Waves #4 August 2019

#4 NEWS FROM THE DANISH SEAMEN’S MISSION

6. årgang August 2019

Lise loves sailing

Family and fellowship

Portræt af Christian

Lise elsker at sejle

Familie og fællesskab

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Portrait of Christian

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Welcome to Waves Velkommen til Waves

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Fellowship can look very different

Fællesskab kan være meget forskelligt

By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

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e are part of a fellowship from the day we are born until the day we die – through our families, the education, work, church, and friends. We all need to be part of a community.

The first fellowship we encounter is our family. Here, the child finds a foundation of love and safety, which often remains fundamental throughout life. Later on, we find our way into other fellowships as well.

Denmark is known for itsassociations and social organizations. All over the country there is a long tradition for being active in associations related to faith, sports, music, education and politics. This gives people a way to find fellowship and avoid loneliness.

In other countries there are other traditions, but we all share the need to feel like we are part of a community.

As sailors we are also part of different social groups. Social life at sea can be very different compared to working a regular nineto-five job. Often, the community and social life on board is crucial to a sailor’s wellbeing, as you can’t just go home when your shift ends. This demands strong leadership – but the individual crew member also needs to contribute to the social life on board, in order to make the ship a good place to live and work. This magazine contains a range of articles dealing with the theme of fellowship.

Perhaps you’ll be inspired! •

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elcome 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. •

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ra vi fødes, bliver vi en del af et fællesskab, og sådan vil vi opleve det livet igennem – i familien, i skolen, på studiet, på jobbet, i kirken, hos vennerne og derhjemme. Mennesket har brug for at være en del af et godt fællesskab.

Det første fællesskab, et menneske møder, er familien. I dette fællesskab finder barnet oftest en kærlighed og tryghed, som får betydning for resten af dets liv. Senere finder man selv ind i nye fællesskaber.

Danmark er kendt for at have en forening næsten pr. indbygger. Der er en lang tradition for at være aktiv i foreninger indenfor fx kirke, sport, musik, folkeoplysning og politik.

Derved er mange med i forskellige fællesskaber. Andre steder på kloden er der forskellige traditioner, men ens for os er bestemt nødvendigheden af at føle os som en del af et fællesskab, så vi ikke bliver ensomme.

Som sømand indgår man også i mange forskellige sammenhænge. Frekvensen kan være forskellig fra mennesker, der arbejder i land, fordi man arbejder ombord/ er hjemme.

Konkret betyder det, at arbejdsfællesskabet ombord får en afgørende betydning for, om man trives, da man ikke bare kan smutte efter arbejdstid, men bor på stedet. Det stiller krav til god ledelse ombord – men også til den enkelte om at være med til at skabe fællesskab, så det bliver et godt sted at bo og arbejde.

Dette magasin har flere artikler, der berører netop fællesskab. Må du blive inspireret! •

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elkommen 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 havnen, og kristendommens betydning midt i en travl hverdag ombord.

Waves betyder bølge – og bølger kan bevæge 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 har det enkelte menneske unik værdi uanset nationalitet, profession og køn. Det er det udgangspunkt, vi har for alt arbejde i Sømandsmissionen. •

My father has moved icebergs Min far har flyttet isbjerge

Christian Stidsen is chief officer at Viking Supply Ships Christian Stidsen er overstyrmand hos Viking Supply Ships

By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

Bird song fills the air in the small village of Lønborg near the Danish west coast. Today is a normal weekday with school and work for the rest of the family, so at the moment the sailor is alone in the large house. This quiet corner of the country is home to Christian Stidsen, his wife and their three children. Or, to be more precise, Christian lives here for six months every year, as he spends the other six at sea – five weeks out and five weeks at home, no exceptions. Since 2010, Christian has been working for Viking Supply Ships, and he currently sails under the Norwegian flag. The company primarily operates in the arctic regions.

The ship – a large, multi-function towboat, supports oil rigs in the North Sea, and currently Christian’s work is based in the Montrose Port in Scotland. Among their customers are Shell US, Statoil, Hydro and Cairn Energy.

Christian manages the deck and sails the supply boat: “Among other things, I move drilling rigs and provide support. We are usually located in Montrose, waiting for new tasks. When called upon, we go out and solve the given task. Then we head back to port, where we wait again,” he says.

The ports are highly affected by the tide, so the crew knows that they sometimes have to work fast. If the water gets too low they get caught. The weather is also a constant challenge, and before a task can be solved,

safety issues must be considered carefully.

For instance, there is a clear limit when it comes to wave height, which often keeps them ashore for long periods of time during the winter: “If we get caught out at sea we barely get any rest. But as long as the ship can handle it we just have to accept it and wait. Then all we can do is to put the stem up against the wind and wait for things to settle down – then sleep must wait.”

Catching an iceberg At Kindergarten, Christian’s son told all his friends that his father’s job is to move icebergs. Not many children can say that about their father, but in this case it is actually true. At one point, when Christian was working in Greenland, his job was to keep icebergs away from the drilling rigs: “We surveilled a large area containing floating icebergs.

In order to guide the icebergs in the right direction we would put a hawser around them and then use the current to control the direction. It usually worked, but sometimes the icebergs tipped over, and then we would have to start from scratch. Those icebergs were pretty big, one or two million tons, but even that becomes normal at some point,” he smiles.

When Christian returns to work he is going to stand in for the captain. The company policy is that if you are not qualified to become captain you won’t be hired as officer

either, but he has no idea when he will be appointed captain. It is a matter of experience: “There has to be someone else further up who thinks it is a good idea. Right now I am happy with my situation. I enjoy sailing, and I am generally happy with my job.”

A cross in a chain Christian always carries a sliver cross around his neck. His faith is important to him, and when the ship is in port during the weekends he usually finds a Sunday service to attend.

In Montrose, he visits the same church every time: “I always enjoy going to church in Montrose. They know who I am and what I do, so they understand why I am sometimes absent for longer periods of time. It is a wonderful community and it is good to be part of something out there. Usually the captain is willing to take my shift, unless he is going golfing!” My colleagues accept the fact that I go to church. People are very tolerant. As long as you don’t force your opinions on others, people will accept almost anything. And there are other Christians on board, which I didn’t know at first.”

When out, Cristian sometimes reads his Bible or listens to a sermon from his home church back in Denmark. However, he misses being part of the fellowship, and he is happy that he can be part of a congregation even when he is abroad. > “It is not the first thing I tell people, but

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when talking to people over longer periods of time I always mention my faith at some point. We have our own little community on board, and it is a sensitive system. We all have to get along, and I never preach to people. But at the same time I always stay true to myself. You have to lay your cards on the table. I try to practice my beliefs by speaking to everyone in a good tone and by treating others with respect. If we get into a conversation about faith I share my views openly, but otherwise I don’t think about it much.

Perhaps my faith is also reflected indirectly through my leadership, and through the way I approach other people.”

The danger of isolation The presence of Internet and TV on board has damaged the social life of the crew. Now you can just retreat to your room, and often the entire ship seems deserted. Christian points to the fact that the thirteen crew members are all very different people. Some are more introvert, while others are more outgoing: “I try to find a healthy balance. It is good to know each other, especially here, since the crew is permanent. Even though it varies how much we share from our private lives, we all learn to understand each other rather fast. We respect each other, and that is very important. I hope that everyone on board has someone to talk to. That is my im-

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pression. But loneliness is a real threat, as we are all very different. The crew also counts two women, the chief engineer and the cook. Our chief engineer has his own garden on the bridge. It is located in the windowsill, where the plants grow up along strings, which makes it almost impossible to look out the window. The garden has even provided us with fresh cucumbers, and after four weeks of eating preserved vegetables they were really tasty!”

A family man Christian met his wife, Maja at a seamen’s home in Greenland. He was already sailing back then. Now, many years later, they are married and have three children age 6, 11 and 13.

“We accept the conditions, even though it is not always a walk in the park – especially if I come home later than expected or if I have to leave early. This is all our children know, and it is simply just the rhythm of our family life. Sometimes the children ask why I don’t just get a normal job, but then I wouldn’t be home full time for six months every year. When I am home, I am fully present. We always have a great time.”

When Christian is not working, the children can come home early from school and kindergarten, and Maja can be more flexible at her job as a kindergarten teacher. For example, she

can take both long and short shifts, while Christian takes care of things at home. Or she can sleep late on a weekday! When Christian is gone she has to work on a tight schedule, and everything has to be planned out.

“Today it is pretty comfortable to work off-shore. We have internet and satellite phones on board, and we all have a smartphone, so staying in touch is not an issue. Maja and I do not have a specific agreement on when to talk – but we talk about most things, and it is no problem to make decisions together, even when I am out working. Also, the internet allows me to take care of many things, such as our private economy. Technology helps communication, and in this area the Norwegian off-shore company keeps the highest standards. I know that we have great conditions, and this is not always the case for people working at sea.”

“Some colleagues say that they find it easier if their wives don’t mention things on the phone that they can’t do anything about anyway. I see their point. There is not always a reason for us to know everything,” he says with a smile.

“Finding my role in the family when I return home is a challenge. When I come back I have to fit into an ongoing rhythm. My job is not to turn everything upside-down just because I come home, but at the same time I have to be engaged and play an active part.

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It is never a good solution to remain passive when returning home. That is simply impossible. Then I should have choosen a different line of work, as it would destroy our relationship. Maja and I always support each other.

My job is to support and contribute, and do my fair share. When I return, Maja has been running things alone for five weeks, and she can use my support. We have to support each other and work together. I am the one who has chosen the job, and she is the one who has to accept it.”

Next week, Cristian is going back to work again. He doesn’t focus on the job before he leaves – that approach works for him. • uglesang fylder de grønne omgivelser her ude på landet i Lønborg ved Skjern.

Lige nu er sømanden alene hjemme i det store hus, for det er almindelig hverdag med skole og job for børn og voksne. Her langt fra havet bor Christian Stidsen med sin hustru og tre børn. Det vil sige, han bor der halvdelen af året. Den anden halvdel sejler han som overstyrmand – 5 uger ude og 5 uger hjemme efter en plan et år frem. Siden 2010 hos Viking Supply Ships og for tiden under norsk flag. Rederiet sigter mod de arktiske egne.

Skibet – en forstørret slæbebåd med mange funktioner - supporterer olieplatforme i Nordsøen, så lige nu arbejder Christian ud fra havnen Montrose i Skotland.

Kunder kan fx være Shell US, Statoil, Hydro og Cairn Energy.

Christian holder styr på dækket og sejler supplybåden: ”Jeg flytter blandt andet borerigge og yder support. Vi ligger typisk i Mon-

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trose og venter på opgaver. Når vi får en opgave, sejler vi ud og ordner den, sejler tilbage og venter igen,” siger han.

Havnene er meget påvirkede af tidevandet, så besætningen ved, at de af og til skal sejle hurtigt. Er det lavvande, kan de desværre ikke sejle. Vejret begrænser også arbejdets udførelse. Inden en opgave kan udføres, tjekkes sikkerheden, og der lægges begrænsninger ind fx på bølgehøjde. I vinterhalvåret venter de ofte på bedre vejr, hvis søen er for høj: ”Er vi endt ude, sover man ikke for godt. Men så længe vi ved, skibet kan holde til det, må vi acceptere det. Så er der ikke andet at gøre end at lægge snuden i vinden og vente på, at det går over. Så må vi sove bagefter.”

Fang et isbjerg I børnehaven fortalte Christians søn som det naturligste i verden, at hans far flyttede store isbjerge, når han var på arbejde. Det er der nu ikke mange børn, der kan prale af, men det var ganske rigtigt! Da Christian på et tidspunkt arbejdede ved Grønland, lød opgaven på at sikre, at isbjergene ikke kom for tæt på boreriggene: ”Vi overvågede et stort område med isbjerge. Når vi skulle guide isbjerget, lagde vi en trosse omkring det, og ved hjælp af strømmen kunne vi hjælpe det til at drive i den rigtige retning. Det lykkedes ofte, men en gang imellem vippede det, og så måtte vi i

Christian Stidsen

gang igen. Isbjergene er da store– en til to million tons, men det bliver også hverdag,” smiler han.

Når han kommer tilbage på arbejde igen, skal han afløse som kaptajn. I nogle rederier hedder det, at hvis man ikke har evnerne til at blive kaptajn, så bliver man ikke ansat som styrmand, men hvornår han selv bliver udpeget som kaptajn, ved han ikke. Der tæller erfaringen: ”Der skal også være nogle, der synes, jeg skal være kaptajn! Lige nu har jeg fornuftige vilkår og gode kolleger. Jeg trives med at sejle. Ja, det er jobbet som helhed, jeg trives med.”

Manden med korset Om halsen hænger et sølvkors, og det går Christian altid med. Troen betyder meget for ham, og når skibet er i havn en weekend, er det en vane for ham at finde et sted at komme til gudstjeneste. I Montrose kommer han fast i en kirke: ”Det er så rart at komme til gudstjeneste. De ved, hvad jeg laver, så de undrer sig ikke over, hvis jeg er væk fra kirken nogle uger. Det er et meget rart fælles> skab, og det er godt at være en del af noget

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derude. Kaptajnen tager gerne min vagt, medmindre han selv vil ud og spille golf! Det er almen accepteret af kollegerne, at jeg gerne vil i kirke. Folk er meget tolerante, hvis man bare ikke pådutter andre noget, så kan man acceptere det meste. Der er da også andre med en kristen overbevisning, som jeg ikke vidste om.”

Ombord kan Cristian også finde på at lytte til en prædiken fra kirken i Skjern, læse i Biblen og holde andagt. Han savner dog nogen at gøre det med, og nyder derfor at gå i land og være en del af en menighed. ”Det er ikke det første, jeg melder ud, men min overbevisning kommer frem på et eller andet tidspunkt, når man kommer til at tale om noget. Det er en balance, når vi er i det lille samfund ombord. Vi skal kunne leve

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Det nytter ikke noget, at jeg kommer hjem og bliver stående på sidelinjen. Det skal man ikke. Så skal man lave noget andet, da man ellers sejler afsted i hvert sit spor. Maja og jeg bakker hinanden op.

sammen hele tiden, og jeg missionerer ikke.

Jeg vil gerne stå ved den, jeg er. Man skal spille med åbne kort. Jeg prøver at leve op til det, jeg tror på ved fx at prøve at tale ordentligt til andre og behandle andre med respekt.

Snakker vi om trosspørgsmål, står jeg ved mine holdninger, men i hverdagen tænker jeg ikke sådan over det. Ubevidst afspejler det måske også min måde at lede på. Min måde at se mennesker på.”

Fare for dødt skib Internettet og tv på kamrene har ødelagt meget af det sociale liv ombord, fordi man bare kan trække sig tilbage på kammeret, og skibet virker som dødt. Christian peger på, at den 13 mand store besætning naturligt nok er forskellige. Nogle er meget private, andre åbne og vil gerne dele alt: ”Jeg prøver at finde balancen midt imellem. Det er jo godt at kende lidt til hinanden, og vi er fast mandskab hver gang. Selv om det er meget forskelligt, hvad man fortæller fra sit private liv, lærer man hurtigt at se hinanden. Vi har en respekt for hinanden, og det er vigtigt. Jeg håber da, at alle har nogen, de snakker med.

Det er min fornemmelse. Risikoen for at være ensom er tilstede - Vi er jo et miks af mennesker – også to kvinder – maskinchef og kok. Vores maskinchef har egen have på broen. Den står i vinduet, hvor planterne

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vokser vildt op ad snore, så vi næsten ikke kan se ud. Drivhuset har givet friske agurker efter fire uger på havet uden helt så friske grøntsager var det godt!”

Familiefar Det var på et sømandshjem i Grønland, Christian mødte Maja. Han sejlede allerede dengang. Her nogle år efter er de gift og har tre børn på 13, 11 og 6 år. ”Vi kender vilkårene at arbejde under, selv om det ikke er sjovt, hvis jeg kommer senere hjem eller skal tidligere afsted. Børnene har aldrig kendt til andet, så det er jo bare den rytme, vi lever i. Børnene kan da godt spørge, om jeg ikke bare kan få et normalt arbejde, men så ville jeg jo ikke være hjemme på fuld tid halvdelen af året. Når jeg er hjemme, er jeg hjemme. Vi hygger os,” siger han.

Når Christian er hjemme, kan børnene komme lige hjem fra skole eller børnehave, og Maja kan arbejde på en anden måde i børnehaven. Fx kan hun tage både de tidlige og sene vagter, mens han får ordnet en del derhjemme. Eller hun kan sove længe! Når Christian sejler, arbejder hun på en anden måde, og hverdagen er systematiseret for at nå det hele. ”Vi er godt forkælede i offshore branchen, vi har internet ombord og en satellittelefon,

vi må bruge. Vi har jo også alle en mobiltelefon, så det er let at komme i kontakt. Maja og jeg har ikke en fast aftale om, hvor ofte vi taler sammen, men vi vender mange ting med hinanden, og derved kan vi jo godt træffe fælles beslutninger, selv om jeg er afsted.

Med internet ombord kan jeg tilgå meget derude fra fx bank og økonomi. Teknikken hjælper kommunikationen – og her er det norske offshore-rederi toppen af standarden.

Jeg ved godt, at vi har gode vilkår, og at det bestemt ikke er sådan alle steder. ” ”Mange kolleger nævner, at det kan være lettere, at konen ikke nævner en eller anden ting, man alligevel intet kan gøre ved. Det kan jeg godt følge. At det behøver man så ikke at vide,” tilføjer han med et glimt i øjet. ”Det er en balance at finde ind, når jeg kommer hjem. Jeg kommer hjem til en rytme, som altid kører. Man skal ikke revolutionere hele verden, når man kommer hjem, men samtidig skal man jo også være aktiv.

Jeg skal bakke op og tage fat! Tage min del af læsset, for nu har Maja kørt det i fem uger, og hun siger værsgo at tage det og det! Vi skal støtte og bakke hinanden op. Det er jo mig, der har valgt jobbet, og hende der har accepteret det.”

I næste uge skal han på arbejde igen. Først når han rejser hjemmefra, tjekker han op på jobbet. Det fungerer. •

Family and fellowship Familie og fællesskab

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hen we spend time in front of our phones during work we cut ourselves off from our real-life relationships. Technology can be a significant challenge to the fellowship on board, and it can have severe consequences. We tend to forget that it is necessary for us to spend time with other people in order to be happy and healthy. Without human interaction we are in danger of becoming lonely - and loneliness can end up costing us everything.

In some settings there are rules for when you can use your smartphone – not safety rules, but social rules. On board, everyone agrees on the importance of being able to reach people back home during a long trip.

And when the colleagues choose to talk to their families online, you can’t argue against it, as you do the same thing as well. Generally, we agree that everyone should spend time staying in touch with their loved ones.

In many Danish ports the Seamen’s Mission offers free WIFI for sailors, as it otherwise can

be very expensive to call your family in, for instance, the Philippines. It is crucial that our close family relations remain close, even when we have to be apart for long periods of time. •

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id brugt foran mobilskærmen er tid afskåret fra relationer i det virkelige liv, som man lever her og nu. I dag. Ombord. På arbejde. Teknologien kan på den måde udfordre fællesskabet ombord, og den kan dermed have sin pris. Få mennesker er klar over, at man har brug for at være sammen med andre mennesker i den fysiske verden for at være et sundt og lykkeligt menneske. Uden menneskelig kontakt kan du blive syg, fordi du bliver ensom, og ensomhed kan slå mennesker ihjel.

Visse steder er der regler for, hvornår man må bruge mobilen - her tænkes ikke i sikkerhedsregler, men hvornår den af sociale hensyn bør lægges væk. Ombord forstår man dog betydningen af at være i god kontakt med

familien, når man er borte fra den i lang tid.

For når kollegaen taler med sin familie, kan man jo ikke sige noget til det, da man også selv gør det samme. Holdningen er, at der skal være en frihed til at være i tæt kontakt.

I flere danske havne tilbyder bl.a. Sømandsmissionen gratis WIFI til sømænd, da det kan være en dyr omgang at ringe hjem til fx Filippinerne. De nære relationer – familien – skulle gerne forblive nære trods udfordringen ved at leve adskilt dele af året. •

12.000 dollars’ worth of Bibles For 75.000 kr. bibler til sømænd

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ecently, the Danish Seamen’s Mission transferred 12.000 dollars to ICMA – International Christian Maritime Association. The money will be used to hand out free Bibles to sailors.

The ICMA counts 28 organizations, who work to help and support sailors and fishermen all over the world. Many of these organizations dream of a chance to hand out free Bibles, but often this is not a possibility. But now the Danish Seamen’s Mission is helping them make their dream come true.

“In our daily work we often hand out Bibles to sailors – usually in their mother tongue. So we know what it means to a sailor to be offered such a gift. And often sailors have plenty of downtime, where they have time to read,” says Nicolaj Wibe who is general secretary in the Danish Seamen’s Mission.

International inspiration The co-operation with the ICMA is a source of inspiration as it provides relevant knowledge about the working conditions of sailors

around the world. In addition, it offers a diverse Christian community.

“There are many good reasons for meeting with other organizations around the world. It is both inspiring and interesting to encounter so many dedicated individuals working within the same field,” says Nicolaj Wibe. Along with several colleagues from around the world, Nicolaj will be attending the ICMA’s 50-year-anniversary in Taiwan in the coming fall. •

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ømandsmissionen sendte for nylig 75.000 kr. afsted til ICMA - International Christian Maritime Association. Pengene er øremærkede til bibler til sømænd.

I ICMA er der 28 organisationer over hele verden, som arbejder for sømænd og fiskere.

Flere af disse sømandsorganisationer drømmer om at kunne give bibler væk, men har ikke haft muligheden før nu, hvor vi i Sømandsmissionen i Danmark hjælper med at gøre denne drøm til virkelighed. ”Herhjemme forærer sømandsmissionærerne ofte en bibel til en sømand. Helst på

hans eget sprog. Derfor ved vi også, hvor meget det betyder for en sømand at få en gratis bibel. Ombord kan der være god tid til at læse i den, ” siger Nicolaj Wibe, generalsekretær i Sømandsmissionen.

Verdens inspiration I øvrigt inspirerer samarbejdet med ICMA, fordi det giver relevant viden om sømænds arbejdsvilkår kloden rundt og et kristent fællesskab på tværs af mange forskelligheder. ”Det giver god mening at mødes med de andre organisationer fra hele verden. Det er ganske enkelt både inspirerende og interessant, fordi man møder så mange dedikerede mennesker,” siger Wibe. Sammen med bl.a. flere sømandsmissionærer deltager han i 50 års jubilæumskonferencen på Taiwan ultimo 2019. •

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Portrait / Portræt

All I want is to sail - from aspirant to officer

Jeg vil bare gerne sejle - fra aspirant til styrmand

By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

Lise Møller Jensen has just graduated as shipmaster – now all she needs is her dream job.

Lise Møller Jensen

Lise Møller Jensen er netop uddannet skibsfører, så nu jager hun drømmejobbet

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uring the first part of her education Lise learned about theoretical aspects of sailing, such as maritime safety, meteorology and marine engineering. Later she began her practical training, where she got a chance to try out her theoretical and technical skills - as well as her talent for leadership.

During her education she kept going back and forth between school and sailing, which made it possible for her to constantly test her theoretical knowledge in practice, and vice versa.

Now she has a full degree in maritime transportation and leadership.

Lise began sailing when she was eighteen, racing a wooden ship in a competition for historic vessels. On her way home from her first race she met a captain who told her how it felt to stand on the bridge at night and look at the stars, and from that moment she knew what she wanted to do: “Since then, all I’ve wanted is to sail. During my high school years I sailed as much as I could, and during my last year I got an internship at SIMAC. After I graduated, I applied for an apprenticeship as shipmaster at Maersk, and I got accepted. I put all my energy into sailing. The more time I could spend at sea the better.”

So far the 25-years-old sailor has worked on board three container ships and one supply ship in the North Sea. The ships have been between 82 and 400 meters long. During her education, Lise has also been training in a full mission simulator, where she can train her navigation skills, such as mooring. It takes both patience and precision.

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Looking for challenges Lise thrives on the many challenges: “I have tried standing on the quay with the walkie-talkie communicating with the captain while mooring. He trusts my ability to guide him. Sometimes it is nerve-racking. I know that you can’t see a lot from the bridge. You depend on your crew when entering a port.

But right now I am looking forward to doing it all again. It can be strenuous, but we just have to use the skills we’ve learned. I love when I have to give a little extra to make things run smoothly, also when mooring. I think it is a lot of fun, and I am always in a good mood out there. It all feels like a fun

game to me, and I just can’t sit still – then I would end up losing my mind!”

Dreams and innovation Lise always tries to innovate her methods in order to make things more exciting, and in this way she renews her motivation. For instance, working with ballast water can feel like completing a large puzzle: “While tanks are filled up and emptied, I try hard to apply my knowledge. I often take notes when I get new ideas of ways to improve the various procedures in order to save time. I enjoy planning and structuring in order to help myself do my job better.”

Time to game / Tid til at spille

Currently, Lise is applying for a position as second officer. As second officer you are often in charge of safety equipment, life rafts and fire-fighting equipment. You also have responsibility for loading and unloading the ship, and you have bridge watches: “My dream is to work on board a tanker transporting oil, gas or chemicals. I’d like to sail all over the world and experience as much as possible. Tankers typically vary their routes a lot,” she says enthusiastically, as she looks at the world map that hangs in her kitchen. The map contains needles, showing what destinations the couple have visited during their internships. Her boyfriend will soon graduate as marine engineer.

Inspired by diversity While studying, Lise learned a great deal about leadership in multi-cultural settings, which she finds very interesting: “I enjoy encountering new cultures. Some of my colleagues tend to complain about it, but I never felt that way. I like figuring out what the individual crew member is good at, and why that person might not be listening to what I say. In fact, I sometimes feel more at home among other cultures than I do here in Denmark.”

Lise’s mother used to teach immigrants, so she has grown up among many different cultures. She describes herself as a calm and open person.

When we get to the topic of women at sea, Lise also has a clear opinion. In Saudi Arabia she wasn’t allowed to leave the ship when in port. That was simply the rules. But other than that there are not a lot of barriers keeping her from fully doing her job. One time, an AB told her that she should go back home: “He said that there was a reason why we call it a seaman. He was getting at me a lot, but I just turned it into a joke and said that then he would have to consider me a mermaid. That worked. You have to be ready

to defend yourself. I want to be hired due to my qualifications – not my gender. I don’t mind working among men. Becoming a sailor is a free choice, and you have to be able to deal with it. And I won’t give up sailing for anything.”

Bullying Lise’s graduation-thesis deals with the issue of bullying and contains the results from 300 questionnaires. Many informants had witnessed bullying at sea, and some had experienced it, but not one had been subjected to sexual harassment.

People had been bullied due to their looks, their weight, their personality, their hygiene, or their professional skills – not due to their gender: “You voluntarily lock yourself up in a floating prison. You can hide, but perhaps you are sharing walls with the person bullying you. The solution for the victim of bullying is to go to his or her superior. Otherwise it doesn’t stop. Several informants said that they “chose to live with it”. That made me think a lot.

No children yet The couple are used to being apart, and they find a way to make it work. They don’t need to talk to each other every day, so they just communicate whenever they feel the need.

And they are not yet thinking about having children. First, they want to use their educations: “I am not at a point where I think about having children. We are still too young for that, and I am not really interested in it yet. If we do have children, my boyfriend will have to be the one who goes ashore, as it is easier for him to find another job as engineer. Right now, the main priority is to go out there and experience as much as possible.

Sailing all over the world - that is what is exciting at the moment. Too many dreams are put on hold when you have children.” •

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begyndelsen af den maritime uddannelse lærte hun om den teoretiske del af skibsfart bl.a. søsikkerhed, meteorologi og skibsteknik. Senere kom hun i søpraktik, hvor hun kunne afprøve de teoretiske og tekniske færdigheder såvel som hendes personlige lederegenskaber. Og sådan skiftede det. Konkret betød det, at praktik hele tiden blev understøttet af teori og omvendt. Nu har hun en fin professionsbachelor i maritim transport og skibsledelse.

Lise begyndte at sejle som 18-årig på et træskib i en kapsejlads for bevaringsværdige skibe. På vej hjem til Aalborg fra oplevelsen på Fyn mødte hun en skibskaptajn, som berettede om, hvordan han imponeret fra broen betragtede stjernerne på den store himmel midt om natten, og så var hun solgt: ”Siden har jeg bare villet sejle. I gymnasiet sejlede jeg med træskibe alle de weekender, jeg kunne, og i 3.G var jeg i studiepraktik på SIMAC. Senere søgte jeg en læreplads som skibsfører hos Maersk og fik den. Hele mit fokus faldt over på søfart. Jo mere jeg kunne sejle des bedre.”

Til dato har den nu 25-årige søfarende allerede sejlet på tre containerskibe og et supply skib i Nordsøen. Skibene har været fra 82- 399,25 meter lange. Lise har under uddannelsen øvet nogle gange i en full mission simulator, for at træne sine færdigheder i navigation så som at lægge til kaj. Det kræver tålmodighed og præcision.

Elsker udfordringer Lise kan lide udfordringen: ”Jeg har også selv stået med walkien på fortøjningsstationen og skullet kommunikere med kaptajnen. Han stoler på mit øjemål. Det er nervepirrende nogle gange. Jeg ved, man ikke kan se ret meget fra broen. Man er afhængig af sin besætning, når man skal til kaj. Nu glæder jeg mig imidlertid til at komme ud og gøre det igen. Det kan være anstrengende, men vi bruger jo vores faglighed. Jeg elsker det, når >

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jeg lige skal anstrenge mig lidt mere. Også fx ved fortøjninger. Jeg synes, det er ret sjovt.

Jeg er konstant glad derude. Jeg leger mig gennem tingene. Jeg kan ikke stå og lave ingenting, så bliver jeg ærlig talt tosset!”

Drøm og optimering Lise prøver hele tiden at optimere for at gøre det mere spændende, og på den måde holder hun motivationen oppe. Fx når hun ved computeren arbejder med ballastvand, så kan det være en hel labyrint at komme igennem: ”Mens tanke fyldes og tømmes, bruger jeg virkelig min viden. Jeg skriver ofte noter, når jeg får ideer til nye rækkefølger, hvor man så måske bliver mindre presset. Jeg kan godt lide at planlægge og skabe overblik, så jeg bedre kan nå det hele.”

Nu søger Lise arbejde som 2. styrmand, hvor man typisk har ansvar for det livreddende udstyr, redningsflåde og brandudstyr.

Desuden også lastning og losning og så brovagter:

Work / Arbejde

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”Min drøm er at sejle med et tankskib med olie, gas eller kemikalier. Gerne sejle over hele verden for at få nye oplevelser.

Tankskibe er kendt for at sejle nye ruter,” siger hun begejstret og kigger op på verdenskortet i køkkenet i hjemmet i Svendborg, hvor knappenåle viser, hvilke destinationer parret har sejlet til under deres praktik.

Hendes kæreste er snart uddannet maskinmester.

Farverig mangfoldighed På studiet lærte hun en del om ledelse af forskellige kulturer, hvilket bestemt interesserer Lise: ”Jeg kan godt lide fremmede kulturer. Andre kolleger kan godt brokke sig over dem, men sådan har jeg aldrig haft det. Jeg kan godt lide at lede efter, hvad den enkelte kan og finde ud af, hvorfor en måske ikke gider lytte til mig. Faktisk har jeg det sommetider bedre med andre kulturer end med danskerne.”

Derhjemme fra er hun vokset op med andre kulturer, fordi hendes mor underviste immigranter. Hun betegner sig selv som rolig og åben overfor andre.

Når samtalen falder på kvinder til søs, er hun hurtig i replikken. I Saudi Arabien måtte hun ikke gå ned på kajen som kvinde. Sådan var det bare der. Men ellers er der ikke mange forhindringer, når man vil passe sit arbejde. En gang har hun af en matros ombord fået at vide, at hun burde tage hjem: ”Han sagde, at det ville jo ikke hedde sømand, hvis jobbene til søs også var for kvinder. Han var meget efter mig, men så jokede jeg med, at så var jeg en havfrue! Det virkede. Man skal være klar til at svare igen. Jeg vil gerne vælges efter kvalifikationer. Ikke efter køn. Så smid mig gerne ud på man-

deskibe. Det vil ikke gøre mig noget! Man skal kunne holde til det, for man vælger det selv! Og jeg vil ikke undvære at sejle.”

Mobning Lises bacheloropgave handlede om mobning og indeholdt 300 besvarelser af et spørgeskema. Mange havde observeret mobning, nogle havde oplevet mobning, men ingen af respondenterne havde været udsat for sexchikane.

Mobbet blev man pga. udseende, vægt, væremåde, hygiejne og kompetence – ikke på køn: ”Man er frivilligt spærret inde i et flydende fængsel. Man kan godt gemme sig, men din mobber sover måske i kammeret ved siden af. Det handler om, at den søfarende må gå til sin overordnede, hvis han mobbes. Ellers stopper det heller ikke. ”Jeg valgte at leve med det”, var fx en kommentar jeg mødte i besvarelserne. Det tænkte jeg en del over.”

Børn er mange sejlture væk Parret er vant til at være fra hinanden, men får det til at fungere udmærket alligevel. De har ikke brug for at tale sammen dagligt, så kommunikationen er ad hoc efter behov.

Børn tænker de ikke ind endnu. Nu vil de bruge deres uddannelser: ”Det med børn tænker jeg ikke på. Det er vi for unge til. Og det er ikke min favorittanke. Kommer de senere, så er det min kæreste, der bliver smidt i land, for han kan finde job i land som maskinmester, det kan jeg ikke. Aktuelt er det modsat at komme afsted hurtigst muligt og opleve en masse. At komme ud at sejle.

Det er det, der er spændende. Der er så mange drømme, der bliver sat på pause, hvis man får børn.” •

Learn anytime / Ubegrænset læring

News / Nyt

P

aul Høeg has been hired as welfare-worker/seamen’s missionary at Fyn. This is the first time that Svendborg Maritime College and the Danish Seamen’s Mission come together to form a position in the field.

Paul looks forward to meeting the students at Svendborg Maritime College, where he will be spending half his time.

“I am used to creating relations, and I enjoy working with young people. I also look forward to being part of the school staff,” says Paul, who used to work as a missionary in Tanzania. The rest of the week Paul will be spending as seamen’s missionary around the island of Fyn. He looks forward to meeting the many sailors. •

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eafarers all over the world can now get a new chance to extend their education with online edX courses – and at the same time use their leisure time in a new and exciting way. The online co-operation with other students through the edX system will take them back to the world outside the ship. Every individual wants to receive the best possible education in order to achieve his or her dreams. However, the better the institution, the higher the fees.

Online classes are not only cheap but also conveniently arranged for those who are working at the same time. There are websites that provide free online courses or have resourceful materials for students. These websites are filled with podcasts, videos and notes, and they also offer time-to-time assessment tests. Indeed, there should be a free flow of knowledge in the world, as it is beneficial for the students as well as the teachers.

What you know is more important than where you have learnt it. Nowadays, agencies hire students on the basis of their knowledge and ability to solve problems, keeping aside their grades or degrees. edX is founded by Harvard and MIT, edX is home to more than 20 million learners, and is used by the majority of top-ranked universities in the world as well as industry-leading companies. As a global nonprofit, edX is transforming traditional education, removing the barriers of cost, location and access. Open edX is the open-source platform that powers edX courses.

It is freely available at www.edx.org. •

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øfolk over hele verden har nu chancen for at videreuddanne sig online med edX kurser – og samtidig bruge deres fritid på en ny og udfordrende måde. Den online interaktion med andre studerende via edX giver en følelse af at være tilbage i hverdagen på land.

Alle ønsker at opnå den uddannelse, der kan føre deres drømme ud i livet, men jo bedre uddannelsen er, jo dyrere er den som regel også. edX online kurser er ikke bare billigere, de passer også til de af os, der arbejder samtidigt.

Der er også andre hjemmesider, som tilbyder gratis online kurser samt brugbare materialer for studerende. Disse hjemmesider indeholder blandt andet informative podcasts, videoer og noter. Nogle sider tilbyder også diverse tests af dit faglige niveau. Der burde generelt være fri vidensdeling, da dette er nyttigt for både studerende og undervisere.

Hvad, du ved, er vigtigere end, hvor du har lært det. I dag hyrer selskaber primært på baggrund af ansøgernes viden og evne til at løse problemer, snarere end deres karakterer og titler.

EdX er grundlagt af Harvard og MIT og har over 20 millioner brugere, som kommer fra de bedste universiteter og største virksomheder i verden. edX er en global non-profit organisation.

Open edX er en open-source platform, der giver adgang til alle edX kurser. Den kan hentes gratis på www.edx.org. •

Paul Høeg now works as welfare-worker/ seamen’s missionary.

Paul Høeg er nu velfærdsmedarbejder/ sømandsmissionær.

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aul Høeg er nu velfærdsmedarbejder og sømandsmissionær på Fyn. Det er første gang, at Svendborg Søfartsskole og Sømandsmissionen laver en fælles ansættelse.

På Svendborg Søfartsskole, hvor han nu skal arbejde halvdelen af tiden, glæder han sig til at møde eleverne: ”Jeg er vant til at danne relationer og kan lide at arbejde med unge. Desuden glæder jeg mig til at indgå i lærerfællesskabet,” siger Paul Høeg, der kommer fra et job som missionær i Tanzania. Den anden halvdel af tiden skal Paul arbejde som sømandsmissionær på Fyn. Han ser frem til at møde sømænd og fiskere. •

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By general secretary, Nicolaj Wibe/ Af generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe

Family and fellowship - a personal responsibility Familie og fællesskab - kalder på et personligt ansvar

O

ne evening I was talking to some Filipino sailors. They had been showing me their homes and where they all studied in Manilla. It was a warm and quiet evening. There was a positive atmosphere, and it felt okay to move the conversation towards more personal topics. Therefore, I asked about the common challenge of maintaining one’s relationship with the family back home. When they said it was “alright”, I clearly sensed that this was only words and not the truth. I decided to ask them how they really felt, and soon a different picture emerged.

They let me see their old, warn out photos of their children, which they all kept in their wallets. They found their favorite photos of their wives on their iPads, and they shared both their joys and sorrows with me. No matter how you look at it, a sailor will always have a highly unusual family life.

Inspiration Sailors come from all different cultures, and they have very different conditions on board, both physically and financially. So, can anything general be said about the family-challenges that come along with life at sea? I think so. And it all comes down to one thing – personal responsibility. When you choose a life at sea, while also choosing to have a family, it calls for personal responsibility.

Naturally, your partner carries a large part of the responsibility as well. You are both responsible for creating a good and loving life together. But what is your contribution? I can’t give you the answer, but I can challenge you to consider it for yourself. What do you do to ensure a good and caring family life?

Allow me to inspire you with thee concrete considerations: • Pray for your family every day. When you pray for your family, God will look after them. When God sees a person he sees his or her needs, thoughts and feelings. And God has the power and will to be a loving father.

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• Write to you spouse regularly – every day if possible. Perhaps you can’t get online to send an e-mail every day. Then remember them anyway, and send them all when you get the chance. I know a sailor who writes a diary for his wife. It creates intimacy when the distance feels too great. When you write, your thoughts are with the other person. But can you really come up with something to write every day? Try – and I think you’ll be surprised!

• Recently I spoke to a sailor who said something wise about being at home. He said that when you are home you should make sure that you see your friends and spend time with them. It gives you energy, and your family benefits from that energy as well.

The personal conversation Every sailor knows that a ship must be maintained constantly. If the engineers or electricians don’t do their job things can go terribly wrong. The engine needs constant service checks and the electrical wiring must be controlled. The maintenance must be carried out by a professional.

A sailor is similar to his ship. He needs constant maintenance. Personally, I have a pastor whom I visit every six months. I talk to him openly about my life, and I share my deepest thoughts and the things I find challenging or difficult. I also tell him about things I’ve said and done that I now regret.

I really want to encourage you to make a similar arrangement with a pastor or another spiritual person back home; someone you can really trust. You will gain a lot from it on a personal level, and so will your family and your friends.

Because you are like the engine on a ship - you function better when your life gets a regular service check. An ongoing, confidential conversation with a pastor is a good way of opening up important thoughts, feelings and experiences in your life. You get to see your own life and challenges from another person’s perspective.

I know that doing something like this sounds transgressive, but if it helps you keep a steadier course then why not do it? •

Nicolaj Wibe

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eg sad en aften og talte med nogle filippinske søfolk. Jeg havde været rundt og se deres bolig- og uddannelsessteder i Manilla, og det var en varm, stille aften. Der var en fortrolig stemning, og det ville være ok at snakke lidt mere privat. Derfor spurgte jeg til det, som jeg ved, mange sømænd har som en stor udfordring, nemlig relationen til deres ægtefælle og børn. Jeg kunne se på dem alle tre, at når de sagde, at alt var ok, så var det kun ord. Ikke sandhed. Jeg besluttede at spørge ind til sandheden, og det tog ikke lang tid, før den kom frem.

Jeg fik lov til at se nedslidte fotos af deres børn. Tydeligvis ofte fisket ud af pungen. Jeg fik lov til at se de dejligste billeder af deres ægtefæller på iPad ‘en. Og de delte både smerter og glæder med mig. Uanset, hvordan man ser på det, så er det et helt særligt familieliv, der gør sig gældende for en sømand og hans familie.

Inspiration Søfolk kommer fra vidt forskellige kulturer, og der er stor forskel på forholdene ombord, og rederne har forskellige måder at aflønne på etc. Kan der siges noget generelt om de familieudfordringer, de fleste søfolk trods alt oplever? Ja, det kan der. Og det handler om det personlige ansvar. Når man har valgt søvejen og familielivet på samme tid, så kalder det på personligt ansvar.

Selvfølgelig er det ansvar gensidigt mellem dig og din eventuelle ægtefælle. I er begge ansvarlige for, at jeres liv sammen er godt og kærligt. Og hvad er dit bidrag? Det kan jeg ikke komme med forslag til, men jeg kan udfordre dig til at tænke i den bane. Hvordan forvalter du dit ansvar for at have et godt og kærligt familieliv?

Tillad mig at komme med tre ting til inspiration.

• Bed dagligt for din familie. Når du beder for din familie, får Gud særligt øje på dem. Når Gud ser det menneske, du beder for, ser han dets behov, tanker og følelser. Og Gud kan gribe ind og være som en kærlig far for dem, du beder for.

• Skriv ofte til din ægtefælle. Hvis du kan, så hver dag. Måske du ikke har netforbindelse

til at sende post hver dag, men så kan du samle dine breve, til du kommer til gratis WIFI. Jeg kender en, der skriver en slags dagbog til sin ægtefælle. Det skaber nærhed, når afstanden er stor. Ens tanker er hos den, man skriver til. Men kan man finde på noget at skrive hver dag? Prøv – og du vil blive overrasket!

• Jeg har lige talt med en sømand, der sagde noget klogt om det at være hjemme. Han sagde, at når du er hjemme, så sørg også for at møde dine venner og gøre noget sammen med dem. Det giver energi til dig, og den energi får din familie glæde af.

Den personlige samtale Enhver sømand ved, at det skib, han sejler med, skal vedligeholdes. Svigter maskinmesteren eller elektrikeren, kan det gå grueligt galt. Maskinen ombord skal jo have et servicetjek, og elinstallationer skal efterses. Vedligeholdelsesarbejdet skal foretages af en kompetent person.

Men det er med skibet som med sømanden, han har også brug for servicetjek på sit liv. Jeg selv har en præst, som jeg besøger et par gange om året. Han sætter fuldt spot på mit liv, når han spørger til mit velbefindende, og jeg deler selv det med ham, som, jeg synes, er svært eller udfordrende. Jeg fortæller ham også ting, jeg har fortrudt, jeg har gjort eller sagt.

Jeg vil stærkt anbefale dig, der læser med her at finde en præst eller anden åndelig person derhjemme, som du har dyb tillid til, til at være din sjælesørger. Du vil selv få stor gavn og glæde af det, og det vil din familie og dine venner også. For det er med dig som maskinen ombord på dit skib: Du fungerer bedre, når du jævnligt får et serviceeftersyn på dit liv. Det, der sker i den kontinuerlige, personlige samtale med din præst, er, at du får åbnet op for vigtige tanker, følelser og erfaringer. Og så får du et andet menneskes blik og refleksion ind over.

Jeg ved godt, at det vil være grænsebrydende for mange med sådan en kontinuerlig samtale. Men hvis du får en mere sikker ’sejlads’ ud af det, hvorfor så ikke gøre noget ved det? •

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Bethel turns 50

- and she is still beautiful and strong at sea

Bethel fylder 50

- og hun er stadig smuk og sejlsikker

A

ll summer the now 50-years-old ship Bethel has been going from port to port all across Denmark. Bethel, formerly known as Romsø Y302, began its journey on the 31st of May, 1969. She was omitted from the navy on the 21st of March, 2007, where she was bought by the Seamen’s Mission. Thus, after many years of active service, the ship was able to continue its civil duty.

This ship has undergone several renovations since the Seamen’s Mission took over,

but it has been kept in its original style. In every harbor, the locals are invited to step on board and talk to the crew, which consists of seamen’s missionaries and volunteers. See Bethel’s current location at www.somandsmissionen.dk. •

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ele sommeren har det nu 50-årige skib Bethel sejlet rundt til danske havne. Bethel, der oprindeligt hed Romsø Y302, blev søsat den 31. maj 1969.

Hun udgik af Søværnets tjeneste den 21. marts 2007, hvor hun blev købt af Indenlandsk Sømandsmission. Efter mange års aktiv tjeneste i Søværnet fortsatte skibet således i civil tjeneste.

Siden Sømandsmissionen overtog skibet, er det løbende restaureret, men i store træk holdt tro mod sin historie. Alle er velkomne til at komme ombord og hilse på besætningen, som består af sømandsmissionærer og frivillige. Se på www.somandsmissionen.dk, hvor skibet er lige nu. •

Greetings from a seamen’s missionary Gå ikke glip af en hilsen

L

eif Rasmussen works as seamen’s missionary in northern Denmark and is used to seeing ships sitting at anchor outside the port of Skagen, waiting for new orders.

Some ships wait for weeks. One night Leif had a curious dream, and he realized that he has to get in contact with those sailors. A few days later he has an idea: Perhaps the supply ships will be able to bring them a greeting.

Inspired by this idea, Leif contacts Saga Shipping and arranges for them to bring a letter to the ships for him. In the letter he explains why he is a Christian. He also suggests a range of online courses with maritime relevance. The letter also includes magazines from the Seamen’s Mission: “I want them to know that they can always contact me if they want to talk, or if they need help. I have a strong cooperation with SEA HEALTH & WELFARE. Now we are finally able to reach these sailors,” says Leif with great enthusiasm, as

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he goes on to tell that the shipping company will now also bring greetings to the cruise ships that visit Skagen.

Recently, he received hugs from two sailors, who appreciated his assistance as well as their conversation. This was a new experience that touched him deeply. Now he hopes that the sailors who receive his invitation will make use of it. And one thing is certain – Leif is always worth talking to! •

L

eif Rasmussen, der er sømandsmissionær i toppen af Danmark, har længe set skibe ligge uden for havnen i Skagen, fordi de fx venter på nye ordrer. Nogle skibe ligger i ugevis. En nat får han en drøm om, at de sømænd må han have i tale på en eller anden måde. Og så får han ideen: Forsyningsskibene må kunne tage en hilsen med. Engageret kontakter han derfor Saga Shipping og

aftaler, at de fremover tager en stor kuvert med en hilsen fra Leif, hvor han fortæller om, hvorfor han er kristen, ideer til online kurser med mulighed for at dygtiggøre sig og forskellige magasiner fra bl.a. Sømandsmissionen: ”Det er vigtigt for mig at få fortalt, at sømanden er velkommen til at kontakte mig, hvis han har lyst til en snak eller jeg måske kan hjælpe med noget. Jeg har også et godt samarbejde med SEA HEALTH & WELFARE. Nu når vi ombord,” siger Leif begejstret, mens han kommer i tanke om, at shippingfirmaet også vil tage hilsner med ombord på krydstogtskibene, der anløber Skagen.

Forleden fik han hele to uopfordrede knus af sømænd, der sagde tak for assistance og en god snak. Det er uvant for ham, men varmede langt ind i hjertet. Nu håber han sømændene, som får hans hilsen, vil gøre brug af at kontakte ham. Han er i hvert fald god at snakke med! •

WAVES No. 4. August 2019. Vol. 6.

Nr. 4. August 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: The ship is a large, multi-function towboat that supports oil rigs in the North Sea. Chief officer, Christian Stidsen is currently based in the Montrose Port in Scotland.

Skibet er en forstørret slæbebåd med mange funktioner, der supporterer olieplatforme i Nordsøen. Lige nu arbejder overstyrmand Christian Stidsen ud fra havnen Montrose i Skotland.

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 • Paul Høeg, Fyn Tlf. 2296 3950 ph@somandsmissionen.dk

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

GRØNLAND Sømandshjemmet Nuuk Marinevej 3, 3900 Nuuk Tlf. 00 299 32 10 29 Mail: nuuk@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

Sømandshjemmet Sisimiut Frederik IX´s Plads 5, 3911 Sisimiut Tlf. 00 299 86 41 50 Mail: sisimiut@soemandshjem.gl www.soemandshjem.gl

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15

Seamen’s homes celebrates 50-years anniversary - During their 50 years, many people have visited the seamen’s homes in Greenland

Sømandshjem fejrede 50-års jubilæum - Mange har besøgt sømandshjem i Grønland gennem 50 år

S

ømandshjemmene i Grønland bygger nu på en 50-årig lang historie og stærke værdier, da både sømandshjemmet i Sisimiut og Nuuk denne sommer fejrede 50-års jubilæum. ”Vi er den ældste kæde i Grønland, når det gælder overnatning udenfor eget hjem, og vi ønsker at give den enkelte oplevelsen af at træde ind i ”et hjem” med et stærkt fællesskab, sammenhold og en god atmosfære,” siger generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe.

På sømandshjemmene er cafeteriet dagligstuen og gæsterne søfolk, lokale borgere og turister.

Her er der morgenandagt for medarbejdere og de gæster, der ønsker det, samt plads til en snak med volontører og medarbejdere. Her er professionelle konferencer og familiehygge. ”Vi vil også gerne række ud i det område, vi bor i. Det gør vi fx med besøg på skibene, besøg på anstalten (fængslet) og med arrangementer for børn og voksne. Ja, i de mange år har et utal af medarbejdere og bestyrere knoklet for at gøre sømandshjemmene til et godt sted at være,” tilføjer han.

I 2019 har Sømandsmissionen færdiggjort helhedsplaner for sømandshjemmene i Grønland. Helhedsplanerne har til formål at fremtidssikre investeringerne ved at renovere og udvide over de næste 10-15 år. •

Seamen’s missionary Simon Søvndal works at the seamen’s home in Sisimiut. He enjoys talking to people at the local harbor. Here he is seen together with some of the Danish volunteers, who have put their studies on hold to come to Greenland to work.

Ved sømandshjemmet i Sisimiut er sømandsmissionær Simon Søvndal ansat. Han nyder at gå ned på havnen og få en snak. Her er han også sammen med flere af de danske volontører, der i et stykke tid holder fri fra uddannelse og arbejder i Grønland.

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

T

he Seamen’s Mission in Greenland can now look back on half a century of history and strong values, as the homes in Sisimiut and Nuuk are celebrating their 50th anniversary this summer.

“We are the oldest chain in Greenland when it comes to overnight accommodation, and we want all our visitors to feel as if they step into a home of strong fellowship, community and a pleasant atmosphere,” says general secretary, Nicolaj Wibe.

At the seamen’s homes the cafeteria functions as a living room, and the visitors are a mix of sailors, locals and tourists. Every morning, a word from the Bible is shared, for those who want to listen, and there is time to speak to the volunteers and staff members. Here, you find everything from professional conferences to family vacations.

“We also want to reach out to our local community. We do so by visiting the ships and local prison, and by organizing social activities for the both children and adults. For fifty years employees and managers have worked hard to make the seamen’s homes a great place to be,” he adds.

This year the Seamen’s Mission completed their future plan for the seamen’s homes in Greenland. The purpose of the plan is to strengthen and develop the business and insure its investments through renovations and improvements over the coming 10-15 years. •