WAVES #3 september 2020

#3 NEWS FROM THE DANISH MISSION TO SEAFARERS

Discharge impossible

7. årgang September 2020

The mountain is moving

Afmønstring umulig

Bjerget bevæger sig

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Annika chases her dream Annika følger drømmen

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WAVES No. 3. September 2020. Vol. 7.

Nr. 3. September 2020. 7. årgang Published by / Udgives af: The Danish Mission to Seafares Indenlandsk Sømandsmission Executive Editor / Ansvh. redaktør: General secretary / Generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe

• 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

• Leif Rasmussen Phone 0045 - 2029 3738 lr@somandsmissionen.dk Havne/harbors: Frederikshavn, Skagen,Hirtshals • Paul Høeg, Fyn Phone 0045 - 2296 3950 ph@somandsmissionen.dk

Print run / Oplag: 3500 Waves is printed on eco-friendly paper.

Waves er trykt på miljøvenligt papir.

• Jørgen Bech Knudsen Phone 0045 - 2865 5277 • Per Jerup jbk@somandsmissionen.dk phone 0045 - 6113 5383 Havne/harbors: Aarhus, Fredericia, Randers, pj@somandsmissionen.dk Kolding, Vejle, Horsens.

Havne/harbors: Aalborg, Limfjorden

• Jørgen Erik Larsen, Sorø Phone 0045 - 2343 0568 jel@somandsmissionen.dk

Yearly subscription / Årsabonnement: 200 Dkr.

DANMARK

Editor / Redaktør og journalist: Hanne Baltzer, tlf. 0045 -2288 4496 Mail: hab@somandsmissionen.dk

Layout and print / Layout og tryk: Jørn Thomsen Elbo A/S Cover / Forside: Annika Nyrup Franks is one of Denmark’s few female marine engineers Danske Annika Nyrup Franks er en af de få kvindelige maskinmestre til søs.

Photo: Simon Wozniak

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

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SEAMEN’S MISSIONARIES/ SØMANDSMISSIONÆRER

Hotel Bethel Sømandshjem Nyhavn 22, 1051 København K phone: 0045 - 3313 0370 Mail: info@hotel-bethel.dk www.hotel-bethel.dk Hotel Frederikshavn Sømandshjem Tordenskjoldsgade 15 B 9900 Frederikshavn phone: 0045 - 9842 0977 Mail: info@fshotel.dk www.fshotel.dk KOMPAS Hotel Aalborg Østerbro 27, 9000 Aalborg phone: 0045 - 9812 1900 Mail: info@hotel-aalborg.com www.hotel-aalborg.com

Sømandscafeen Bredgade 5, 6960 Hvide Sande Feriehjemmet Aggershøj Møllevejen 50 5960 Marstal phone: 0045 - 2982 2771 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

GRØNLAND Sømandshjemmet Nuuk Marinevej 3, 3900 Nuuk phone: 00 299 32 10 29 Mail: nuuk@soemandshjem.gl www.soemandshjem.gl

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

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

Hotel Avannaa Nuussuattaap Aqq. 2, Ilulissat 3952 Phone: 00 299 944002 Mail: manager@hotelavannaa.com

Change is the theme of this edition of WAVES. The last six months have brought great change for many people – at work and at home – changes that most of us haven’t been able to avoid or reject. To many of us, this has been a mental challenge.

All over the world, seafarers have been on board for much longer than planned, because their replacement was unable to travel due to the lock down. Now, slowly, the world is opening up again, and the outcome is as hard to predict as the weather.

Forandring er temaet for dette WAVES. Den seneste tid har budt på store forandringer for mange – på arbejdet og derhjemme. Forandringer som man ikke altid selv har haft den store indflydelse på. Det har også været udfordrende psykisk. Verden rundt har søfarende fx arbejdet meget længere end aftalt, fordi deres afløsere ikke kunne nå frem, når verden var lukket ned.

Nu åbner verden igen, og hvordan det bliver, er nok lige så uvist som at forudsige vejret om en måned.

By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

When discharge is impossible - The worst part was the uncertainty

Når man ikke kan afmønstre - Det værste var uvisheden

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ever before has the Danish city Odense looked so beautiful from the sea as when the 92 meters long Pacific Dragon, which sails under the Singapore flag, recently arrived to seek shelter from the corona crisis. From Egypt, the ship had travelled up through Europe to Denmark, carrying 19 crew members, including its Danish captain, Jens Holmstrøm Alexandersen, who was happy to see his home town after being trapped on board for four months.

“I understood that the situation was serious, and my main priority was to ensure the

safety of the crew before I could discharge. I had a plan for the discharge and departure of every individual crew member, but they didn’t all work out as I had hoped, as not all countries would let their seafarers back in.

That is the reason why there are still crew members on Pacific Dragon in Odense harbor. As long as they are on board, their contract is valid, but mine has ended.”

Destination: Egypt Jens is an experienced freelance captain of supply ships, and he was hired to sign on in

Alexandria in Egypt in mid-February, although the date was pushed to the second of March before they were ready to work and the last crew members had signed on. Jens quickly suspected that this corona virus could change more than just people’s health, and that it was only a matter of time before it would impact them in some way.

On board were the permanent and a group of contractors who had been hired in for special assignments, such as moving rigs. 34 crew members total, coming from > the Philippines, South Africa, Denmark,

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England, Thailand, Holland, Montenegro and Egypt.

“The worst thing about being away for so long was the uncertainty – not knowing when it would end. We carefully considered how to inform the crew in the best way. Now I am back home, but on board are still seafarers from India, the Philippines and other countries. After a massive pressure from unions, shipping companies and IMOs, (International Maritime Organization) a range of countries have finally decided to give their approximately 200,000 stranded seafarers status as key workers, which has made it possible to remove the initial restrictions that kept them from returning home. However, returning home will still be a challenge, as many countries are not yet prepared to receive them,” says the 57-years-old captain.

A global shut down During March this year, the pandemic in Egypt grew, and while Jens and his crew worked on the anchor systems, he received several instructions and guidelines from the shipping company Swire.

The company improved the internet connection on board so the crew could stay in contact with their families – when the connection didn’t fail, which it often did in the Alexandria area.

“I had made sure we had all the necessary safety equipment on board. Also, we had an Egyptian doctor on board who made sure that everyone was healthy. Our cooperation was crucial, and having him on board meant a lot to me, especially when we found out that our hotel in Alexandria had hosted guests who had later been tested positive with COVID-19. In addition, the doctor informed us that the infection numbers in the city were high, and when I heard that, I shut

Pacific Dragon / Pacific Dragon

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down the ship and told the crew that if they left the ship, they wouldn’t be let back on board – including the Egyptian crew members who lived in Alexandria.”

Dialogue is a Danish management style The captain decided that he wouldn’t send people home because he couldn’t guarantee their safety. In addition, the global infrastructure was shutting down and travelling quickly became impossible. Therefore, he and the crew agreed to transport the equipment back to Europe. The operation would last 41 days from re-loading the ship until reaching the destination. From there, they could only hope that the chances of going home would have improved - which, as we know now, didn’t happen.

It is not unusual for the crew to do such a journey in one stretch, and then be picked up by a helicopter at the destination. Often, Pacific Dragon carries out operations that last for months. The new element was that they weren’t ALLOWED to go to shore. This simply wasn’t an option.

During the crisis, the ongoing dialogue on board has been essential: “I haven’t had any problems with my crew. I often ask them if they have any suggestions or comments in relation to how we handle things on board. They help me reach the best decision. I am aware that I can’t do everything alone. We have an open culture, where everyone speaks their mind. In my experience, honesty is the foundation for progress. Such dialogue-based management is probably a typical Danish phenomenon. It is far less heavy and hierarchical than what many other captains choose. Jens looks ahead and thinks back to the impressive birthday table with cakes and candles that his crew had arrange for him on his last birthday.

It touched him deeply.

Jens has worked at sea since he celebrated his 18’th birthday on the English Channel on board the Royal Danish Training Ship. The specifics of his next contract are still unknown, but he is ready. •

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ldrig har den danske by Odense set så smuk ud fra søsiden, som da det 92 meter lange Pacific Dragon, der sejler under Singapore flag, kom til havnen for nylig for at søge i corona-ly. Afsejlet fra Egypten og op gennem Europa til Danmark med 19 besætningsmedlemmer ombord, herunder den danske kaptajn Jens Holmstrøm Alexandersen. Han var meget glad for at se sin hjemby efter at have været fanget på skibet i fire måneder, for han skulle have været hjem efter en måned. ”Jeg kunne godt se alvoren i situationen.

Min besætning skulle være sikker, før jeg afmønstrede. Jeg havde en plan for hver medarbejders afrejse og afmønstring, men ikke alt har dog kunnet lade sig gøre, fordi hjemlandene ikke kunne modtage deres folk, og derfor er der stadig besætning på Pacific Dragon i Odense Havn. Så længe de er ombord, er de ansat, men min kontrakt er endt.”

Til Egypten Jens er en rutineret ”freelance kaptajn” indenfor supply-skibene, kontraktarbejder, og han var sat til at mønstre i Alexandria i Egypten i midten af februar, men det blev den 2. marts, før de var klar til at arbejde, og de sidste sømænd var ombord. Han fik hurtigt en anelse om, at denne corona-virus kunne ændre mere end folks helbred, og at det kun var et spørgsmål om tid, før den ville påvirke dem.

Ombord på skibet var dels den faste besætning, dels en gruppe af ”contractere” ansat til specialopgaver i forbindelse med fx at flytte rigge. I alt 34 mand fra Filippinerne, Sydafrika, Indien, Danmark, England, Thailand, Holland, Montenegro og Egypten. ”Det værste ved det længere udeophold var uvisheden, at der ikke var nogen bagkant på, hvornår vi kunne komme hjem. Jeg overvejede nøje, hvordan jeg skulle formulere det overfor den faste besætning.

Nu er jeg hjemme, men ombord er der stadig søfolk fra bl.a. Indien og Filippinerne."

Efter et massivt pres gennem flere måneder fra bl.a. fagforeninger, rederier og IMO (International Maritime Organization) har en række lande nu endelig besluttet at give de omkring 200.000 strandede søfarende rundt omkring i verden status af nøglemedarbejdere og dermed løfte de restriktioner, der hidtil har forhindret dem i at rejse hjem. "Så nu håber jeg mine medarbejdere kan komme hjem, selvom flere af dem vil være udfordret, fordi hjemlandene ikke er klar til at modtage dem,” siger den 57-årige kaptajn.

> Captain Jens Holmstrøm Alexandersen (Third from the left) enjoys working with his crew / Kaptajn Jens Holmstrøm Alexandersen (Nr. 3 fra venstre) nyder at arbejde sammen med sit mandskab.

Verden lukkede også I løbet af marts blev pandemien i Egypten også mere voldsom, og Jens modtog masser af cirkulærer og vejledninger fra rederiet Swire, mens han og besætningen arbejdede med ankersystemerne mm.

Firmaet skruede op for båndbredden, så man kunne være i kontakt online med familien, hvis ellers forbindelsen virkede, hvilket den sjældent gjorde i Alexandria-området. ”Jeg havde sørget for, at vi havde alle værnemidler. Desuden var der også en egyptisk læge i staben, som førte tilsyn med, at vi var raske. Han har været en værdifuld sparringspartner, ja jeg var meget fortrøstningsfuld ved at have ham ombord. Det viste sig nemlig, at det hotel, vi boede på i Alexandria, mens vi ventede på afsejling, havde haft gæster med Corona. Lægen kunne desuden bekræfte høje Corona-tal i byen, så da jeg hørte det, lukkede jeg skibet og sagde til besætningen, at går I i land, så kommer I ikke ombord

igen. Det gjaldt også for de egyptere, der boede i Alexandria.”

Dialog er dansk ledelsesstil Kaptajnen besluttede, at han ikke ville sende folk hjem, for han kunne ikke garantere for deres sikkerhed. Desuden lukkede verdens infrastruktur også ned, og det blev umuligt at rejse.

Så han aftalte med den faste besætning, at de alle sejlede udstyret tilbage til Europa. Operationen ville tage 41 dage fra de samlede udstyret op igen og til destinationen, hvor han så håbede, mulighederne for hjemrejse var bedre, hvilket desværre viste sig ikke at holde vand.

Det er slet ikke ualmindeligt for besætningen at blive ombord uden at være på land undervejs, og så fx afløses, når en helikopter henter dem. Ofte er Pacific Dragon i gang med en operation ude på havet, der kan vare mange måneder. Det nye for sømændene var, at de ikke MÅTTE gå i land. Ikke at have muligheden.

Dialogen undervejs har haft værdi: ”Jeg

har ingen problemer med mine folk! Jeg kan sagtens finde på at spørge, om der er forslag, eller folk har kommentarer til et og andet.

Det giver mig input til hvilken beslutning, jeg når frem til at træffe. Jeg ved godt, at jeg ikke skal vide alt. På den måde har vi et åbent forhold, hvor folk kan sige, hvad de vil. Min erfaring er, at man når længst med ærlighed.

En åben dialog er nok en typisk dansk ledelsesstil. Den er langt mindre tung og hierarkisk end den nogle kaptajner anvender, når de leder pr. diktat.” Han ser frem for sig.

Kommer i tanke om det store fødselsdagsbord med kage og lys her i 2020, som besætningen arrangerede for ham. Det rørte ham.

Det er mange år siden, han som 18-årig fejrede fødselsdag på Den engelske Kanal med Skoleskibet Danmark. Siden har han arbejdet til havs.

Hvor han skal påmønstre næste gang, er ikke på plads i skrivende stund, men han er klar til nye opgaver. •

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By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

Marine engineer at sea Maskinmester til søs

: Annika Nyrup Franks I love small talking with God / Jeg elsker at snakke med Gud

Annika in front of Lehmkuhl in Norfolk / Annika foran Lehmkuhl

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an you call yourself a marine engineer if you’ve never worked at sea? The question is asked by Annika Nyrup Frank, who completed her degree as marine engineer in 2019. Last spring, she returned from three great months on board the training ship STATSRAAD LEHMKUHL, a vessel built in 1914. Carrying Norwegian cadets, one of its destinations was the United States, a journey of more than 10.000 miles. And Annika would gladly do it again, although she sailed as a volunteer.

Since July, she has been permanently employed at Samsoe Shipping Company, on board the ferry named Princess Isabella, and she has recently obtained her maritime training certificate. ”On a ship you have to put all your skills to use. It is a great challenge. You need to understand the lights, the engines etc. But you always have someone there who can support you. In addition, proper handbooks can get you a long way, although it is always challenging to solve a new technical issue.

You simply have to try”, says Annika.

There were many routines on board, and Annika took part in most of them. Once a week the toilet tanks had to be checked, which wasn’t her favorite task: “I preferred the tasks that demanded teamwork, and I enjoyed the challenging tasks where you were given a real responsibility and a chance to prove yourself. I liked all parts of my job.”

A strong heritage The education as marine engineer is Denmark’s broadest education in the technical field as it takes you through most of the technical areas, including electronics, mechanics, process analysis and automation.

Simultaneously, you learn about technical leadership through subjects such as management, security and economics. In Aarhus, 80% of the marine engineer graduates stay on shore. Only one percent of the graduates are women, of which only one in four go to sea.

Annika’s interest in the field began in her childhood, where she was constantly on her

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ANNIKA FRANKS • Certified marine engineer and climbing instructor • Volunteer in a Danish TV-circus for children, Aarhus Seamen’s Club, and the Danish Seamen’s Mission • Born and raised in Bjerringbro in Jutland, Denmark

father’s heels whenever he was fixing something: “I’ve been helping out since I was old enough to get in his way and tear things apart!” Annika never cared much about getting her hair done or painting her nails - she would rather get them dirty, and she mostly played with the boys who also took an interest in engines and tools.

“It is the search for adventure that led me to the sea. I don’t mind being different, and working in a male-dominated environment is not a problem, although completing the degree as the only girl in class was sometimes challenging”, she says. Her dream for the future is to find a job that can take her around the world, and a cargo ship would suit her well. That is where her main interest lies at the moment. All in all, she has a fundamen-

tal drive to become a better and more complete seafarer.

God and the adventure Annika does not believe in coincidence; she believes in God: “I am convinced that it is part of God’s idea and plan that I should become a marine engineer. I also considered becoming a kindergarten teacher, but shortly before the application deadline I picked engineer as my top priority. Although I got in, I had a hard time finding an internship. I sent numerous applications, and finally I got accepted at an on shore power plant, although I would rather be at sea. But God gave me a sense of calm, and I knew that it was right for the time being. It made me feel safe and like I was on the right path. God also supported me throughout my education and training whenever I found it difficult. God definitely creates opportunities and leads us through life. That was also the case when I got a chance to work on board a Norwegian sailing ship. The sea is always full of adventure”, she says.

Smalltalk with God At home, the young engineer is used to spending time in church and among other Christian youths. At work, she has to make do without this fellowship, but she always brings her Bible, books, and a collection of podcast and sermons.

“I always carry a cross around my neck.

The co-workers I lived with on board Lehmkuhl thought I was joking when I told them I was a Christian, but we had a good and honest conversation about it, and I told them what it means to me. Once we even had a church service on board which several of the cadets took part in. There were no empty chairs,” she remembers.

Talking to God is a natural part of Annika’s daily life. Thanking him for a beautiful sunrise, asking for renewed energy, or praying for her loved ones back home: “I am good at small talking with God, and I’ve never felt alone because I am convinced that God is with me on board. This is fundamental to me. Sometimes prayer changes my mindset > completely, and on other days it is hard to

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Fixing a pump / Reparation af pumpe.

Replacing a contactor on an industrial oven in the galley / Skift af kontaktor på den store industriovn i kabyssen.

get up and start working. But at the end of the day I almost always conclude that I had a great day. Perhaps I received an unexpected smile or I overcame a new professional challenge. God speaks to us in many ways – like when we find the courage to say something important to someone else, or when a familiar song suddenly comes on the radio. These things can turn your day around.”

In the Seamen’s Mission, and in other contexts, people sit at home praying for the seafarers and their families all over the world, but does it really make a difference?: “Praying for others definitely makes a difference. It means a lot to me that someone else cares enough about me to sit down and pray for me although they don’t know me personally.” •

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an man sige, man er rigtig maskinmester, hvis man ikke har sejlet? Spørgsmålet stilles af Annika Nyrup Franks, der er uddannet maskinmester fra Aarhus Maskinmesterskole i 2019. I foråret kom hun hjem fra spændende tre måneder ombord på

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Maintenance on the main engine / Vedligehold/rengøring af hovedmotoren.

træningssejlskibet STATSRAAD LEHMKUHL fra 1914. Skibet skulle sejle til bl.a. USA med norske søfartskadetter, og det tilbagelagde 10216,5 sømil på turen. Annika tager gerne med igen, selv om hun arbejdede som frivillig maskinmester ombord.

Fra juli har hun været fastansat som juniormester hos Samsø Rederi ombord på færgen Prinsesse Isabella, så hun har nu sit sølæringsbevis i hus. ”På et skib skal man kunne alt det, man har lært. Det er en god udfordring. Man skal vide noget om lyset, maskinerne osv. Man er sjældent alene om det og kan sparre med andre. Desuden hjælper gode manualer, selv om det kan være udfordrende at stå over for noget, jeg ikke har set før, men så prøver man,” siger Annika.

Der var rutiner ombord, som Annika var med til at udføre. En gang om ugen skulle toilettankene fx tjekkes, hvilket ikke lige var favoritjobbet, men et job: ”Det hyggeligste var, når vi skulle arbejde sammen. Men jeg kunne også godt lide opgaver, man blev udfordret af, hvor man fik tildelt et ansvar, så man

kunne vise, at man godt kunne finde ud af det. Jeg havde ingen hadejobs.”

Barndom guider Uddannelsen til maskinmester er måske Danmarks bredeste videregående uddannelse indenfor teknik, fordi man kommer bredt rundt om de fleste tekniske fagområder, heriblandt elektroteknik, mekanik, procesanalyse og automation. Samtidig bliver man uddannet indenfor teknisk ledelse med fag som management, sikkerhed og økonomi. I Aarhus bliver 80 % af de uddannede maskinmestre i land. Kun en procent af de uddannede er kvinder. Og af dem sejler kun hver fjerde.

Interessen for dette felt begyndte tilbage i barndommen i Midtjylland, hvor Annika altid rendte to skridt bag sin far, når han skulle fikse et eller andet: ”Jeg har hjulpet til, siden jeg var gammel nok til at gå i vejen og kunne skille alting ad!” Hun er sjældent gået op i at flette hår og lægge neglelak med veninderne, da hun hellere ville have jord under neglene og lege med drengene – og helst med motorer og værktøj.

FOTOS: JONAS MAGNUSSON

ANNIKA FRANKS • Uddannet maskinmester – og træklatreinstruktør • Flittig frivillig i fx Cirkus Summarum, Aarhus Seamen’s Club og Sømandsmissionen • Fra Bjerringbro i Midtjylland

”Det er eventyret, der har drevet mig til søs.

Jeg skulle lave noget andet end de fleste andre piger. Jeg har ikke noget imod at skille mig ud, og samarbejdet med mine mandlige kolleger er fint. Det var ikke nemt at blive maskinmester og være eneste pige i klassen,” siger hun. Drømmen er på sigt at finde et job, som kan sejle hende verden rundt, men ikke nødvendigvis i fast rutefart. Et fragtskib vil passe hende godt. Det er, det, hun synes, er spændende lige nu. Hendes lyst til at stå til søs, lære mere og tage fat er grundlæggende.

Gud og eventyret Annika tror ikke på tilfældigheder, men på Gud: ”Jeg er overbevist om, at det er Guds idé og plan, at jeg skulle uddanne mig til maskinmester. Jeg var i tvivl, om det skulle være maskinmester eller pædagog, men kort tid inden ansøgningsfristen skrev jeg maskinmester på som 1. prioritet. Selv om jeg kom ind, blev jeg udfordret af at finde et praktiksted. Jeg søgte og søgte. Det endte med en praktik på et kraftværk i land, selv om jeg hellere ville have

Annika and Thor-Martin (chief engineer) cleaning a stop valve to stop a leak in the discharge system / Annika og Thor-Martin (1. Mester) renser afspærringsventil på lænsesystemet, fordi den ikke vil lukke tæt.

været til søs, men Gud gav mig en ro i, at det var det, jeg skulle på det tidspunkt. Det var en kæmpe tryghed. Gud støttede mig også gennem uddannelsen, når jeg syntes, det var svært. Jo, Gud åbner muligheder og lægger ting til rette. Fx også i forbindelse med at kunne arbejde på det norske sejlskib. Det er til søs, jeg søger eventyret,” siger hun begejstret.

Smalltalk med Gud Derhjemme er den unge maskinmester vant til kirke og samvær med andre unge kristne.

Det må hun ofte undvære på arbejdet, men hun har bibel og forskellige downloadede prædikener, podcasts og tekster med i sin bagage. ”Jeg går altid med mit kors. De seks, jeg boede i samme kahyt med ombord på Lehmkuhl, troede godt nok, jeg tog gas på dem, da jeg fortalte, jeg var kristen. Vi fik en lang snak om det. Ja, på en ordentlig måde, hvad der betød noget for mig. En gang havde vi gudstjeneste ombord, som mange af kadetterne deltog i. Der var ikke en eneste ledig stol,” husker hun.

I løbet af dagen er det helt naturligt for Annika at snakke med Gud. Takke for en flot solopgang, bede om kræfter til at magte dagen, sende dem derhjemme en tanke: ”Jeg er god til at smalltalke med Gud og har aldrig haft fornemmelsen af at være alene, fordi jeg tror på, at Gud sejler med. Det er grundlæggende for mig. Nogle dage ændrer bønnen mit mindset fuldstændigt, andre dage er det hårdt at komme i gang, men ved slutningen af en dag konkluderer jeg næsten altid, at dagen blev ret fed. Jeg fik måske et smil fra en uventet kant. Jeg fik en god opgave, som lykkedes. Gud taler gennem mange forskellige ting. Det kan også være et lyspunkt, at man fik sagt noget positivt til en anden eller pludselig hører velkendte sange spille ud over dækket. Det kan ændre dagen.”

I Sømandsmissionen og andre sammenhænge sidder mennesker i land og beder for de søfarende og deres familier, men er det værdifuldt: ”Forbøn gør bestemt en forskel. Det betyder en del for mig, at nogen bekymrer sig så meget om en, at de vil bruge tid på at bede for mig, som de ikke kender personligt.” •

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By Dr. Jason Zuidema, General Secretary, International Christian Maritime Association / Af Dr. Jason Zuidema, Generalsekretær i Det Internationale Kristne Maritime Forbund

Seafarers’ Ministry and the Challenge of Social Isolation under COVID-19 Sømandsmission og udfordringerne ved social isolation under COVID-19

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Jason Zuidema (left) visited Denmark few years ago and talked with seamens missionary Simon Søvndal from Sisimiut, Greenland.

Jason Zuidema (tv) besøgte Danmark for få år siden. Her taler han med sømandsmissionær Simon Søvndal fra Sisimiut, Grønland.

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lobally, COVID-19 has profoundly affected seafarers’ welfare. In most ports, shore leave is impossible and centres and transportation unavailable. Ship visits are often gangway-only. Buying necessities for ship-bound seafarers has become a critical ministry for many.

Yet, these difficulties are not new to seafarers. Social isolation had already been a crisis facing seafarers decades before COVID-19. Now it is just worse.

We need to redouble our efforts to help and to find new ways to help. Signs of God’s love for seafarers, their value, our care for them, are more important now than ever.

Our work is less now, and harder. Visiting takes more time and creativity. How can we have a “meaningful conversation” from a gangway? The old ways are familiar; new ways are hard even to find.

But small things can have profound meaning. One virus cell mutating in one body has shaken our world; in Christ, every act of love, faith, and hope restores it for us.

So, let us press on and speak aloud the motivations of our hearts in whatever kindnesses to seafarers we can. •

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ver hele verden har COVID-19 haft en markant indvirkning på søfolks velfærd. De fleste havne har været umulige at forlade, samtidig med at den lokale infrastruktur har været utilgængelig. Besøg på skibene har begrænset sig til landgangsbroen, og indkøb af daglige fornødenheder til søfolk er derfor blevet et vigtigt fokus for mange organisationer.

Som mange ved, er disse udfordringer ikke nye for søfolk. Social isolation har væ-

ret en trussel for søfolk længe før COVID-19 – nu er det blot blevet værre.

Vi er nødt til at fordoble vores indsats og lede efter nye måder at hjælpe på. Handling, der viser Guds kærlighed til verdens søfolk, deres værdi og vores omsorg for dem, er vigtigere nu end nogensinde før.

Vores arbejde er blevet reduceret, og sværere. Skibsbesøg kræver mere tid og kreative løsninger. Hvordan kan vi have meningsfulde samtaler på landgangsbroen? Vores gamle metoder er velkendte, men nye løsninger er svære at finde.

Små ting kan få stor betydning. En enkelt virusramt celle, der muterede i en enkelt krop, har rystet vores verden; men i Kristus kan enhver kærlig handling, som vi udfører i tro, være med til at genoprette vores omgivelser. Så lad os fortsætte arbejdet og lade vores hjerter tale med mildhed og omsorg for søfolk over hele verden. •

The International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) is a free association of Christian not-for-profit organisations working for the welfare of seafarers around the world.

Det Internationale Kristne Maritime Forbund (ICMA) er en fri sammenslutning af kristne NGO’er, der arbejder for at øge velfærden for søfolk over hele verden.

By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

A wave of suicides affects the Danish DNA Selvmordsbølge påvirker dansk DNA

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everal times during the spring the leaders of the world’s missions to seafarers met online to discuss how to best help the many seafarers who were trapped around the world due to the corona crisis.

Recently, the meetings have primarily been dedicated to the thousands of crew members on cruise ships who are trapped on board with no chance of leaving. They spend their time waiting, and they aren’t allowed to use the common areas that are normally occupied by the guests. And they can’t go to shore.

Many of these crew members haven’t been getting a salary since the crisis forced the maritime traffic to stop. They are not allowed to use the facilities on board, and many don’t even have an internet connection. There they sit – in their small cabins with no job, no contact with the outside world, and no knowledge of their near future. It is a physically and mentally difficult situation, and there is still no light ahead for many of them. The situation has caused the suicide rate to increase, and many show signs of PTSD. They find it difficult to rest and are in a constant state of emergency. ”It is only a matter of time before the uncertainty becomes unbearable, and we cannot ignore these poor victims of the crisis.

We simply have to reach out to these cruise ship crews in some way or another. In June, the German Mission to Seafarers successfully helped return 122 Indian and Filipino seafarers to their homes. Since then, we’ve looked for ways to get better internet connections to the crews so they can maintain a minimum of contact with their families and thereby avoid severe trauma. However, the shipping companies are mostly unable to help us”, says general secretary Nicolaj Wibe.

The stronghold of the Covid-19 crisis on the maritime sector has forced the Danish Sea-

men’s Mission to look beyond Danish borders: “We have to think globally if we want to help the individual seafarer. It is necessary to rethink and readjust our DNA as an organization, because most of the seafarers we encounter usually do not speak Danish. Through cooperation with ICMA, the International Christian Maritime Association, we are able to help seafarers all over the world. The ICMA is a crucial and strong partner for us”, says Nicolaj Wibe. •

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lere gange i løbet af foråret mødtes lederne fra verdens sømandsmissioner online. Emnet var ofte, hvordan de kunne hjælper de mange søfolk, som pga. corona-pandemien var strandet.

De seneste møder har især handlet om de

mange tusind besætningsmedlemmer fra krydstogtsskibe, som er stavnsbundet ombord og ikke kan komme hjem. De sidder ombord uden noget at lave, fordi de ikke må bruge de store områder, som gæsterne plejede at nyde livet i. Og de må ikke gå i land.

Mange af disse kvinder og mænd har været uden løn, siden corona stoppede sejladsen. De må ikke benytte faciliteterne ombord, mange har ingen opkobling til internet, og de må ikke forlade skibet. Der sidder de så på deres små sovesale uden job, kontakt til familien og med en uvis fremtid og en utryg livssituation, som ingen ved, hvornår ændres. Det har fået antallet af selvmord til at stige.

Og mange har PTSD-symptomer, hvor kroppen ikke kan finde hvile, men er i alarmberedskab konstant. ”De er nu på tålt ophold, og mange kan ikke holde uvisheden ud. De ved ikke, hvornår det slutter. Vi kan ikke være ligeglade med de stakkels mennesker. På en eller anden måde må vi komme krydstogtsbesætningerne til undsætning. I juni lykkedes det Sømandsmissionen i Tyskland at hjælpe 122 indere og filippinere hjem. Siden har vi talt om, hvordan vi fx kan få internetopkoblinger ud til besætningerne, så de i det mindste kan holde en kontakt til familien, og dermed måske undgå en voldsom traumatisering. Redderne kan ikke hjælpe os ombord,” siger generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe.

Netop corona-pandemiens jerngreb om verden har for alvor fået Sømandsmissionen til at se ud over Danmarks grænser og egne søkort: ”Vi er nødt til at være globale, hvis vi vil gavne sømanden. Det er en nødvendig tilpasning af Sømandsmissionens DNA, fordi de sømænd, vi møder i dag, typisk ikke har dansk som modersmål. Ved at samarbejde på tværs i ICMA – International Christian Maritim Association - kan vi hjælpe kloden rundt.

ICMA er en enorm vigtig og lærerig partner for os,” vurderer Nicolaj Wibe. •

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By general secretary Nicolaj Wibe / Af generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe

CHANGE

- Not even the mountains stand still

FORANDRING

- Ikke engang bjerget står stille

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’ve visited Himalaya and seen Mount Everest with my own eyes. The mountain is 8,848 meters high. It is part of a great mountain range, and when you fly into Nepal you pass by several massive mountains, as this area is home of eight of the world’s ten largest mountains.

But despite its enormous size, Mount Everest moves four centimeters north east every year. The mountain is moving. And in 2015 an earthquake made the mountain move three centimeters in the opposite direction within a few minutes. These facts are hard to grasp, but they are true. Everything can change – even the location of the world’s highest mountain. Nothing is static.

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How do seafarers generally feel about change? To many it is a positive thing. The daily treadmill, the same old faces, the same food – when some of these things change it is often a positive experience. To other seafarers, change is a disturbing element – they feel good about the routines and repititions of daily life.

Despite how we feel about change, nothing on earth remains the same. Everything changes - our planet, our surroundings and ourselves included. Look yourself in the mirror, and think about how you looked twenty years ago. You’ve changed. Look at your hand. It looks older. All things change – nothing is static.

God is always the same And yet, there is one element in life that never changes – Jesus Christ. He cannot be altered, neither by inner or outer factors.

This being said, there is something surrounding God that does change. Not in relation to his word or his nature, but in the relationship between him and us. This relationship does not have to be static. You can always get to know God more. God himself never changes, but when we discover new sides of him, we see him in a new and different light.

We are all different, and therefore our relationships with God also differ. Some believe in him, some don’t. Some live out their Christianity openly, and others keep it hid-

”

We are all different, and therefore our relationships with God also differ. Some believe in him, some don’t. den, as a quiet foundation for their lives. But one thing is true for all who want to have a relationship with God – namely that getting to know him better is always an exciting and rewarding experience. He is always the same, but we are not, and therefore it is never too late to find out who God really is.

A Danish saying tells us that “change is renewal”. Although this is not always true, it is a good description of what it means to get to know God better. When we get to know him, we realize that he is a personal God. Jesus is a real human being. Getting closer to him reveals aspects and qualities that we haven’t seen before. Reading the Bible, prayer, reflection, and conversations about God with other Christians are gifts that can bring about great change in our relationship with God. •

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eg har besøgt Himalaya og set Mount Everest helt tæt på. Bjerget er 8.848 meter højt. Som bekendt er det en del af en gigantisk bjergkæde. Når man flyver ind til Nepal, flyver man i lang tid forbi det ene bjergmassiv efter det andet. 8 af verdens 10 højeste bjerge ligger her.

Trods størrelsen flytter Mount Everest sig hvert år fire centimer mod nordøst. Bjerget står ikke stille. Men et stort jordskælv i 2015 fik bjerget til at flytte sig hele tre cm den modsatte vej. Og det på få minutter. Man tror det er løgn! Noget, der er så monumentalt stort, kan ikke flytte sig på den måde. Men det gjorde det. Det er ikke løgn. Alt kan forandres. Selv placeringen af verdens højeste bjerg. Intet er statisk.

Hvordan har søfolk det generelt med forandring? For mange er det positivt. Dagligdagens trivialitet, den samme trummerum, de samme vagter, de samme folk, den samme mad og det samme tøj. Når noget af dette bliver forandret, kan det opleves positivt. For andre søfolk kan forandring opleves forstyrrende. De har det netop godt med dagligdagens trivialiteter.

Om man har det godt med det eller ej, findes der intet uforanderligt. Jorden, vores omgivelser og vi selv forandres. Se dig i et spejl,

og husk hvordan du så ud for 20 år siden. Du er forandret. Se på din hånd. Den er blevet ældre. Alt er foranderligt. Alt.

Gud er den samme Og dog. Der er en ting, der ikke forandres.

Hos Gud: ’findes der ikke forandring eller skiftende skygge (citat: Bibelen). Om vi bryder os om det eller ej, så forandres alt i livet og på jorden konstant og hele tiden. Det eneste uforanderlige er Gud. Han er den samme nu som for 1000 år siden. Han ældes ikke, ændrer ikke karakter eller har skæve dage.

Han er den samme. Det betyder at man kan regne med ham. Hans ord i Bibelen, hans løfter og gaver, alt er uforandret midt i al vores foranderlighed.

”

Vi mennesker er forskellige, og derfor har vi også forskellig relation til Gud. Nogle tror på ham, andre gør ikke.

Når dette er sagt, så er der alligevel noget omkring Gud, der er foranderligt. Ikke ved hans ord og væsen, men i menneskets relation til ham. Den relation behøver ikke være statisk. Man kan altid lære Gud bedre at kende. Gud forandres ikke, men han kan se forandret ud, når man ser nye sider af ham.

Vi mennesker er forskellige, og derfor har vi også forskellig relation til Gud. Nogle tror på ham, andre gør ikke. Andre er meget praktiserende kristne, nogle har bare deres kristne tro som en grundlæggende forståelse af tilværelsen. Fælles for alle, der gerne vil relatere deres liv til Gud, er, at han altid er spændende at lære bedre at kende. Han er uforanderlig, men det er vi ikke, og derfor er det aldrig for sent at stille skarpt på, hvem Gud egentlig er. ’Forandring fryder’ siger et dansk ordsprog. Det er nu ikke altid, forandring er en fryd, men at lære Gud bedre at kende vil ofte være en fryd, for man opdager mere og mere af, hvem han er. Gud er en personlig Gud. Jesus er et rigtigt menneske. At komme tættere på vil afdække sider og vinkler, man ikke før har været opmærksom på. Bibellæsning, bøn, samtale om Gud med andre troende og personlig refleksion. Det kan lukke op for stor forandring i relationen til Gud. •

Nicolaj Wibe in Nepal. / Nicolaj Wibe i Nepal.

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By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

Theme: CHANGE New semester, new students, new challenges

Tema: FORANDRING Nyt semester, nye elever, nye udfordringer

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ommy Jørgensen looks enthusiastically at the large, color-coded schedule on the wall. It reveals what teachers are going to teach and train the various classes in the coming semester. And every detail is in place. Tommy is in charge of facilities and education programs at Svendborg Maritime College. He began the job in 2019 where he left his former position in the Danish Maritime Authority in order to spend more time in direct contact with maritime students from both Denmark, Greenland and northern Germany. Tommy has plenty of maritime experience and he enjoys the diversity of his current job – from teaching and talking to students, to staying on top of the many rules and guidelines in relation to maritime education. In other words, Tommy might spend the morning decoding complex legal documents, while he spends the afternoon solving practical issues along with his co-workers and talking to students.

Diversity An encounter with the maritime college can change a person’s life. The aim is to produce more independent, responsible and professional human beings.

Currently, the students are between 15 and 50 years old. Some are studying to become not able-bodied seafarers, others to become ABs, and others again are taking the three years maritime trade and business degree.

Some already have another education with them, and others bring only their graduation papers from primary school. Overcoming this academic gap between the students is a central challenge for the school’s leadership and teachers.

“My job is to make sure that all our students complete their courses and leave with a degree, that our teachers are competent, and that the schedule is in order. In the process, the individual students face various challenges, and I do my best to help them find a solution, both in academic and personal matters. But it is always a precondition

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that the individual student has the right mentality and is willing to put in the work. I never push anyone through their training. It is also my responsibility that the students are prepared for working in the maritime sector, and that they come out with the necessary skills do well in the field,” says Tommy.

Problem solvers The school is also a boarding school where the students live together in double rooms.

And they have various chores around the school. This is part of their training for life at sea where you live close together and work together across nationalities and professions, and where the others depend on you.

“We educate young adults to become independent, and we teach them to solve problems without giving up when things are difficult. Danish seafarers are good problem solvers, and it is always your fundamental approach and mindset that makes the difference. The students must learn not to fear failure, as failure is the best way to learn.

They learn a lot through their daily tasks and responsibilities,” says the inspector. The students also learn leadership by having to make sure that the daily tasks of the other students are carried out.

“Every part of life at school help shape the students. Also, we are proud of our Christian foundation. The Christian values are part of our environment and are expressed in the way we treat each other – that we give each other a second chance because we respect the individual person. Here, I also use my experience in working with young adults from my past job in the Danish scout organization FDF.

Cooperation The college has a close cooperation with various Danish shipping companies, such as Esvagt. The school listens carefully to the current needs of the companies, and the companies visit the school at various occa-

sions to inform and recruit. Also, the school offers certificates in engine maintenance and general sailing licenses, which are good to have on your resume.

“Our student group is very diverse both in terms of age, gender, background and former education. That is part of what makes my job interesting. The drive to work with people is crucial, and I believe that the ability to admit that you have to explain something better in order for the student to understand is central. Because the maritime trade is also experiencing an increasing automatization, we must constantly renew ourselves, in order to adapt to the development. And that is what we do.”

Most students are able to find employment directly after graduating, and there is a constant need for Danish seafarers.

“A good day at work is when we succeed in creating positive change for our students, and when our internal cooperation as colleagues benefits our students and leads to new knowledge. For this to happen, the janitor, the kitchen assistant, the secretaries and the teachers are all equally important players. Due to the corona crisis, the last six months have been very challenging, but fortunately all our students are back by now.” •

With ten years as officer in the Danish army and thirteen years in Maersk behind him, Inspector Tommy Jørgensen puts all of his past experience to work in his current job at Svendborg Maritime College.

Inspektør Tommy Jørgensen fra Svendborg Søfartsskole bruger hele farvepaletten af erfaring til daglig. Bl.a. fra job som befalingsmand i Forsvaret i 10 år, Maersk i 13 år og Søfartsstyrelsen i Thyborøn i 4 år samt mange års engagement i FDF.

svar,” mener inspektøren. Fx er der en vagthavende elev hver dag, der har ansvaret for, at noget af det praktiske fungerer. ”Hele opholdet på skolen er med til at forme eleverne. Vi tør godt stå ved, at skolen har et kristent ståsted. Vi er i et miljø med kristen baggrund, hvilket gerne skulle give sig udtryk i den måde, vi fx hjælper hinanden på. At vi giver hinanden en chance mere, fordi vi har respekt for den enkelte. Her bruger jeg også min erfaring med unge fra mange år som leder i FDF (Frivilligt Drenge- og Pige-forbund).”

Samarbejde

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ommy Jørgensen kigger veloplagt på det store skema med de mange farver.

Det fortæller om, hvem der skal undervise hvilke elever i dette semester. Og det er der styr på. Tommy er inspektør for bygninger og uddannelse på Svendborg Søfartsskole.

Han tiltrådte i 2019, hvor han forlod et job i Søfartsstyrelsen til fordel for dagligt at kunne møde elever fra hele Danmark, Grønland og Slesvig. Med sin brede erfaring nyder han variationen i jobbet fra at undervise, snakke med en elev og til at sætte sig ind i de seneste bekendtgørelser vedr. uddannelser til søfartserhvervet. Det ene øjeblik er det at forholde sig til tungt lovsprog, det næste en samtale med en medarbejder om en konkret problemstilling. Han kan lide variationen.

Mangfoldighed Forandret bliver de fleste af et ophold på søfartsskolen. Intensionen er, at de bliver mere selvstændige, ansvarlige og ikke mindst fagligt dygtige.

Lige nu er eleverne fra 15-50 år. Nogle er i gang med uddannelsen til ubefaren skibsassistent, andre til befaren skibsassistent eller HF Søfart. Nogle kommer med en anden uddannelse i bagagen, andre med kun 2 i karakter i dansk og matematik efter 9. klasse. Det stiller i høj grad krav om differentieret undervisning.

”Min opgave er at sørge for, at alle eleverne tager en uddannelse, at der er kompetente undervisere, og at undervisningsplanerne holder. Undervejs opstår der forskellige udfordringer for den enkelte elev, og der er jeg behjælpelig med at pege på løsninger, uanset om det relaterer til i eller udenfor skolen.

Når det gælder skolen, skal eleven selv have et ønske om at bestå. Jeg hiver ikke nogen gennem uddannelsen. Det er også mit ansvar, at eleverne bliver klar til det maritime erhverv og har det faglige niveau, der skal til for at begå sig,” siger Tommy.

Problemløsere Svendborg Søfartsskole er også en kostskole, hvor eleverne bor på 2-mandsværelse. De har forskellige opgaver, de skal hjælpe til med. Alt sammen en forberedelse til livet ombord, hvor man bor tæt, arbejder sammen på tværs af nationalitet og faglighed og er afhængig af, at man udfører de opgaver, man er ansat til. ”Vi uddanner unge til at blive selvstændige og kunne løse problemer uden at gå i stå, fordi en skrue vender forkert. Problemløsning er danske søfolk gode til, og det er, hvordan man tilgår tingene, der ofte gør hele forskellen. Eleverne skal lære ikke at være bange for at begå fejl, for fejl kan man lære af. De lærer også ved at få opgaver og an-

Søfartsskolen har et tæt samarbejde med flere rederier, fx Esvagt. Den gør sig umage for at lytte efter, hvilke kompetencer redderne efterspørger, ligesom redderne kommer på besøg til jobmesse og informationsdage.

Blandt andet holder skolen aftenkurser i fx motorpasserbevis og duelighedsbevis, certifikater der er gode at have på sit CV. ”Der er meget stor diversitet i elevgruppen både på alder, køn, baggrund og uddannelse. Det er noget af det, der gør det spændende at arbejde her på skolen. Lysten til at arbejde med mennesker er ganske afgørende.

Selverkendelsen i at kunne indse, at man må forklare noget på en ny måde, hvis eleven ikke forstår pointen, er også vigtig. Engagementet. Når vi ved, at også søfartserhvervet bliver mere og mere automatiseret og teknisk, skal vi være omstillingsparate og tilpasse. Det gør vi så.”

Det lykkes de fleste at få job før eller lige efter, de forlader Svendborg Søfartsskole. Uddannede danske søfolk er der efterspørgsel på. ”En god dag på job er, når det lykkes at skabe en forandring hos vores studerende, og at samarbejdet i personalegruppen er med til at bibringe de unge ny viden. Her er pedel, køkkenassistent, sekretær og underviser lige vigtige spillere ombord. I det sidste halve år med covid-19 har det været meget udfordrende at få det hele til at hænge sammen, men heldigvis er eleverne nu tilbage på skolen igen.” •

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n the 25th of June, the Seamen’s Mission in Denmark and Greenland took part in the celebration of the international “Day of the Seafarer”. On this day, maritime organizations come together to hand out cake to seafarers as a sign of appreciation.

In Denmark, it is the organization Sea Health & Welfare that runs the operation, and from the Danish Seamen’s Mission’s perspective the day is a unique opportunity to reach seafarers in an unformal and relaxed manner. The event has led to many valuable conversations, both in Denmark and Greenland. •

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ømandsmissionen i Danmark og Grønland var med til at markere Day of the Seafarer den 25. juni. Det er en global sag, hvor man deler kager ud til søfolk for at sige dem tak for deres store indsats og arbejde.

I Danmark er det Sea Health & Welfare, der står bag, og dagen giver en særlig god mulighed for, at vi som sømandsmission kan nå ud til søfolk på en uformel måde. Vi får mange gode samtaler ud af at uddele kager på fx havnen i Kalundborg – og i Nuuk. •

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

THANK YOU! / TAK!