Sea Sunday is coming

• News from ports around the world

• Secretary General’s diary

• Mission provides PTSD training

• Cruise ships: all smooth sailing?

• Piracy update

Flying Angel News is published by The Mission to Seafarers

Editor: Michael Keating (fan@missiontoseafarers.org) Cover credit: Adam Hollingworth

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

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 1.3 million merchant seafarers of all ranks, nationalities and beliefs.

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 Facebook: themissiontoseafarers Twitter: @flyingangelnews

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

Captain’s log Our new Secretary General has been with us for couple of months now. Find out what he’s been up to so far, and what his plans for the future are, here

Andrew Wright Dear Friends, Welcome to the Spring, and my first, edition of Flying Angel News.

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am the new Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers, having taken over in February from Martin Sandford, who stepped into the role after Tom Heffer’s untimely death last year. I would like to thank Martin for steering the ship so capably in these difficult times.

I’m honoured to have been invited to take up this role and I hope to meet many of you over the course of the coming months. To those of you that I have already met, I’d like to thank you for the warm welcome I’ve received from everyone so far.

Cruise control 6 Ben Bailey, our public affairs manager, sets sail through the Indian Ocean - known in seafaring circles as the High Risk Area - and experiences a pirate attack drill

Looking ahead, many of us are gearing up towards this year’s Sea Sunday. On Sea Sunday, churches around the world come together to acknowledge the hard and often hidden work that seafarers carry out every day, and we gather to remember their sacrifices.

Sea Sunday

Jailed crew freed

2013 is proving to be an exciting year for the Mission, as you will find in these pages, and as part of our commitment to seafarers and our supporters we are continuing to examine new ways of delivering our services and new ways of showcasing our work.

With that in mind, we hope to bring you more content in the shape of news, pictures and videos from our ports around the world and directly from the seafarers who you help to support, so watch this space.

Most of all, I would like to thank you all for your loyal and dedicated support. Quite simply, without you, we couldn’t operate, and we wouldn’t be able to support the world’s 1.3 million seafarers that depend on us for the services we provide.

Thank you.

Andrew Wright Secretary General www.missiontoseafarers.org

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Sea Sunday is coming up.

Find out what you can do to raise awareness of life at sea and to support the Mission with our guide to making the most of your day

While piracy and shipwreck may dominate news headlines, many seafarers suffer from isolation, loneliness and relationship strain during their time at sea. Sometimes, all it takes is a phone call or an email home to help put them at ease. At other times it requires the trained ear of a Mission chaplain to listen to their troubles and provide them with pastoral support, or to share with them the joy of good news from home. These sound like simple actions, but for many at sea they are restricted and without our presence they would have precious few opportunities to contact their loved ones.

As the year continues and the long-awaited Spring finally arrives, I would like to remind everyone that our Annual Service is being held on 23 May instead of last year’s date in September. I look forward to meeting many of you there this year, and to those of you that I met at this year’s Flying Angel Ride, I do hope your cycling muscles have recovered by now.

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Mission chaplain the Revd Dr Paul Burt talks about his experiences saving seafarers from unscrupulous shipowners in Dubai

Mission news

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Fundraising news

8

Piracy update

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Interview with...

13

Mission news

The Flying Angel Awards at the Mission’s Annual Service

Last year’s Annual Service at St Michael Paternoster Royal

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s many of you will know, this year’s Annual Service has moved from last year’s September date and will be held on 23 May at St Michael Paternoster Royal in London.

The Annual Service sees The Mission to Seafarers and its supporters give thanks to seafarers for the largely unseen work that they do and the chaplains that support them.

This year, we’re giving thanks to you, our loyal supporters, too, and the Annual Service will see the launch of The Flying Angel Awards.

This is our way of recognising and thanking our volunteers for all of their hard work and commitment to us and our shared cause over the years.

We want to make sure everyone is thanked. If you volunteer for the Mission in any way, whether it’s ship-visiting, selling Christmas cards, handing out copies of FAN, working in a centre or knitting, please let us know. You deserve to have your hard work recognised.

If you would like to be involved, or if you are interested in attending this year’s Annual Service, please contact Nicky Jackson on 01354 695002 or email her at Nicola.Jackson@missiontoseafarers.org.

Mission teams spread good cheer at Easter

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or many of us Easter is a time we spend at home with our families, friends and loved ones. Most seafarers don’t get that opportunity, but that doesn’t mean that they’re forgotten.

Mission centres all around the world continued to open their doors and visit ships over the Easter period and in addition to their usual services, some chaplains gave out Easter eggs, as this happy seafarer docked in Busan, South Korea, can certainly attest.

This seafarer shows his excitement after an Easter ship visit from chaplain Simon Ro in Busan, South Korea.

Mission continues PTSD training for chaplains

Mission chaplains alongside Dr Marion Gibson at the PTSD training course

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he Mission to Seafarers is continuing to roll out its counselling training for chaplains working with seafarers with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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Mission chaplains attended the course led by Dr Marion Gibson, a leading authority in the area with first-hand experience of supporting trauma victims, having worked in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, in Asia after the 2004 tsunami and in London after the 7/7 bombings.

Seafarers often come to our chaplains after enduring dangers at sea. Sometimes, their problems are of a personal nature. Whatever the cause, they need to be able to talk about their experiences, and Mission chaplains around the world are ready to listen to them and qualified to advise them. The course, donated to us by Dr Gibson, provides a range of tools and mechanisms which chaplains can use when speaking to seafarers who may have faced anything from being fired upon by pirates to being bullied.

The Revd Stephen Hazlett, Mission chaplain for Rotterdam, said: “I have attended many courses in my nearly thirty years of ministry, but this one was by far the most helpful course I have ever undertaken.”

Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Spring 2013 | Issue 8

News

The Mission family gets bigger and bigger

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he Mission global family is continuing to grow, and we’re delighted to announce that we are now working in over 260 ports worldwide, thanks to the appointments of some new chaplains and the opening of some new seafarers’ centres in ports around the world.

Three new chaplains have joined the Mission family recently. One you may have heard of already, the Revd Andrew Wright, who has joined us our Secretary General (find out more about his plans on pages four and five). The second is the Revd Chris Fuller, who is taking up a chaplaincy post in South Shields this month. Chris joins us from the Diocese of London, where he has been serving as a parish vicar.

Chris told us: “I’m very excited to be taking up the post in South Shields and I’m looking forward to this special type of ministry.”

The Revd Antonio Luis has also joined us, and is now looking after our centre in Suape, Brazil. You can find out more about Suape on page eight.

We wish Chris and Antonio - and Andrew - all the best.

The appointments come in on the back of two more at the end of 2012: the Revd Brian Millson, who is now serving as our Antwerp chaplain and the Revd Nicholas Jones who has taken control of our work in South Wales.

Clockwise: Andrew Wright, our new Secretary General; Brian Millson, A n t w e r p ; C h r i s F u l l e r, S o u t h Shields; and Antonio Luis, Suape.

Mission calls for better crew development and welfare at international shipping conference

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epresentatives of the world’s leading shipping companies and The Mission to Seafarers met in Singapore recently to discuss key support strategies for crew development and human resources management, as part of our advocacy work to support seafarers around the world.

The Mission to Seafarers’ director of development Nicky Wynne was one of the headline speakers at ACI’s 12th Maritime HR and Crew Development Conference, and at the event she gave a presentation, looking at the future of welfare provision and partnership relationships with shipping companies.

Nicky said: “I was delighted to speak to the shipping industry’s senior managers, whose role is to ensure seafarers’ employment contracts are properly managed and that working conditions for crews are at the very least up to international standards.

“The Mission to Seafarers’ charitable global welfare support programme of ship visiting, justice and welfare case www.missiontoseafarers.org

0300 555 1505

management, communications, and transport service provision in 260 ports all around the world works as a vital backup system when things do go wrong.

“We work around the clock in 71 countries, and in a confidential setting, so that Mission welfare teams can help solve day to day human problems, or help very quickly in an emergency.

“The Mission already partners with many leading shipping companies who have the care, safety and wellbeing of their crews as their top priority, and we provide ‘on the ground’ intelligence to know what seafarers are most concerned about and where the pressure points will come from.”

“I call on all shipping companies around the world to actively support and engage with The Mission to Seafarers so that they cab integrate their crew welfare and training and development strategies with the vital work that third sector maritime charities provide.”

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Captain’s log: Se Andrew Wright’

ational H The intern r Royal te s o Patern

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St Michae

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Andrew has had a busy time of it since he joined what he’s been up to here in his diary My first week My first week in the office. I’m a London commuter for the first time in my life. I’m really impressed by the teams at international HQ – there seems to be plenty of drive, new thinking and commitment. By the end of the day my head is buzzing with information and ideas, and a lot of new names to remember. So much to celebrate, so much to challenge, so many opportunities, so much to do!

In amongst all of this I make the first of many calls to chaplains in ports to the Revd Stephen Miller in Hong Kong. Dynamic and enterprising work is going on there and a highly effective service to seafarers is being delivered. I get a sense of energy and ideas from overseas, which is just what I am looking for, and hoping for, in all our ports. I am most encouraged and inspired.

r ys of ou r th e k e e v o s d an M a rt in h ndrew A church to

My licensing My licensing, what a great occasion, attended by friends, family and colleagues, with a wonderful service put together by the ministry team here.

Church meetings I attended a meeting of the local City of London clergy. Building strong relationships with churches is so important but it’s a real challenge to sustain your profile when churches are facing so many competing demands. I will shortly be writing to all Bishops and Deans about Sea Sunday and hope that we can make this another really successful year.

Justice and welfare cases op of The Bish nsed by e c li is Andrew London

A few weeks in, I’m part of a call to respond to a group of seafarers abandoned in Yemen, my first direct justice and welfare case involvement since I’ve started.

There’s no chaplain in the area at the moment, but the team in London is working hard to find a solution and a positive outcome.

I also spoke to our new chaplain in Mombasa, the Revd Ben Humphries. It is often the first port of call for those encountering pirates and there’s a lot to do out there.

Wright and wrong Attended a lunch at Fishmonger’s Hall after the United Guilds Service in St Paul’s.

It caused some amusement that Revd Wright was seated just three places down from a Mr Wrong, the first Mr Wrong I have ever come across. The Mission has always sought to maintain good relationships with livery companies and we hope that a high profile in these contexts will be a big help to fundraising. o of his is wife, tw d uncle h e id s g an lon Andrew a parents and aunt , rs te h g u a d

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Find out more about the Mission’s new lea

If you would like to read more about Andrew’s work, you can keep up to date by reading

Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Spring 2013 | Issue 8

Diary

ecretary General ’s first thoughts

d The Mission to Seafarers. Find out more about y of his time spent at the helm so far.

Port visits On the road again, visiting the chaplain in Southampton, the Revd Andrew Huckett.

Before my move to London, I was based on the Isle of Wight and Southampton still feels like my home port. Last year I laid a wreath from Red Jet ferry on the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. No better reminder of the perils of seafaring.

No sooner than I’m back from Southampton, I’m off to Tilbury to meet the Revd John Attenborough. At the port, John showed me around the centre and we visited two container ships, one very large, one small. We were shown around the bigger one by a female third officer and indeed the first officer was also a woman. Both impressive and delightful people. I was encouraged by John’s easy and friendly engagement with members of the crew, and the popularity of phone cards. On board the smaller ship, I was struck by the pressure on a small crew of being on short sea routes with limited rest time between entering and departing ports, of course not forgetting the significant workload once you’re there.

Meanwhile, my feet are complaining – these steel capped boots are definitely not quite a right fit!

Even a S ec in the rig retary General n ee ht paperw ork to ge ds to fill t on board

Always k ee for the ne n, Andrew’s on th xt ship h e can get e lookout on to

Archbishop’s enthronement I also attended the Enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury, a magnificent occasion, with my opposite numbers from the ten Mission agencies of the Church of England. Believe it or not, two of us were in the same class at school. Archbishop Justin has a hard road ahead but he is the right man for the job.

Board meetings Several meetings this week, including a strategy meeting with directors and one of the Trustees and my first board meeting to look at ways we can better support our chaplains, even in the most remote ports.

Reflections Having spoken to many of our staff around the world, I’m struck by how isolated they can be and how important it is that strong mechanisms of support and collegiality are in place. I’m also learning a lot about the way the Mission is organised globally with several different structures and yet all part of one global family.

Hopefully , safety eq no one will need uipment to use th on this tr e ip!

What a privilege to be part of this, with a shared passion to serve seafarers. I hope to encourage the sense of mutual belonging and inter-dependence which has been so much the essence of our work over so many years. How can we take this forward? How can we best support one another?

Maintaining unity amidst diversity – this is the key issue that faces the Mission and the wider Anglican church in these difficult times. Another challenge and one which I hope we can look at creatively and with generosity of spirit.

ader, his work and his plans

The team a next mov t the Tilbury centre e

plan their

g his blog at www.missiontoseafarers.org/blog www.missiontoseafarers.org

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Cruise control

Safety at sea isn’t just a concern for merchant crews. Passenger ships are taking it very seriously too. Ben Bailey reports on how cruise lines protect their passengers from threats in the Indian Ocean

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s public affairs manager for The Mission to Seafarers (MtS), part of my job is to meet with crews in our ports around the world and find out what their needs are and how best we can support them.

Part of my journey took me through the Indian Ocean on board a passenger ship. As many of you will know, an area that used to be famed for the exotic tourist destinations it contains is arguably now more famous for the threats it poses to cruises and merchant ships that sail through it. What used to be a serene, wide expanse – I have had nothing around me except for the deep oceans and the wide, open skies – is now tainted by the dark cloud of piracy that looms over the Indian Ocean.

Travelling through it is a humbling experience, but also rather an intimidating one. As the ancient mariner’s prayer goes: O Lord, thy sea is so great and my boat is so small.

That feeling of isolation is one experienced by many seafarers on a routine basis, but especially out here in the Indian Ocean where the threat to life and limb comes not only from Mother Nature, but also from piracy.

While out on the open seas, our captain announced that everyone on board would be required to complete a piracy response drill in the event that our ship comes under attack.

As the MtS representative on board this vessel, I have been privileged to be a part of the security briefings, and I have also spoken privately with the captain and the ship’s armed security team about what it’s like to sail through these waters.

For them, operating and protecting a passenger vessel brings great responsibility because they are collectively responsible for the safety of nearly 1,000 passengers and crew.

The water which surrounds us is deep blue and it’s so still and quiet out here that it’s difficult to believe there are dangers beyond the horizon. The idea that something could appear out of nowhere and attack us is hard to believe, but the fact is that it 06

can – and does happen – to merchant ships on a regular basis.

I should say that there has never been a passenger ship taken hostage, but that doesn’t prevent the captain and his crew from taking this threat, and the safety of all on board, very seriously.

Despite all of this, the passengers’ mood before the drill is initially light-hearted. “I hope we do get boarded by pirates,” joked one woman this morning as I walked around the deck, “I quite fancy Johnny Depp!”

At the sound of the siren, the drill begins and we all traipse down to our “safe haven”. These are rooms in which we can all be locked in safely, while the captain attempts to escape an attack by taking measures in accordance with Best Management Practice version 4, a set of guidelines and techniques published to help protect ships travelling through the area.

The jovial and chatty atmosphere changes instantly to silence. People chat in hushed tones, fascinated and horrified as the seafarers bedeck the ship with razor wire and grease the walls and ladders to prevent a pirate from holding a firm grip and attempting to board the ship.

The Force 4 wind rustles through the new layer of razor wire which has been laid. The metal tinkles in the breeze, but it sounds more like nails running down a blackboard than a playful tune.

During my time at MtS I have met Somali pirates. I’ve spoken to seafarers who have been attacked and witnessed the destruction captivity has on families and those left behind. During the drill, I have mixed emotions. On the one hand, I know the “theory”; the stats, the tactics and the procedures are all designed to protect us and should make us feel safe. But seeing the razor wire, the weapons and the grease being set up is really rather intimidating: a chilling reminder of the measures we have to take to keep people safe, and what could come next.

These are realities that seafarers face every time they travel through the Indian Ocean. I for one am glad that it’s over.

Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Spring 2013 | Issue 8

Sea Feature Sunday

Help support seafarers on Sea Sunday

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n Sea Sunday, communities and congregations 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 all around the world as a sign of respect and recognition of the work that the world’s 1.3 million merchant seafarers carry out every day.

This year, Sea Sunday will be held on 14 July, but it can also be celebrated on another convenient date.

Here in the UK, over 90 per cent of the things we use on a daily basis, be they our food, fuel or medicines, arrive on our shores by sea. The seafarers who help to bring us these essentials and luxuries remain one of the most hidden groups of workers in the world, despite life at sea being one of the most difficult, dangerous and challenging occupations in the world.

The Mission to Seafarers’ teams of caring chaplains and volunteers all over the world offer the hand of Christian fellowship, and a safe haven, for sick, lonely, exhausted and troubled crew of all ranks, nationalities and beliefs in 260 ports in 71 countries.

Our daily programme of ship visiting in port, as well as our welcoming centres ashore, brings vital support, care and assistance to seafarers.

We are there for those in need 365 days a year, every day of the week. We always ensure that crew in port can quickly contact their families and when disaster strikes, actively help get them home safely.

Centres such as this one in Tilbury have communication facilities to help seafarers keep in touch with their loved ones, who may be thousands of miles away So at this time of year, we gather to say: For leaving your loved ones behind; For enduring the high seas in all weathers; For suffering isolation; For working long hours day and night; For facing the harshest conditions; For doing all this, to bring us the necessities of life; Thank you.

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’s-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.

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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’s, 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.

Support Sea Sunday!

If you would like to find out more about Sea Sunday, or would like to request some Sea Sunday materials for your church or local community, please visit www.seasunday.org or contact Nicky Jackson on 01354 695002 or at Nicola.Jackson@missiontoseafarers.org. www.missiontoseafarers.org

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Fundraising news Corporate support ensures seafarers’ welfare in Suape

New port chaplain the Revd Antonio Luis in Suape

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donation from Tindall Riley Marine is helping us to continue our welfare work in Suape, Brazil.

We developed a port welfare service in Suape in 2009, in response to its rapid growth and the huge increase in the numbers of seafarers arriving in the area.

Tindall Riley has long supported our work, donating over £40,000 through company donations and employee event support in recent years.

This year, we have worked closely with Tindall Riley to identify geographical areas we work in that tie in with regions that are important to the company’s marine insurance business,

helping us to develop a mutually beneficial partnership that supports seafarers and is relevant to Tindall Riley Marine’s stakeholders.

Tindall Riley’s funding will help us to continue to provide welfare services for seafarers in Suape.

We would like to thank Tindall Riley for the company’s on-going commitment, and for directly supporting our work in Suape this year.

To find out how your company could work with us, contact Tara Fox, head of corporate partnerships, on 020 7246 2980 or by email at Tara.Fox@missiontoseafarers.org.

Wear your woolly hat and help fundraise for seafarers

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riday 12 October is the Mission’s second Woolly Hat Day. This year, we would like to build on the success of last year and have more people involved, wearing their woolly hats and raising some cash to help us provide our vital services to seafarers in need.

We have a fundraising pack full of ideas and tips to make your Woolly Hat Day event a resounding success. If you would like to take part and wear your woolly hat, why not register for a fundraising pack to help raise much-needed funds and have fun at the same time? 2013 packs include posters that you can display at work, at school or at church and help spread the word of the Mission’s work.

For more details on how to take part, please contact Nicky Jackson on 01354 695002 or email Nicola.Jackson@missiontoseafarers.org.

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Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Spring 2013 | Issue 8

Fundraising

Music to our ears

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he Baltic Exchange has partnered with Portsmouth Cathedral Choir, conductor Malcolm Archer and the Convivium Singers to create a new collection of hymns, anthems and folk songs celebrating England’s rich maritime heritage.

Proceeds of sales of the new CD, called Music for Seafarers, will be donated to The Mission to Seafarers.

Music for Seafarers includes renditions of classic sea songs including They that go down to sea in ships, Here I am, Lord as well as the specially commissioned Anthem for Seafarers (Eternal Father, Strong to Save), all by The Portsmouth Cathedral Choir and the Convivium Singers.

A spokesperson for The Baltic Exchange said: “The very real need for help and assistance when crew members come ashore in foreign ports is answered by seafaring charities and The Baltic Exchange is proud of its long-standing financial

Sad news

Music for Seafarers is available through Convivium Records. support and the vital role charities play.”

For more information on purchasing Music for Seafarers, which is available for £9.99 in CD format or for £5.99 as a digital download, please visit www.missiontoseafarers.org/music or visit www.musicforseafarers.com.

Thanks to our supporters

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t is with great sadness that we announce that Constance Corles, who served the Mission for over 60 years, passed away in January at the age of 98.

We would like to thank her, and the Birmingham committee, for her years of dedicated service and for their support in her memory.

During her long service, Constance was part of the Birmingham Association’s committee and was chairman during the 1990s. The long-time Mission supporter received a special gift on her 96th birthday, when the then Birmingham chairman Norma Rogers presented her with a certificate of thanks signed by our President, HRH The Princess Royal.

Constance’s family and friends have raised a fantastic £525.21 for The Mission to Seafarers in her memory.

That includes £200 raised by many of her friends and her congregation at a coffee morning in St Leonards Church, Frankley Green on 16 February.

We’d like to thank our supporters who have helped us with fundraising and volunteering. Thanks to everyone, on behalf of seafarers around the world, including: Everyone who took part in Lent this year. We have been overwhelmed by your feedback on how helpful you’ve found our Lent Reflections and how they made you think differently about how Lent affects seafarers. We plan to send out them again next year, so please let us know if you would like to receive them; Ann Alderidge-Goult, who collected £119.78 in Portland through collection boxes; Bertrand Olivier, who raised over £7,000 for charity by running the London Marathon; Our knitters, who have produced some great hats, scarves and gloves to keep seafarers warm during the long winter; and All 107 of our Flying Angel Ride participants, whose support helps us continue to support seafarers around the world.

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. If you’d like to find out more contact fan@missiontoseafarers.org. www.missiontoseafarers.org

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Ports around the world Dubai, UAE: Mission secures release of imprisoned crew

Our Colombo centre staff (left), with the crew (centre) alongside Fr John Van Deerlin (AoS) and Dr Paul Burt (right)

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lanked by armed guards, three Sri Lankan seafarers walked slowly into the deputy prison director’s office, handcuffed, strain etched on their faces, desperation in their eyes.

The night before, the Revd Dr Paul Burt, the Mission’s chaplain in Dubai, had received a call from one of their crewmates; an urgent, whispered account of the men being taken away by the police, who imprisoned them in Ras al-Khaimah, a two-hour drive north of the centre in Dubai.

Paul asked the deputy director to tell him about their case. “Their certificates of competence (CoC) were forged,” he replied. This is a very common state of affairs for seafarers working on small ships in the Gulf. Manning agents and shipowners accept and provide false documents, promising seafarers legitimate ones when they start work.

Unfortunately, this is a promise that is often broken. Seafarers with real CoCs command a salary twice as high as one with a forgery.

One of the prisoners was the ship’s captain. The shipowner had known about their CoCs, so Paul asked: “Why had he handed them over to the police?”

After all, that was the reason he had hired them, because they were cheap.

He explained: “Our tug was towing a barge when a storm blew up and broke 10

the towing cable. The barge crashed into the harbour breakwater, doing $2m of damage. The shipowner’s insurance didn’t pay for it because our CoCs were forged. He was very angry, so he had the police arrest us.”

Keen to help these seafarers, and armed with some knowledge of the UAE legal system gleaned from conversations with lawyers in Dubai, Paul set off for the court.

Sentencing was carried out quickly.

The judge followed the paperwork and went by the book. The real back story counted for nothing. The judgment came back: one year in jail.

Amidst the gloom, there was a single ray of hope. An appeal would be allowed, but the stakes were high.

If it failed, their sentence would be doubled, but despite the risk, they were determined to go ahead.

Through a campaign of insistent lobbying, talking to contacts in immigration, at the port and in the legal community, Paul’s team raised awareness of the circumstances of the case and supported the crew’s appeal.

The team’s lobbying reached the ears of some very important people and after hearing the evidence, the judge ruled in favour of the seafarers. He reduced their sentence to equal the time they had been in jail, and after months in

prison, they were finally free to go home to their families.

A month later, Paul met the three very happy seafarers in the seafarers’ centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka. “I hardly recognised these healthy, beaming faces, so different were they from the gaunt, fearful men I had come to know in the prison,” he said.

Paul found that their families struggled to cope in their absences. “My children’s schooling suffered. My wife became sick and she couldn’t pay our bills,” one of the men said. “They had to sell our valuables just to survive.”

The captain said, “Without The Mission to Seafarers we wouldn’t be here. We had no-one to turn to. You were there for us when we needed you.

We are eternally grateful.”

Paul says: “The experience of these three seafarers was exceptional in its severity, but unfortunately not in its essential components. At any one time, our staff are working on several cases of denial of employment rights, non-payment of salaries and exploitation of weak and powerless seafarers. Unions are banned in the Gulf. Our work is defined by these regrettable realities, but with good teamwork, support and some bloody-minded determination, we can continue to overcome even apparently hopeless predicaments.”

Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Spring 2013 | Issue 8

Port news

Mombasa, Kenya: Mission supports abandoned crew

The crew of the Lanka Mahapola with the Revd Ben Humphries, our Mombasa chaplain

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he Mission to Seafarers in Kenya has helped the crew of the cockroach-infested Lanka Mahapola, who were abandoned by their owner, left unpaid and without supplies.

The crew of the Lanka Mahapola have been left without pay since October 2012 and they have been stranded in Kenya for two months.

“The shipowner has promised money for wages and supplies, but the crew don’t believe him,” said the Revd Ben Humphries, the Mission’s Mombasa chaplain.

The company has been given a period of ten days to settle the monies owed to the port and crew or face legal action.

To help the stranded seafarers, Ben has worked with the ITF to start the process of getting them repatriated and helping them claim their hard-earned wages. The crew have also been able to contact their families and provide some assurance of their safety in these difficult times.

Ben has also helped provide the crew with emergency supplies.

“We have taken rice, eggs, chicken, fresh potatoes, fresh tomatoes, garlic, onions, candles and more out to the crew.

“I hope that this will tide the men over until their wages come through or they are sent home,” he said.

Tuticorin, India: Leaving families behind

Hong Kong, China: 51 years of service celebrated

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T

t might be difficult for us to imagine being unable to speak to our friends and families for months at a time, but for most seafarers this is one of the many harsh facts of life at sea.

The Revd Simon Dharmaraj met a crewmember on the St. John Glory who started work when his new baby was just 10 days old. He would not be back until his newborn was 10 months old.

The seafarer confided in Simon that he was worried about missing out on an important stage of his child’s life and was afraid his son wouldn’t know who he was when he returned. Another left his four-month-old child when he started his contract and had the same fear of not being recognised.

Simon said: “This reflect the daily sacrifice of seafarers.”

he Revd Stephen Miller has said goodbye to one of the Hong Kong Mission’s longest-serving members, Mr Woo Yiu Fai. Yiu Fai was chief steward at the Hong Kong centre, and he is retiring after 51 years’ service.

Yiu Fai joined the Mission at the age of 15, back in 1962, and worked alongside his father at the centre. Yiu Fai is on the right in the photo above, alongside Stephen and Joe, who retired after 51 years of service back in 1998. Incredibly, Joe’s and Yiu Fai’s fathers worked together in the Mission, just as Joe and Yiu Fai worked together.

We would like to thank them both for their dedication to the Mission’s work.

Support us If you would like to support The Mission to Seafarers in its work in 260 ports across the world, please visit www.missiontoseafarers.org/fan or contact us at fan@missiontoseafarers.org. www.missiontoseafarers.org

0300 555 1505

www.facebook.com/themissiontoseafarers

@flyingangelnews

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Dangerous seas Hostages held for over a year finally released, but violence in the region continues to pose a threat to merchant crews

A team from ESPS Mendez Nunez, which had been captured over one year earlier (Photo: EU NAVFOR)

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s many people who have spent time on ships will tell you, life at sea is unpredictable. That certainly turned out to be the case for the crew of EU NAVFOR’s flagship Mendez Nunez, which unexpectedly came across MV Royal Grace, a ship that had been captured by Somali pirates over one year earlier, back in March 2012.

The ship had been released from a pirate anchorage without warning when it was discovered by the EU NAVFOR ship, which had been conducting routine piracy patrols in the area. Boarding and medical teams were quickly dispatched to meet the hostages, who were in dire need of food, water and medical treatment. Fortunately, all of the 21-strong crew were safe and have now been treated and sent home to their families.

At the same time, the crew of the MV Smyrni were also

released without warning. The ship was carrying oil when it was hijacked and captured in May 2012. The 26-man crew were all released along with the ship, taking the total amount of seafarers released up to 47.

This good news has been bolstered by the latest figures from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) showed that piracy attacks are down year-on-year. However, 66 ships were attacked between January and March 2013. Of those ships, four were hijacked. 89 seafarers were taken hostage or kidnapped, while one was killed.

The Mission is continuing to support the victims of piracy and campaigns for the release of crews held hostage by pirates both through our international headquarters staff and our chaplains in the affected areas.

Flying Angel House exhibition

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new arts exhibition called ‘A Mirror to the Sea’ is being hosted at the Flying Angel House in East London. The project will see artists and local residents showcase and share their memories of the historic building and its rich seafaring heritage.

Flying Angel House was originally built by the Mission back in 1936 as a hostel for seafarers. The Mission is opening up its archive, based at Hull History Centre, to help people conduct their research ahead of the exhibition’s launch on 1 June.

For details, contact us at fan@missiontoseafarers.org.

Flying Angel House in East London

Support us The Mission to Seafarers is the world’s largest charitable port-based welfare service, working in 260 ports to give vital support to seafarers across the world. Visit www.missiontoseafarers.org/fan for more information.

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Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Spring 2013 | Issue 8

Interview with...

The Revd Simon Davies Port chaplain, Felixstowe, UK Simon works at the Felixstowe Seafarers’ Centre on the UK’s east coast. Felixstowe is one of the UK’s busiest ports, and Simon’s centre welcomes over 1,000 seafarers a month.

What’s the port of Felixstowe like?

Felixstowe handles approximately 40% of the UK’s container trade, which means that it deals with a lot of ships, from smaller feeder ships right up to the very large container carriers.

What facilities does your centre have?

We’ve got internet-enabled computers and telephones, so people can contact their loved ones. We also offer leisure facilities, including a bar, a TV and a pool table. For those who need time to reflect, we have a chapel and a library too. Over in Ipswich and Harwich, we have some seafarers’ cabins, which have free internet facilities and are accessible 24 hours a day.

What services do seafarers use most?

BRINGING HELP AND HOPE TO SEAFARERS Today’s 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 shipwreck and piracy, or providing a lifeline to those stranded in foreign ports, we are there for the globe’s 1.3 million merchant seafarers of all ranks, nationalities and beliefs.

Legacy gifts are a vital part of our funding and help us maintain maritime welfare services around the world in times of need. Please support us and our vital work by leaving a gift to us in your will. Your generous contribution is highly valued and makes a real difference to those facing peril at sea.

To find out about leaving a gift to The Mission to Seafarers in your will, please contact our legacy team by email at legacies@missiontoseafarers.org or you can contact them by phone on 020 7246 2937.

Alternatively, tick the box below and complete the contact form overleaf.

Yes, I would like to hear more about leaving a gift to the Mission in my will.

Registered charity number 1123613

Internet provision is without doubt the most popular service, through our Wi-Fi service or the computers. Seafarers often use Facebook, Skype and e-mail to keep in touch with their families.

Our shop, which stocks a range of souvenirs and treats, is also pretty popular as I’m sure you can imagine!

How busy does it get?

It gets busy! It’s not unusual to see 20 or more seafarers at the centre. On average it’s visited by over 1,200 seafarers a month.

What goes on during a typical day?

A good deal of my time is spent visiting ships. Because of short turn-around times in port, many seafarers don’t have the opportunity to leave the vessel to visit the seafarers’ centre, so I look out for their welfare and find out what their needs are.

What problems do seafarers most frequently come to you with?

Many seafarers want help and advice with practical issues, such as how to get in touch with their families, but when they’re given an opportunity, they will often speak of the challenges of their lives at sea. They talk about the effects that long periods of separation from their families have on their relationships, and that distance causes stress, strain and unhappiness.

They also talk about work issues. Sometimes they want help concerning an unfair employment contract, which may have left them unpaid or kept on beyond their original term. Sometimes they speak of tensions on board within the crew. These issues are often considered ‘unsafe’, so they appreciate being able to share their concerns with someone who is neutral, and outside the ship’s hierarchy, who can help them.

What part of your work do you enjoy the most?

Helping seafarers in practical ways is very satisfying for me.

Some ships make regular visits to our ports, and in these cases it is possible to build up better relationships with seafarers, which has proven to be mutually enriching. www.missiontoseafarers.org

0300 555 1505

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 2013 Annual Service, 23 May

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

Remembering the Mission in your will

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St Michael Paternoster Royal, London

Make a donation If you would like to make a donation, please fill out the form below, and complete your contact details at the bottom of the page.

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Join us as we give thanks to seafarers around the globe, and take time to reflect on our theme for 2013, isolation.

The service is followed by a buffet lunch at Skinners’ Hall.

Tickets are free, and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. For more details, please contact Nicky Jackson on 01354 695002.

London to Paris 2013, 4-8 September

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treat all my past and future donations as Gift Aid until I notify otherwise.

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One of the greatest cycling experiences ever!

Cycle through picturesque countryside, cross the Channel and travel through the small villages and medieval market towns of Northern France; arriving at the Eiffel Tower for an impressive finish! Take part on your own, or share the experience with a team. Registration is £99 with a fundraising level of £1,400.

Contact us at events@missiontoseafarers.org for details.

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

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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 FB2013

St Michael Paternoster Royal, London Start off this year’s Christmas festivities by attending our popular carol service, followed by a mulled wine and mince pies reception. Enjoy readings from our VIP guests – previous readers have included HRH The Princess Royal, Dr Lucy Blue and Jim Fitzpatrick MP. For more details, please contact us on 020 7248 5202 or at events@missiontoseafarers.org.