Waves #3 2019

#3 NEWS FROM THE DANISH SEAMEN’S MISSION

6. årgang Maj 2019

A love of sailing

Our doors are always open

Gæstfrihed

Elsker at sejle

Vores hjem er åbent

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Hospitality

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By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

Hospitality is talking to you colleagues Gæstfrihed er at tale med dine kolleger

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hat defines hospitality? Well, there are probably as many different answers to that question as there are nationalities on board a large tanker. Typically, our private home is the place where we invite people in as a sign of hospitality, but on board a ship there are plenty of ways to show hospitality as well. Some sailors work around the same people for years, and others are used to constantly working with new colleagues. Often, we use our first impression to decide whether or not we want to get to

kers. Instead, it is often easier just to go to our private cabin to watch Netflix and moovies, relax and find new energy for the next shift. Or perhaps you’ve just always found it challenging to interact in social settings, even though something inside you wants to spend more time with other people.

Showing hospitality is to encounter those around you with positive attention.

Whenever you meet another person something important is at stake. The most personal part of yourself that you can give to

der også en mulighed, fordi sømænd bor, sover og arbejder det samme sted.

Ombord er det stor forskel på, om det er faste teams, der afløser hinanden, eller om der er nye kolleger med, når man fx dukker op på arbejde igen. Ofte kaster man et blik på en anden og vurderer måske ud fra nationalitet og udseende, om man ønsker at snakke nærmere med vedkommende. Er man gæstfri, gør man det modsatte. Da interesserer man sig for hinandens velbefindende.

Hjælper og er venlig. Man standser op og er opmærksom på det menneske, som kommer på ens vej - ombord - men også online.

At være gæstfri er at være et inviterende, imødekommende og tjenende menneske. Det udelukker ikke, at de fleste har behov for at gå ind og lukke døren til deres kammer og lade op og finde ny energi til at være sammen med andre mennesker.

At møde hinanden

know another person. Hospitality means doing the opposite of that – it means showing a sincere interest in the well-being of others. It means also helping others and being friendly. Hospitality means slowing down to show attention to those who come our way – on board as well as online.

Hospitality means to be inviting, welcoming and helpful to others. That doesn’t mean that you can’t have a need to be alone and rest in order to restore your energy.

another person is your mind. Of course, your mind contains many levels, and the same is true for hospitality. Put simply, hospitality is about talking to other people, such as your co-workers. It is about supporting each other and lifting each other up. A cheerful comment or an honest question about the wellbeing of your co-worker’s family can change someone’s day from bad to good. Or just talking to someone on board that you haven’t talked to yet. Try it! •

Encountering each other

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On board, we live in a constant cycle of work, rest and meals - day in and day out, week after week - and we can’t always find the energy and drive to sit down and have a meaningful conversation with our co-wor-

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vem er mest gæstfri? Tja, det er der nok lige så mange svar på, som der er nationaliteter ombord på et større fartøj. Typisk er vores private hjem der, hvor vi inviterer andre ind, men netop ombord er

Ombord afløser arbejde, sove og spise hinanden som perler på en snor. Dag efter dag. Uge efter uge. Ikke altid er der overskud, lyst eller mulighed for at snakke om, hvordan man rent faktisk har det lige nu. Det kan være lettere at gå på sit kammer og se en serie. Koble ud, inden jobbet kalder på ny.

Måske er man skruet sådan sammen, at man fungerer mindre godt i socialt fællesskab, selv om det er påvist mange gange, at mennesket er skabt til netop fællesskab.

Gæstfrihed er at møde sit medmenneske med positiv opmærksomhed. Når man møder et andet menneske, er der noget på spil. Man kan tale om, at det dybeste, du kan lukke et andet menneske ind i, er dit sind.

Der er selvfølgelig mange ”dybder” og niveauer af det, og det er der også af gæstfrihed. Dybest set handler det om at se og tale med de personer, man fx arbejder sammen med. At spille hinanden gode ved at løfte hinanden op. Et klap på skulderen, en sjov bemærkning eller et spørgsmål til en kollega om familien derhjemme kan være med til at give kollegaen en bedre dag. Eller bare at tale med en ombord, man ikke har sagt noget til endnu. Prøv det! •

Our doors are always open More than 500 sailors have enjoyed the hospitality of Editha and Jens Christian Seeberg Vi lægger gerne hus til Flere end 500 søfolk har nydt godt at gæstfriheden hos Editha og Jens Christian Seeberg

By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

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he kitchen is buzzing with life, and on the stove a large pot of chili is simmering to the sound of the maritime radio channel. The cozy home in Kalundborg is often filled with guests – guests who have never visited a Danish family before.

Editha and Jens Christensen Seeberg have worked as volunteers for the Seamen’s Mission at Kalundborg Harbor for many years.

Many sailors benefit from their warm enthusiasm, both when they visit the ships, but especially when they invite people to their home. More than 500 sailors have sat by their dining table during the last 23 years.

They have come in from all over the world, for a cup of tea and a slice of cake, or for a late, but alcohol free, supper.

Indian sailors are taking a break. The guy to the right is the artist behind the drawing of Editha and Jens Christian Seeberg Indiske sømænd hygger.

Fyren til højre har kreeret den flotte tegning af Editha og Jens Christian Seeberg.

Speaks Tagalog Editha is from the Philippines and she speaks Tagalog. Despite the varying dialects on the 7100 different islands that make up the Philippines, Tagalog is a national language, and if you address someone in Tagalog, they will consider you a fellow countryman and greet you with open arms. And the atmosphere only gets better when Jens starts to play Filipino songs on the piano: “It is extremely exciting to encounter so many foreign sailors.

We only spend a short time with them, and our task is to show them a small glimpse of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Just be there for them,” says Jens. As former missionary in Asia he feels at home among the many foreign cultures. When speaking to sailors from around the world he is in his natural element. However, he would like to encounter more Danish sailors as well – unfortuna> tely they are rare visitors.

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Music and food are universal languages Taking a closer look around the house you notice souvenirs from Poland, East Africa, Egypt, Ukraine and Russia. Greetings from their many guests.

“When we tell people that we are part of the Seamen’s Mission they know that we are Christians. We both remember stepping on board a big Chinese towboat and noticing a quote from the Bible hanging on the wall, from the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verse 16.

The captain was so happy to see us; he hadn’t talked about Christianity for a long time.”

But not everyone is equally excited. Jens remembers a Russian captain who was rather skeptical, until Jens sat down by the piano in the mess and began playing a Russian folksong – “Music can work wonders", but I ought to learn some Russian”, Jens reflect. “Being able to speak someone’s mother tongue is an amazing ice breaker,” he says.

“The best feeling is when a sailors expression goes from being reserved to being open and happy. When we arrive, they are often a bit reserved, but when they leave again they are usually both joyful and relaxed. To some of them, I could almost be their mother or older sister, and I am no longer as shy as I used to be. Over the years I have gotten used to these encounters,” says Editha with a smile.

The visitors relax, talk and play chess on the large, beautiful chess table.

Once, a sailor did a drawing of Editha and Jens as a sign of his appreciation. Only a few days later, the drawing was sent to them on Facebook. Editha often uses Facebook to stay in contact with the sailors. In this way she can stay updated on their lives, and she stay in contact with many of them. For instance, one sailor wrote her asking if she would pray for him and his family. His wife had just died from cancer and he was left alone with four children. The children were now staying with relatives, so that he could go back to work and earn a living. “In that situation we saw it as out task to encourage him in his difficult situation. His children were the most important thing in his life. Yet he had to leave them behind, because he worked at sea,” Editha explains. She has had many conversations with sailors over the years, and almost all conversations start with them showing her photos of their children. Therefore, she sees the modern means of communication, such as Skype, as a great gift to all sailors.

Now, their children can both see and hear their father, even though he is far away. This keeps their ties strong until he returns home.

It makes life at sea less problematic than it used to be.

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A hospitable home always has room for one more visitor.

Gæstfrie huse har plads til mange.

Jesus was there Jens finds it natural to open up his home. In the mid 1980’s, when a lot of refugees came to Denmark, some stayed with him while their case was being processed. So, when Editha came with Jens to Kalundborg in 1996 she wanted their doors to remain open. In the Philippines, hospitality is a central value, and as a child her parents taught her that everyone is welcome, also those who come unannounced: “The Bible tells us to be hospitable and take care of those in need. That is what we are trying to do,” she says with a smile. Her favorite verse from the Bible is from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25. It is about helping others, easing their pain and showing compassion.

Editha and Jens are helpful people. If, for instance, a ship’s cook is running out of ingredients, they try to help him out. A cook often enjoys being able to pick out the ingredients himself. Once, a Chinese cook dropped his iPad with all his recipes and family photos, because he had left it on top of the couple’s car. It took a while to find it and fix the glass, but they got it done, and the cook was delighted.

Sometimes, the couple has supplied sailors with clothes from local second-hand stores. They always try to attend to the most urgent needs of their visitors.

“Jens picks them up, drives them to the shops, and then they come here afterwards.

Our latest visitors were a group of Indian sailors who came by for tea. They had a good time. Sometimes, an agent calls us to inform

Editha Seeberg

us that they have some sailors who would like to visit a Seamen’s Club. We don’t have such a place here in Kalundborg, but what we have is our home. If we get a call, and Jens is home, we go out to pick them up. We have even taken a group of sailors to the local Catholic church because they were Catholics. That meant a lot to them,” says Editha warmly, before she runs off to the kitchen – ready to serve a tasty chili. •

4-12 år. Børnene var nu hos noget familie, så han kunne sejle igen for at sikre en indtægt. ”Der så vi det som vores opgave også at opmuntre ham i den svære situation, for børnene var det vigtigste for ham, og alligevel blev han nødt til at forlade dem, fordi hans job var på havet,” forklarer Editha. Hun har ført mange samtaler med sømænd. Næsten alle samtaler begynder med, at hun får vist fotos af deres børn. Derfor mener hun også, at det er en stor gave til sømændene med de tekniske muligheder for fx at skype med familien. For nu kan deres børn både se og høre far, selvom han ikke sidder ved siden af dem; det gør, at far ikke er så fremmed, når han kommer hjem. Det er ikke så problematisk, som det var tidligere.

Jesus hjalp også

Lots of visitors. / Mange gæster.

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er er aktivitet i køkkenet. På komfuret står en gryde chili con carne og simrer færdig til meldinger fra skibsradioen, der med jævne mellemrum snakker løs. I det hyggelige hjem i Kalundborg kommer der jævnligt gæster. Men det er ikke private gæster som sådan.

Editha og Jens Christian Seeberg har i adskillige år været frivillige sømandsmissionærer på Kalundborg Havn. Mange søfolk nyder godt af deres indsats – både når de går på skibsbesøg, men især når de kommer med hjem. Godt 500 søfolk har siddet omkring deres private spisebord de sidste 23 år.

Det har været til te og kage, men også til sen aftensmad – dog aldrig med øl eller spiritus.

Taler tagalog Editha er fra Filippinerne, så hun kan tale tagalog. Selv om der er en række dialekter på de 7100 øer, som udgør Filippinerne, er tagalog alligevel en slags fælles sprog. Og spørger man på tagalog - er du landsmand, og der kommer et ja, så følges det ofte af et stort smil. Når Jens så spiller filippinske sange på klaveret i stuen, breder hyggen og velværet sig: ”Det er vanvittigt spændende at få lov til at møde så mange fremmede sømænd. Vi er sammen med sømændene i kort tid. Vores opgave er at så små frø om den frelser, vi tjener. Og at være der for den enkelte,”siger Jens. Som tidligere missionær i Asien mener han, at det fremmede næsten er hjemligt.

Han føler sig som en fisk i vandet, når han sidder og snakker med søfolk. Dog beklager han, at der er så langt imellem danske søfolk.

Dem, ser de ikke mange af.

Musik og mad bryder isen Kigger man rundt i det Seebergske hjem standser øjnene ved souvenirs fra Polen,

Østafrika, Ægypten, Ukraine og Rusland. Hilsner fra de mange gæster. ”Når vi fortæller, at vi er fra Sømandsmissionen, ved de, vi er kristne. Jeg kan huske, at vi kom ombord på en stor kinesisk slæbebåd og undrede os over, at der på væggen hang et lille skriftsted fra Biblen – Johannesevangeliet kapitel 3, vers 16. Kaptajnen blev så glad for at se os – det var længe siden, han havde talt kristendom sidst.”

Ikke alle steder er der lige stor jubel. Jens husker en russisk kaptajn, der var noget forbeholden, lige indtil Jens satte sig til klaveret i messen og slog tonen an til en russisk folkesang – ”Musikken åbner for meget, men jeg burde lære noget russisk,” siger han ligesom til sig selv. "At kunne tale en andens modersmål er med til at bryde isen," siger han. ”Der er næsten ikke noget bedre, end når en sømands mimik går fra at være reserveret til glad. Når de kommer, kan de være noget reserverede, men når de går ud ad vores hoveddør igen, er de ofte både glade og afslappede. Nu kan jeg næsten være mor til nogen af dem eller storesøster. Jeg er ikke så genert, som da jeg var yngre; nu har jeg da også mødt mange sømænd,” smiler Editha.

Sømændene hygger sig, snakker og spiller skak på det smukt udskårne store skakbord med tilhørende taburetter.

En sømand tegnede Editha og Jens som tak for gæstfrihed. Tegningen blev sendt til dem efter ganske få dage via facebook, for Editha bliver gerne venner med sømændene på facebook. På den måde kan hun også følge mændene og deres familier, og flere af dem holder godt fast i kontakten. En sømand skrev fx tilbage, om Editha ville bede til Gud for dem, da hans hustru var død af kræft, og han nu stod tilbage med fire børn mellem

For Jens er det ganske naturligt at åbne sit hjem. Da der i midten af 1980’erne kom en del flygtninge til Danmark, boede der også nogle i hans hus, mens de fik hjælp på forskellig vis. Så da Editha kom med Jens til Kalundborg i 1996, syntes hun, gæstfriheden fortsat skulle kendetegne livet. I filippinsk kultur er de kendt med stor gæstfrihed, og hjemmefra lærte hun af forældrene, at alle var velkomne, også de der kom uanmeldt: ”Der står også i Biblen, at vi skal være gæstfrie og tage os af dem, der har hjælp behov.

Det er så det, vi prøver at gøre,” smiler hun.

Hendes yndlingsbibelvers stammer fra Mathæusevangeliet kapitel 25. Det handler netop om at hjælpe, lindre og være der for medmennesker.

Editha og Jens er hjælpsomme. Når kokken på et skib mangler ingredienser, hjælper de fx også med det. Det er tit en glæde for kokken selv at kunne være med til at udvælge råvarerne. Engang tabte en kinesisk kok sin fine ipad med alle opskrifter og ditto familiebilleder, fordi han havde lagt den på toppen af Seebergs bil. Der gik noget tid med at finde den og få glasset på den fikset. Men det lykkedes, og lykkelig blev kokken.

Nogle gange har parret også hjulpet med tøj fra genbrug. Vigtigt er det for dem at prøve at nøde de behov, der er. ”Jens henter dem, tager dem med på indkøb i Føtex, og så kommer de her bagefter.

Sidst var det en gruppe indiske sømænd, som var her til te. De hyggede sig virkelig. Af og til er der også agenter, der ringer og siger, at de har nogle sømænd, som gerne vil besøge en sømandsklub. Sådan en har vi ikke her i byen, men vi har vores hjem. Når vi får en opringning, og Jens er hjemme, så henter vi dem. Vi har også haft nogen med i den katolske kirke, fordi de var katolikker. Det betød noget for sømændene,” smiler Editha varmt, inden hun smutter i køkkenet. Klar til at servere en velsmagende chili con carne. •

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Hospitality Gæstfrihed

By generalsekretary Nicolaj Wibe / Af generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe

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here is nothing better than feeling welcome, and the first sign of hospitality is usually a smile. The Danish seamen’s missionaries visit many ships, and often they are welcomed with a smile. Often, the smile is accompanied by a firm handshake – you are welcome on board, and it is a good feeling. We want to thank all sailors and fishermen who welcome us on board.

In this article we are going to encounter the hospitality that Jesus shows all of us. In the Gospel of John, in chapter three, Jesus receives a guest in the middle of the night. His name is

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Nicodemus. Why he comes to Jesus during the night we don’t know. Perhaps because he felt ashamed of his need to speak to Jesus. In the account we hear how Jesus opens up his door to him, despite the unusual timing. In another passage Jesus says: “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away,” and in this account Jesus lives out his message in practice. Surprise visits during the night are never pleasant, but Nicodemus is just one out of millions who have a need to speak to Jesus, and Jesus opens up his door to all of them and invites them in, in the way he did to Nicodemus.

Allow me to illustrate how I imagine this encounter. Nicodemus knocks on the door quietly. He wouldn’t want to wake up all the neighbors. Jesus opens up the door, and Nicodemus has to ask him if he is already expecting visitors. On the table there is a lit oil lamp, a bowl of fresh and dried fruit, a pot of warm tea and two beautiful cups.

“No”, says Jesus, “it is you, I’m waiting for.”

Nicodemus steps inside and all feelings of being unwanted disappear. The conversation begins. Jesus asks, Nicodemus answers, and vice versa. Sometimes they just sit in silence.

All they hear is the hyenas outside the city, but the silence between the two is never awkward- it only brings them closer. When Nicodemus leaves Jesus early in the morning, he feels, as if he is the most important person in the world. But it doesn’t make him feel selfrighteous, only happy. Seen by God himself, and invited into his presence.

The hospitality shown by Jesus gave Nicodemus what he needed to go on.

I have taken the freedom of freely imagining how this nightly encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus might have played out – but it is in perfect concordance with Jesus’ claim that he will never drive anyone away.

This means that he always invites people to come and “sit at his table”, figuratively speaking. Those who turn to Jesus will never be rejected, but will be invited in from the cold.

What a magnificent promise!

Our fear of rejection is often strong. We don’t want to disturb, because what happens if we are not welcome? Or what if people

consider your behavior to be inappropriate or uncool? Then it is probably better to stay quiet and mind your own business. There is no reason to fear that Jesus will reject you.

People might reject you, but Jesus never will.

“Knock and the door will be opened to you,” says Jesus. His hospitality is great and you never have to earn it. What an amazing invitation! •

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er er intet så godt som at føle sig velkommen. Det første tegn på at man er det, er et smil. Sømandsmissionærerne kommer ombord på mange skibe, og ofte bliver de modtaget af et smil.

Ofte følges smilet op af en udstrakt hånd til hilsen. Man er velkommen, og det er en god følelse. Tak til enhver sømand og fisker, der byder os velkommen ombord.

Vi skal i denne artikel fordybe os i den gæstfrihed, vi møder hos Jesus Kristus.

I Johannesevangeliet kapitel 3 får Jesus en

gæst om natten. Han hedder Nikodemus.

Hvorfor det lige er om natten, han banker på døren hos Jesus, ved vi ikke. Måske fordi han var flov over sit behov for at snakke med Jesus. I beretningen ser vi Jesus lukke døren op for ham. Også selvom det var midt om natten. Et sted siger Jesus: "Den, der kommer til mig, vil jeg aldrig vise bort". Det viser Jesus i praksis her. Det er ikke rart at få uanmeldte gæster om natten. Nikodemus er dog bare en af millioner, der har brug for at snakke med Jesus, og med ham som alle andre, så lukkes døren op, og man bydes indenfor.

Giv mig lov til at illustrere, hvordan jeg forestiller mig besøget: Nikodemus banker stille på. Naboerne skal jo nødig vækkes. Jesus lukker døren op på vid gab, og Nikodemus må spørge, om han venter gæster. Der står en tændt olielampe på bordet. Fade med frisk og tørret frugt. Dampende the og to smukke krus. "Nej", siger Jesus, "det er dig, jeg har ventet på". Nikodemus træder ind, og enhver følelse af at komme ubelejligt fordufter. Samtalen begynder. Jesus spørger, Nikodemus svarer. Og omvendt. I perioder er der helt stille. Man hører kun hyænerne hyle uden for byen. Men stilheden mellem Jesus og Nikodemus er ikke akavet. Stilheden skaber nærhed. Da Nikodemus tidligt om morgenen går hjem til sig selv, har han følelsen af at være verdens vigtigste menneske. Men han bliver ikke selvfed af det. Kun lykkelig.

Set af Gud og lukket ind i Guds gæstfrihed.

Jesu gæstfrihed gav Nikodemus det han havde brug for.

Jeg har tilladt mig denne frie fremstilling af, hvordan Nikodemus natlige besøg kan have foregået. Men den matcher fuldstændig det, Jesus siger, at han aldrig viser nogen bort. Det betyder jo, at han inviterer os mennesker ind. Og i overført betydning ind til et veldækket bord. Den, der kommer til Jesus, vises aldrig bort, men inviteres helt ’ind i varmen’. Hvilken mulighed.

Frygten for at blive afvist kan være stor hos mange. Man vil ikke forstyrre, for hvad nu, hvis man kommer ubelejligt. Eller hvad nu, hvis det, man kommer med, viser sig at være upassende eller kikset. Så hellere holde sin mund, passe sig selv og selv finde ud af det.

Frygten, for at Jesus afviser, er ubegrundet. Mennesker kan finde på det, men ikke Jesus. "Bank på, så skal der lukkes op for jer," siger Jesus et sted. Her er gæstfriheden stor.

Ingen steder hører vi om, at Jesu gæstfrihed er på betingelser. Hvilken invitation! •

Nice hospitality / Dejligt med gæstfrihed.

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PORTRAIT / PORTRÆT

Navigation is my main responsibility Daniel Leander Christiansen: I love life at sea!

Mit hovedansvar er navigation

Daniel Leander Christiansen: Jeg elsker at være på vandet!

By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

“I am passionate about the ships and I enjoy spending time at sea.” Perhaps, this is the simplest reason for becoming a sailor. Daniel Christiansen is first officer and navigating officer, and he works for Christiania Shipping A/S, on board the tanker Susanne Theresa.

The tanker sails worldwide, although mainly in Northern Europe and West Africa.

It is no mystery why Daniel ended up as a sailor. He used to go sailing with his grandparents, and from age 12 to 15 he was first officer of his own optimist dinghy. Shortly after picking up competitive sailing he won third place in the local championship.

A small detour The first time Daniel really found himself was when he got accepted into the maritime training program at Roskilde Production College, where he got an internship at the local viking museum. After graduating from primary school he had been enrolled in no less than four educations without finding the right path. During this period, his life was moving down a destructive path, but his parents pulled him back up, and in the spring of 2010 they convinced him to go to Svendborg Maritime College. Unlike his earlier experiences, his first thought at arrival was: “This is exciting”, and that feeling never changed. He wanted to know more, he got top marks, and he was interested in all subjects. Later on, Daniel went to Marstal Maritime Academy where he became shipmaster, and he has been sailing ever since.

“My main responsibility is navigation. I plan the routes and am responsible for tracking and maintaining the navigational equipment, and making sure that everything is up to date and functioning. We have the newest ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) from Transas, but a new echo sounder wouldn’t hurt. Our radar system is completely new as well,” says Daniel. When the ship is moving he keeps a steady eye on the radar and makes frequent notes on their position. When in port he is

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busy controlling cargo, pumps and valves, as well as monitoring information screens showing the status in various tanks. He also takes care of various other tasks, depending on what the ship is loading and unloading.

The bell book is updated on arrival and departure. Among other things, Daniel registers the current pitch, meaning the speed of the vessel, in the bell book. He has a long range of duties to attend to.

High risk and dangerous challenges Daniel has already seen a lot of harbors in his life, including harbors in West Africa: “Once, we were moving chemicals to Nigeria, and our client had decided in which harbors we would dock. When I was planning the route, I was working together with a safety officer from the shipping company who had to approve the route because we would be going through dangerous waters.

For instance, the vessel had to be 100 miles from the coast until we reached Lagos, for safety reasons. When reaching Lagos we then turned ninety degrees and travelled in a straight line towards the coast. When sailing in those regions the company’s safety officer is often involved to make sure that we consi-

der all possible dangers. When travelling in “high risk areas” we also receive a hazard-bonus.” However, Daniel is not interested in going back to those areas. He’d rather stay out.

One of Daniel’s most exciting experiences was in 2016, when the ship was in a shipyard in Turkey for two months. It was interesting from a professional perspective because he, as officer, got to influence the process and follow it closely. He was part of the process, and he knew what was going on and why.

Generally, his memories of sailing in Turkish waters is mainly positive.

Another “dangerous” challenge is when vetting inspection comes on board to check if everything is in order. Vetting inspectors perform inspections on behalf of oil companies, and before an inspection Daniel and his colleagues have typically been preparing for weeks, to make sure that every little detail is in order. However, they didn’t fully avoid remarks at the last vetting inspection in England. “We got some remarks, but none of them were related to my areas of responsibility. The observations and remarks are sent to the shipping company as well as the oil company, and then we have to explain why

we got those remarks and how we intend to fix it,” Daniel explains.

It is like an exam. They can ask you about anything, and the crew members must study prior to an inspection. Often, the inspectors require off-the-cuff knowledge, and knowing where to look it up is not enough. Even if we are treated “unfairly” there is nothing to do about it. The Indian inspectors are extra strict. They send the reports to the shipping company, and perhaps also to the customer.

These inspections are of vital importance to the company.”

Working hours Currently, Daniel spends six weeks at sea followed by six weeks at home. When he is out he works from 12 pm to 7 pm, and from midnight to 5 am. He stays focused on his own responsibilities, and he hasn’t got time for anything besides working and eating and sleeping: “In fact, the resting time is the worst thing about sailing. I don’t enjoy it. I am not good at falling asleep early, so the shifts mess up my rhythm of sleep. This means that I am rarely well rested. Luckily, the chief officer sometimes takes over when his schedule allows it, and that means a lot to me. In fact, I enjoy the night shifts because they are more peaceful. But it can be a challenge to utilize your spare time, and not just sleep it off.

Luckily, I have no problem sleeping at home.”

“Yes, it is difficult to leave your family behind in such a situation. A lot happens in eight weeks, and it is tough for my wife, so I worry about them a lot even though I know there is nothing I can do for them out there.

I can’t stop worrying about them, but perhaps it will get better when my daughter gets older. Before I became a father I didn’t care for how long I was gone, as long as nothing important went on at home. This has changed completely. Now we’ve become a family, and the worst thing about sailing is being away from your family. If we are in a harbor with a proper Internet connection I speak to my wife on Skype. Staying in touch is not a problem, and we are all very happy every time I return home,” he laughs.

Name of vessel SUSANNE THERESA Type of vessel Container Ship Flag Denmark DWT (t) 3,464

AIS DATA Flag Denmark IMO / MMSI 9334404

On a good day

A daughter at home

To Daniel, a good day at work is often a productive day that also brings new challenges and lessons, but it can also just be a quiet day of sailing.

“I guess some day I want to rise through the ranks, but first I want to make sure that I have all the necessary skills and experience.

I would like to make captain someday. I am a trained shipmaster and I am in the process of gathering experience, but I am not in a hurry. In this line of business the clients, typically oil companies, make a range of demands regarding the captain’s qualifications, and therefore it is an absolute necessity that they accept you.” •

Daniel’s approach to work, and life in general, changed the day he became a father: “When we were about to have our daughter, Victoria, I was on a few trips where I was gone between eight and ten weeks straight, in order to be home when the baby came.

Luckily, my replacement was willing to work on a different schedule for a while as well. I wanted to make sure that I was there for the birth, but I had to adjust my work schedule to make that happen, and I went away again when my daughter was only 19 days old.”

”Jeg interesserer mig for skibene og kan lide at være på vandet.” Så kort kan det siges, hvorfor han har valgt at blive sømand.

Daniel L Christiansen er 1. styrmand og navigationsofficer hos Christiania Shipping A/S på tankskibet Susanne Theresa. Det er i fri fart, sejler world wide – dog mest i Nordeuropa og Vestafrika.

Egentlig er det ikke så ulogisk, at Daniel kan lide at sejle, for han sejlede i sin mormor

Skibets navn Skibstype Flag DWT (t)

AIS DATA AIS type Flag IMO

SUSANNE THERESA Container Skib Dansk 3,464

Dansk 9334404

og morfars lystbåd, når han da ikke sejlede optimistjolle, fra han var 12-15 år. Kort efter, at han var begyndt på sin nye hobby, fik han bronze til klubmesterskabet.

Sidespor og ret køl Da han omsider kom på den maritime linje på Roskilde produktionsskole med Roskilde Vikingemuseum som praktiksted, var han for første gang glad for det, han lavede. Han havde ellers efter folkeskolen været i gang med ikke mindre end fire forskellige uddannelser uden at finde den rette hylde. Tværti> mod var han ude på et skråplan, men hans

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mor og stedfar fik ham skubbet i gang, og afsted kom han på Svendborg Søfartsskole i foråret 2010, hvor han helt uvanligt tænkte: ”Dette er spændende”. Og han blev heller ikke træt af det. Han ville vide meget mere, fik gode karakterer og kunne lide fagene. Siden blev han uddannet fra Marstal Navigationsskole som skibsfører. Det er mange sejltimer siden. ”Mit hovedansvar er navigation. Jeg planlægger ruter og har ansvaret for at holde øje med og vedligeholde navigationsudstyret, ja sikre at alt virker og er up to date. Vi har helt nye ECDIS fra Transas. (elektroniske søkort), men kunne da fx godt bruge et nyt ekkolod.

Vi har lige fået helt nye radar,” fortæller han.

Når skibet er i søen, holder han et vågent øje med trafikken og noterer jævnligt positionerne ned. Er de i havn, er der nok at se til med kontrol af cargo, styring af pumper og ventiler, åbne og lukke dem, overvåge diverse skærme, der viser, hvad der er i tankene - og meget mere afhængigt af, hvad der lastes og losses. Bell book fører han på vej ind og ud af havnen. Her skriver han fx. ind, hvor mange procent pitch de sejler med osv. – altså, hvor langt ”gashåndtaget” er i bund. Der er meget, der skal holdes øje med hele tiden.

Høj risiko og faglige udfordringer Efterhånden har Daniel set mange havne rundt i verden, fx også havne i Vestafrika: ”Vi skulle sejle kemikalier til Nigeria, og havnene var bestemt af kunden. Da jeg skulle lægge ruten, var der en sikkerhedsofficer fra rederiet indover for at godkende, fordi det er et uroligt og voldeligt område – fx skal man sejle mindst 100 sømil fra kysten af sikkerhedsmæssige årsager indtil Lagos, hvor man så sejler i direkte linje ind. Når man sejler i det område af verden, melder rederiets sikkerhedsofficerer jævnligt ind, hvis der er noget, skibet skal være opmærksom på. Sejler vi i ”høj risiko områder”, får vi nu udbetalt faretillæg.” Daniel er nu ikke interesseret i at sejle dernede igen. Han vil helst undgå det.

Noget af det mest spændende, han var med til, var, da skibet lå på værft i Tyrkiet i to

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måneder i 2016. Det var fagligt interessant, fordi han som officer havde både indsigt og indflydelse på arbejdet. Og han vidste, hvad der foregik og hvorfor. Han var selv med til meget af det. Jo, oplevelsen ved at sejle til Tyrkiet husker han som god.

Faglige udfordringer kan også være, når der kommer vetting-inspektører ombord for at tjekke, at alt er, som det skal være. Det er grundige inspektører, som udfører inspektionen på vegne af et olieselskab. Inden har Daniel og kollegerne typisk forberedt sig i ugevis, så der er styr på hver detalje indenfor hvert eneste ansvarsområde. Sidste vetting i England var ikke helt uden observationer: ”Vi havde få observationer, dog ingen på mit ansvarsområde. Observationerne bliver sendt hjem til både rederiet og olieselskabet, hvorefter vi skal redegøre for, hvorfor vi har fået disse observationer, og hvad der skal gøres ved det,” forklarer Daniel.

Det er som en eksamen, for de kan spørge en om alting – og sømændene tjekker op i bøgerne inden. Tit kræves paratviden – ikke kun at vide, hvor man skal slå tingene op: ”Er noget ”urimeligt” for os, er der ikke meget at gøre ved det. Indere er fx rigtig strenge. ”Tjekpersonen” sender observationerne hjem til rederiet – og måske også til kunden. Det er virkelig vigtigt, at de inspektioner går godt for rederiet.”

Arbejdstid Pt. arbejder Daniel 6 uger ude, 6 uger hjemme, og når han er ude, arbejder han dagligt fra 12-19 og 0-5. Han fokuserer på sine ansvarsområder og har ikke meget andet at lave end arbejde, spise og sove: ”Hviletiden er faktisk det værste ved at sejle.

Den er jeg ikke vild med. Vagterne smadrer min søvnrytme, fordi jeg ikke er god til at sove om aftenen. Det bevirker, at jeg sjældent er udhvilet. Heldigvis tager min overstyrmand over af og til, når hans hviletid tillader det. Det betyder rigtig, rigtig meget for mig. Faktisk kan jeg godt lide nattevagten, fordi der er fred for andre mennesker, men det kan være en udfordring at gøre fritiden til andet end sovetid. Derhjemme har jeg ikke problemer med at sove. Heldigvis!” ”Jeg vil hellere sove end gå i land. Det er nu også sjældent, der er tid til at gå i land. Nogle gange er det måske kun to timer, man kan have med fast grund under fødderne. Som as-

pirant oplevede jeg dog virkelig meget rundt omkring, og der var en spændende tid.”

Det er et lille skib med 12 ombord. Der er ikke meget socialt liv ombord i forhold til på større skibe. Filippinerne holder sig for sig selv, og officererne har egen messe. Der er ikke meget at lave sammen, og det kan godt føles både lidt ensomt og lidt kedeligt. Man er mest for sig selv. Daniel ser film og serier, når han skal slappe af.

Lille datter Den dag, Daniel blev far, ændredes hans måde at se arbejdet på. Og måske også hele tilværelsen: ”Da vi skulle have vores datter Victoria, måtte jeg arbejde et par perioder 8-9-10 uger for at få det til at passe med fødslen. Og heldigvis var min afløser indstillet på også at arbejde forskudt en periode. For fødslen ville jeg naturligvis ikke gå glip af. Men arbejdstidsmæssigt måtte vi justere på det, og jeg tog afsted igen 19 dage efter fødslen.” ”Jo, det var meget svært at tage ud igen. For på otte uger sker der meget med den lille, og min kone har det hårdt, så jeg bekymrer mig, selv om jeg godt ved, at jeg ikke kan gøre noget derudefra. Jeg bekymrer mig alligevel, men det bliver nok bedre, når min datter bliver ældre.

Tidligere har jeg stort set været ligeglad med, hvor længe jeg var afsted, når jeg ikke havde noget at skulle hjem til. Det er jeg ikke nu, vi er blevet en familie – og det værste ved at sejle er klart at være væk fra familien. Har vi ”godt internet” og er i havn, så skyper konen og jeg.

Det er ikke noget problem at holde kontakten hjem til. Og vi er alle i rigtig godt humør, når jeg kommer hjem igen,” griner han.

På en god dag For Daniel er en god dag på arbejdet en dag, hvor han dels udretter noget, dels lærer noget nyt! Men det kan også være en hel dag på vandet, hvor der bare sejles. ”På et eller andet tidspunkt skal man vel til tops, tænker jeg, men jeg skal være sikker på, at jeg har styr på tingene inden. Jeg vil da gerne være kaptajn en dag. Jeg har papirerne som skibsfører, samler erfaring og matrix – tid i den stilling man er i - nu, men jeg har ikke travlt. I denne branche stiller kunderne – typisk olieselskaberne – en række krav til fx kaptajnens kompetencer. Derfor er man helt afhængig af, at de accepterer en.” •

The Road of Faith Troens vej

By Alvin, Philippines / Af Alvin, Filippinerne

M

y name is Alvin and I come from the Philippines. After I graduated from the BS course in Marine Engineering I decided to take a break for a while. Because I wasn’t working I spent all my time playing computer games, day and night. Sometimes I also went out with my friends, but one day I said to myself that this had to be over. Therefore, in 2017, I decided to apply for a job.

However, my parents couldn’t afford to pay for an apprenticeship so I could gain experience. I always prayed to the Lord that He would help me to find a job.

In October 2017 my neighbors told me about a company that was gathering a fishing crew. I talked to them on the phone, and they hired me. Then I flew out to Manila, the capital of the Philippines. I had waited for almost two and a half months, and now I thanked God that it was only one week until we would set off to sea. This was my first time in the fishing industry, and I didn’t know what my tasks would be.

I prayed to God that I would be placed on a nice ship with proper conditions.

On the 5th of January, 2018 we arrived in Singapore, where we waited for our ship to pick us up. We were 21 Filipinos on the ship, so I didn’t feel homesick. But as days, weeks and months passed by I began to long for my home.

Sometimes I would barely eat nything. I just stared into the air, and I wanted to jump into the ocean, but my fear of God was too strong.

A month later our ship arrived at the fishing ground in Argentina. It was so cold there that even our winter jackets couldn’t keep us warm. A week passed, and I started to feel something painful in my foot that made it hard for me to walk. Maybe it was because of the cold environment. I wanted to go home because of my condition. It felt like I was constantly crying, but without any tears. I didn’t want to talk to the captain about my condition because of my fear that he might send me home. Then two and a half months of hard work would be wasted, and I would have to pay compensation to the company because of not finishing the contract.

I worked night shifts, so we started at 3 pm and worked until 6 in the morning, and sometimes, when there was a lot of work to be done, we would only get two hours of sleep.

Before I went to sleep, I prayed to the Lord that He would give me strength, knowledge,

humility and protection. Day in and day out the situation was the same, and it was still hard for me to walk. After almost three and a half months the captain finally decided to go home. I was both happy and thankful to the Lord for hearing my prayers: I had survived!

We arrived in Kaohsiung on June 19th, 2018. I was excited to open my Facebook account, but I couldn’t afford to buy a SIM card so I could go online. But one of my friends said, “don’t worry, there is a seaman’s club that helps sailors who can’t contact their families because of financial problems. At the seaman’s club you can have free Wi-Fi and use their computers for free. They also offer food to those who are hungry.

Still today, my big dream is to become a marine engineer, and I hope to finish my contract so I can have my salary, which I will use to apply for an apprenticeship. The best thing in our lives is to know how good God is. •

M

it navn er Alvin, og jeg kommer fra Filippinerne. Da jeg blev færdiguddannet som maskinmester, besluttede jeg at tage en pause. Jeg brugte nu min tid på at spille computer, både dag og nat, og jeg brugte også en del tid sammen med mine venner. Men en dag tænkte jeg, at nu skulle det være slut. I 2017 besluttede jeg mig for at søge arbejde, men mine forældre havde ikke råd til at betale mine udgifter, så jeg kunne komme i praktik. Jeg bad altid til Gud om hjælp til at finde et arbejde, og i oktober 2017 hørte jeg via min nabo om en virksomhed, der ledte efter en besætning til en fiskekutter. Jeg talte med dem og fløj så til Manila i Filippinerne. Jeg havde ventet i næsten to måneder, og nu takkede jeg Gud for, at der kun var en uge til afgang. Dette var første gang jeg arbejdede som fisker, og jeg kendte ikke til faget. Jeg bad Gud om, at jeg måtte > komme ombord på et godt skib.

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Know your fisherman - Stories of men and food Kend din fisker

- Oplevelser med mænd og mad

By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

Den femte januar 2018 ankom vi til Singapore, hvor vores skib skulle samle os op.

Vi var 21 filippinere, så jeg havde ikke hjemve i starten. Men dage, uger og måneder gik, og jeg begyndte at længes hjem. I perioder spiste jeg næsten ikke noget. Jeg kiggede bare ud i luften og overvejede at springe over bord, men min frygt for Gud var for stor.

En måned senere ankom vi til Argentina.

Dér var det så koldt, at ikke engang vores vinterjakker kunne holde os varme. En uge gik, og jeg begyndte at føle en smerte i min fod, som gjorde det svært for mig at gå.

Måske skyldtes det kulden. Jeg ville gerne hjem på grund af min tilstand, og det føltes hele tiden, som om jeg græd, men uden tårer. Jeg ville ikke tale med min kaptajn om det, fordi jeg frygtede, at han ville sende mig hjem. Så ville jeg have spildt to en halv måned, og jeg ville skulle betale min arbejdsgiver tilbage for at have brudt kontrakten. Jeg havde nattevagter, så vi arbejdede fra klokken 15 om eftermiddagen til klokken 6 om morgenen, og nogle gange fik vi kun to timers søvn, når fangsten var stor. Før jeg sov, bad jeg til Gud om styrke, visdom, ydmyghed og beskærmelse. Hver dag bestod af samme rutine, og det var svært for mig at gå. Efter næsten tre en halv måned besluttede kaptajnen sig endelig for, at vi skulle hjem. Jeg takkede Gud for, at han havde hørt min bøn – jeg overlevede.

Vi ankom til Kaohsiung d. 19. juni, 2018.

Jeg glædede mig til at åbne min Facebook, men jeg havde ikke råd til et SIM kort, så jeg kunne komme online. Men min ven fortalte mig, at der var en sømandscafé, der gav fiskere mulighed for gratis Wi-Fi og fri adgang til computere, og som gav gratis mad til dem, der var sultne.

Min drøm er at få arbejde som maskinmester, og jeg håber på at færdiggøre min kontrakt, så jeg kan få løn, som jeg kan bruge til at komme i praktik. Det vigtigste i livet er at vide, hvor god Gud er. •

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“Know your fisherman” is a project started by the Danish organization Fish for Consumption, an alliance between three Danish west-coast harbors in Hvide Sande, Thyborøn and Thorsminde. The purpose of the project is to make Danish fishermen, and their trade, visible to the public eye and reveal their passion for bringing in fresh fish and ensuring high quality throughout the entire process. The purpose of the campaign is also to attract more young people to the trade.

People outside the trade are often unaware of the current reality, and the vision is to remove the misconceptions. Fish for Consumption is trying to influence the fishing sector and the food industry in general. They are active in food-collaborations and on various platforms where the fishing industry needs renewed attention.

Fish for the consumers The fishermen work all over the North Sea and the Skagerrak – far from shore and close to shore. The fishing grounds can, for the larger vessels, be located up to 30 hours from shore, and some vessels even travel to the Baltic Sea during the winter to catch codfish.

Heidi Ebey Grønkjær has been in the industry for a while, and as project manager in Fish for Consumption she needs to consider how to best help the Danish fishermen: “We have tried various strategies to shed light on what it means to be a fisherman and work in the trade, and to inform people about the product, the seasons and the fishing grounds.

Most people only know about the small, romantic cutters and the large, anti-competitive cutters exploiting the system, but in between those we have a majority of strong, quality-conscious fishermen, who are often forgotten. When I talk to the Danish supermarkets it is my job to remind them that we have high quality fish in Denmark.”

In touch with reality The daily catch of a typical west-coast vessel can easily contain 18 different types of fish,

depending on the season. Plaice is the most common species to be found in the west coast harbors, but other species are caught as well, such as codfish, hake, monkfish, catfish, haddock, and many more.

“We are constantly working to improve quality. Therefore, we also want to inform all about the fishing procedure as well as the seasons and proper cooking methods.”

Many are already familiar with the campaign, and it might soon be elevated to a national level: “Now the concept has been launched and the next step is a hands-on project including workshops where chefs and cooks can receive further education. We also want to inform them that most of the fish caught in Danish waters is sustainable and ensured against overfishing,” tells Heidi Ebey Grøn­ kjær. She is glad that more and more Danes are choosing a career as industrial fishermen. They are needed. •

”Kend din fisker” udspringer af Konsumfisk, som er et samarbejde mellem havnene Hvide Sande, Thyborøn og Thorsminde på den danske vestkyst. Formålet med projektet er at sætte ansigt på fiskeren. Åbne øjnene for fiskernes passion og indsats for at fange den friskeste fisk og sikre høj kvalitet hele vejen til forbrugeren. Oplysning om det moderne fiskerliv skal også være med til at stille skarpt på rekruttering til branchen.

Der mangler viden hos mange udenfor branchen, og det prøver man så at ændre ved. Konsumfisk holder øje med muligheder i fiskerisektoren og fødevarebranchen generelt og deltager i fødevaresamarbejder og platforme, hvor der er behov for at få fisk på dagsordenen.

Fisk til forbrugerne Fiskerne driver konsumfiskeri i det meste af Nordsøen og Skagerrak - langt fra og tæt på land. Fiskepladserne kan, for de større fartøjer, ligge op til 30 timers sejlads fra land.

PHOTO / FOTO: HENRIK W. KROGH

”Know your fisherman” is a campaign that portrays the daily work of the Danish west coast fisherman. Learn more at www.kenddinfisker.dk Kend din fisker” er et formidlingsprojekt, der viser den vestjyske fiskers måde at arbejde med fisken på. Se mere på www.kenddinfisker.dk

Desuden drager nogle af fiskerne om vinteren også til Østersøen for at fiske efter torsk.

I de seneste år har Heidi Ebey Grønkjær bevæget sig i branchen. Som projektleder i Konsumfisk er hun med til at overveje, hvad det er, man kan hjælpe fiskerne med: ”Vi har prøvet flere ting af med fokus på at formidle, hvordan fiskeren arbejder og oplysning om råvarer, sæson og fangstmåder. De fleste kender til fiskere fra små fiskekuttere og så kvotekonger, men det

store hav derimellem er fyldt med stærke, kvalitetsbevidste fiskere. Når jeg fx møder folk fra de store dagligvarekæder, er det min opgave hele tiden at minde dem om, at vi har den danske kvalitetsfisk.”

Fingre i virkeligheden Dagens fangst på et typisk vestkystfartøj kan sagtens indeholde 18 forskellige slags fisk alt efter sæson. Rødspætter er den art, der bliver landet flest af i vestkystens havne, men derudover er der bred variation i arter – herunder torsk, kulmule, havtaske, havkat, kuller og mange flere. ”Vores virkelighed er, at vi arbejder med kvalitet. Derfor vil vi også gerne fortælle

om, hvordan fisken køles ned med det samme, den er oppe af vandet, men også om sæson og tilberedning mangler mange viden.” ”Kend din fisker” kendes af en del, og det kunne sagtens foldes ud på landsplan: ”Nu er ”barnet” født, og vi vil videre med et nyt projekt. Vi vil lave værksteder, hvor fx kokke, køkkenchefer kan komme på skolebænken.

Samtidig vil vi fortælle dem, at de fleste af de fisk, der landes i vores havne, er fisket bæredygtigt, hvilket bl.a. er en sikring mod overfiskeri,” fortæller Heidi Ebey Grønkjær. Hun glæder sig over, at flere og flere tager det blå bevis for at kunne blive erhvervsfiskere. Dem er der brug for. •

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By seamen’s missionary Finn Løvlund / Af sømandsmissionær Finn Løvlund

Being welcomed by a sailor Mødet med en gæstfri sømand

R

ecently I met a Danish sailor at the harbor in Esbjerg. As it often happens when I speak to sailors the conversation came to revolve around his work on board.

It was clear that he was both proud and happy to work on board the ship. Although he didn’t own the vessel I got the impression of a man with a strong sense of ownership and responsibility. He was the captain, and he knew the ship like the back of his hand.

The conversation about his work and the ship went on, and slowly it turned into an open and heartfelt conversation about cultures and different understandings of nationality and religion – an issue he often faced as a sailor.

Time for dialogue The captain was currently alone on board, and he had plenty of time that morning, which is often a good premise for a meaningful conversation. After a while, we ended up sharing our views on what it means

to be human and what our individual values were. He said that in his view religion had a strong influence on our culture as well as our values. That claim became the point of departure for a long conversation about these issues, and about the fear among Danes to talk about spiritual matters. We talked about his view of God, which he shares with many Danes, namely that all religions lead to the same God. In his view, most religions are similar when it comes to the fundamental ethics and rules of life. Personally, he was neither a Christian nor a Muslim, or anything else, but he didn’t mind talking about God, Christianity and other religions. I didn’t get the chance to share the gospel of Jesus with him, but before I left I gave him our magazine, Waves, along with an invitation to come visit the local Christian community. Hopefully, I’ll meet him again at the harbor in Esbjerg, so that our conversation can go on. I enjoyed his hospitality, and our conversation.• Finn Løvlund

J

eg mødte for nylig en dansk sømand på havnen i Esbjerg. Som det ofte bliver i samtaler med sømænd, drejede samtalen sig om hans arbejde ombord. Det var tydeligt, at han var både stolt af og glad for sit arbejde og sit skib. Selvom det ikke er hans skib, fik jeg indtrykket af en mand med et stort ejerskab for skibet og driften af det.

Han er kaptajn ombord og kender skibet ud og ind.

Samtalen fortsatte om arbejdet og skibet, men den udviklede sig efterhånden til en ret åbenhjertig snak om kulturer og forskellige opfattelser i forskellige nationaliteter og religioner, hvilket han har mødt i sin tid som sømand.

Tid til dialog Han var alene ombord på skibet, og samtidig havde han ret god tid den formiddag, hvilket tit er en god forudsætning for en dybere snak. Så vores samtale kom til at handle om,

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hvordan vi er som mennesker og om vores værdier. Han gav udtryk for, at han oplever, at religion har stor indflydelse på kulturer og værdier. Det blev udgangspunkt for en længere samtale om danskernes blufærdighed for at tale om åndelige ting og om hans opfattelse af Gud, som ligner den, mange danskere har i dag, nemlig at alle religioner fører til Gud. Han synes, at han ser, at der er et sammenfald i de fleste religioner, der går ud på, at etik og leveregler ligner hinanden. Selv er han hverken kristen eller muslim eller noget andet, men han vil gerne tale om Gud, om kristentro og andre trosretninger. Jeg fik ikke anledning til at fortælle ham evangeliet om Jesus, men jeg gav ham vores magasin Waves sammen med en invitation til værestedet Arken og gik så videre til det næste skib. Forhåbentlig møder jeg ham igen på havnen i Esbjerg, så vi kan fortsætte vores samtale. Jeg nød hans gæstfrihed – og vores dialog. •

WAVES No. 3. May 2019. Vol. 6.

Nr. 3. Maj 2019. 6. årgang Published by / Udgives af: The Danish Seamen’s Mission Indenlandsk Sømandsmission Executive Editor / Ansvh. redaktør: General secretary / Generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe Editor / Redaktør og journalist: Hanne Baltzer, tlf. 0045 -51815329 Mail: hab@somandsmissionen.dk Print run / Oplag: 3500 Waves is printed on eco-friendly paper.

Waves er trykt på miljøvenligt papir.

Yearly subscription / Årsabonnement: 200 Dkr. Layout and print / Layout og tryk: Jørn Thomsen Elbo A/S Cover / Forside: People talk together.

Mennesker taler sammen.

Indenlandsk Sømandsmission Havnepladsen 1, 7100 Vejle Tlf. 0045 – 3393 2543 Telefonerne er åbne mandag - fredag/ Phones open from monday - friday: 9.30-15.00. info@somandsmissionen.dk www.somandsmissionen.dk Facebook: Indenlandsk Sømandsmission Sømandsmissionens gavekonto: Giro 8003300 Bank 9541 8003300 Use MobilePay: 558555 Brug mobilepay: 558555

Sømandsmissionærer/ Seamen’s Missionaries • Finn Løvlund Phone 0045 - 2073 3806. fl@somandsmissionen.dk Havne/ harbors: Esbjerg, Hvide Sande • Simon S. Ambrosen, Marstal.

Phone 0045 - 2982 2771. ssa@somandsmissionen.dk • Jørgen Bech Knudsen Phone 0045 - 2865 5277. jbk@somandsmissionen.dk Havne/harbors: Fredericia, Randers, Kolding, Vejle, Horsens.

• Jørgen Erik Larsen, Sorø Phone 0045 - 2343 0568. jel@somandsmissionen.dk • Leif Rasmussen Phone 0045 - 2029 3738. lr@somandsmissionen.dk Havne/harbors: Frederikshavn Skagen-Hirtshals • Hanus Poulsen Phone 0045 - 6117 6838 hap@somandsmissionen.dk Havne/harbors: København, Køge, Næstved • Søren Thuesen, Aarhus Phone 0045 – 2362 2158 stu@somandsmissionen.dk Krydstogts ansvarlig for Danmark Cruise responcible

GRØNLAND Sømandshjemmet Nuuk Marinevej 3, 3900 Nuuk Tlf. 00 299 32 10 29 Mail: nuuk@soemandshjem.gl www.soemandshjem.gl Sømandshjemmet Sisimiut Frederik IX´s Plads 5, 3911 Sisimiut Tlf. 00 299 86 41 50 Mail: sisimiut@soemandshjem.gl www.soemandshjem.gl

Sømandshjemmet Aasiaat Sammiarneq 9, 3950 Aasiaat Tlf. 00 299 89 27 11 Mail: aasiaat@soemandshjem.gl www.soemandshjem.gl

DANMARK Hotel Bethel Sømandshjem Nyhavn 22, 1051 København K Tlf. 0045 - 3313 0370 Mail: info@hotel-bethel.dk www.hotel-bethel.dk Hotel Frederikshavn Sømandshjem Tordenskjoldsgade 15 B 9900 Frederikshavn Tlf. 0045 - 9842 0977 Mail: info@fshotel.dk www.fshotel.dk KOMPAS Hotel Aalborg Østerbro 27, 9000 Aalborg Tlf. 0045 - 9812 1900 Mail: info@hotel-aalborg.com www.hotel-aalborg.com Sømandscafeen Bredgade 5, 6960 Hvide Sande Feriehjemmet Aggershøj Møllevejen 50 5960 Marstal Tlf. 0045 - 6253 1349 Mail: ssa@somandsmissionen.dk International Seamen´s Club Polensgade 3, 8000 Århus C Phone 0045 - 8612 1599 Mail: seamensclub.aarhus@mail.dk www.seamensclubaarhus.dk Sømandsmissionen i Kalundborg The Seamen’s Mission in Kalundborg Editha og Jens Chr. Seeberg phone: 0045 - 5950 1332

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Welcome to Waves Velkommen til Waves Welcome to Waves – the Danish Seamen’s Mission’s magazine for fishermen and sailors.

Waves is about life at sea, encounters between sailors and seamen’s missionaries, stories told by experienced sailors, and the importance of Christianity in the midst of a busy life on board.

At sea, the waves are always moving, and our vision is that this magazine should do the same - move you, the reader, and inspire you to fully live your life. We want to add value to your life. From God’s perspective, your nationality, profession or gender is not important. To him, all people have unique and eternal value. In the Seamen’s Mission, that is our starting point. •

Velkommen til Waves – magasinet fra Sømandsmissionen til fiskere og søfolk.

Waves handler om livet mellem himmel og hav, sømandsmissionærernes møde med mennesker fra hele verden, søfolks beretninger fra jobbet, og kristendommens betydning midt i en travl hverdag ombord.

Waves betyder bølge – og bølger bevæger sig. Det vil vi også gerne have, at bladet skal. Bevæge dig som læser. At du må få stof til eftertanke. Noget der skaber værdi ind i dit liv.

I Guds verden er der ikke forskel på nationalitet, profession og køn, for det enkelte menneske har unik værdi. Og det er det udgangspunkt, vi har i Sømandsmissionen. •

Ombord afløser arbejde, sove og spise hinanden som perler på en snor. Dag efter dag. Uge efter uge. Ikke altid er der overskud, lyst eller mulighed for at snakke om, hvordan man rent faktisk har det lige nu. Men vi kan spille hinanden gode, ja løfte hinanden op: Et klap på skulderen, en sjov bemærkning eller et spørgsmål til en kollega om familien derhjemme kan være med til at give kollegaen en bedre dag. Eller bare at tale med en ombord, man ikke har sagt noget til endnu…

Returadresse: Indenlandsk Sømandsmission, Havnepladsen 1, 7100 Vejle, Denmark

On board, we live in a constant cycle of work, rest and meals - day in and day out, week after week - and we can’t always find the energy and drive to sit down and have a meaningful conversation with our co-workers. But we can lift each other up. A cheerful comment or an honest question about the well-being of your co-worker’s family can change someone’s day from bad to good. Or just talking to someone on board that you haven’t talked to yet…