WAVES #2 MAY 2021

NEWS FROM THE DANISH MISSION TO SEAFARERS

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8. årgang May 2021

Hope in sight

Trying to remember God

Bo skifter karriere

Håb i sigte

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A change of career

Prøver at huske Gud

WAVES No. 2. May 2021. Vol. 8.

Nr. 2. maj 2021. 8. årgang Published by / Udgives af: The Danish Mission to Seafares Indenlandsk Sømandsmission Executive Editor / Ansvh. redaktør: General secretary / Generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe Editor / Redaktør og journalist: Hanne Baltzer, tlf. 0045 -2288 4496 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: Bo Michaelsen Pedersen steers the small ferry between the two Danish towns of Hvalpsund and Sundøre. Denmark.

Bo Michaelsen Pedersen styrer den lille færge mellem Hvalpsund og Sundsøre, Danmark.

Photo / Foto: Hanne Baltzer

Indenlandsk Sømandsmission Havnepladsen 1, 7100 Vejle Tlf. 0045 – 3393 2543 Phones open from monday-friday Telefonerne er åbne mandag - fredag/ 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 • Finn Løvlund Phone 0045 - 2073 3806 fl@somandsmissionen.dk Harbors/havne: Esbjerg, Hvide Sande • Simon S. Ambrosen, Marstal.

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

• Paul Høeg, Fyn Phone 0045 - 2296 3950 ph@somandsmissionen.dk Harbor/havn: Fredericia, Fyn • Leif Rasmussen Phone 0045 - 2029 3738 lr@somandsmissionen.dk Harbors/havne: Frederikshavn, Skagen, Hirtshals

• Per Jerup phone 0045 - 6113 5383 pj@somandsmissionen.dk Harbors/havne: Aalborg, Limfjorden Grønland • Simon Søvndal phone: +299 56 33 55 sfs@soemandshjem.gl Harbor/havn: Sisimiut • Karsten Hald Jacobsen Phone: +299 27 60 10 khj@soemandshjem.gl Harbor/havn: Aasiaat • Elisa Mikkelsen phone: + 299 25 18 49 Elisa@soemandshjem.gl Harbor/havn: Nuuk • Else Højvang Else@soemandshjem.gl Harbor/havn: Ilulissat

DANMARK 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 Sømandshjemmet 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 www.soemandshjem.gl

By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

Cadet: Unwritten rules are a challenge Kadet: Uskrevne regler er udfordrende

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t was a dream come true when a year ago Jeppe Seier gathered the courage to get on a plane to Montreal, Canada to sign on to his first ship. It was his first time leaving Europe, and now he was about to set out on his first long voyage. As a certified OS with an internship at MAERSK TANKERS waiting ahead, Jeppe said the following before his departure: ”I am extremely excited to leave.

I’ve been sailing since I was eleven, and I know nothing better than sailing”.

Today, Jeppe is back home after his first year as a professional seafarer, and he now knows a lot more than he did back then. He is now familiar with the many unwritten rules, the consequences of a big global pandemic, language barriers, and the challenges of loneliness when working far from home.

Despite it all, he still aims for a permanent position at the bridge.

Life as an intern During the internship, Jeppe had to learn everything from scratch. Now, several demands have been ticked off on his educational bucket list, and today he is back in the classroom working towards his graduation as master. During the last year, Jeppe has sailed on board three different ships with very different crews. When he signed on to CUMULUS MAERSK at Cypress, he was part of the exciting process of transferring the ship from British to Danish flag. Jeppe enjoyed the work it took to understand the many rules and standards necessary to ensure that everything was done right.

On one of the ships, MAERSK TANGIER, Jeppe ended up staying on board longer than planned due to the corona crisis. The ship was moving along the African coast but had to lay still for a month outside the coast of Nigeria – in the middle of a hot, African summer. Here, they put out barbed wire and increased the number of guards to prevent piracy.

“Five months straight is simply too long to be away from home, especially when you expected to be home after three months. Not knowing when you will be able to return home leads to a severe sense of unease and instability. It was simply awful. In other situations, I have freely prolonged my time away, and that is a very different experi> ence,” Jeppe says.

Jeppe Seier

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”

Next time I go away, I’ll bring something to remind me of God, like as a crucifix I can place on my table.

In his opinion, the workingconditions of the seafarers have been neglected during the pandemic.

He tells how they had long periods on board with only a very weak internet connection which made all forms of streaming and video calls impossible. It was a challenging situation.

Strict discipline and a harsh tone At first, Jeppe had the impression that a ship sailing under the Danish flag would also carry a predominantly Danish crew. That, however, didn’t turn out to be the case, and he quickly realized that speaking Danish wasn’t enough, and that improving his English was a necessity. At first, thinking and speaking in a maritime English was a huge challenge, but Jeppe was determined to succeed.

”

God needs to be a part of my daily routines or else I forget about him, and I don’t want that to happen.

On his first ship, 2 out of the 20 crew members were Danish, and the rest were Indian or Filipino. Here, he experienced that even though the common language is English, people use their mother tongue when talking to their fellow countrymen. This was a challenge since Jeppe needed to learn the correct English terminology in order to solve his tasks correctly – and it also made it difficult to socialize: “It was a terrible experience, as it left me feeling like an outsider when someone talked and laughed in a language I didn’t understand. It seemed inconsiderate.”

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Once, Jeppe received the scolding of a lifetime from an Indian captain because he hadn’t asked for permission in a certain situation. A few weeks later, despite his low rank, he asked for permission to return to the bridge, and luckily he was accepted back.

“At the moorage, a Filipino AB didn’t follow my instructions, but in this situation he has to do as I say, as I am speaking on behalf of the captain and has the general overview.

Here, I had to assert myself although my experience was limited compared to his. Of course, I have a lot to learn, and I am very aware of that. Later, I was impressed to see how much my Filipino co-worker could fix with just a wrench and a screwdriver!”

Three ships – three different experiences The experience of working as a cadet varied significantly from ship to ship, and the same was true for all the unwritten rules: “On the third ship, the crew would hang out a lot after work, and that was amazing. A strong and healthy work environment is crucial to the overall experience. I’ve also tried to be stuck in my own cabin every day after work, while at the same time not knowing when I would be able to go home. I find it crucial that the crew sticks together in these situations. I easily feel lonely when I don’t have other people around me.”

“I’ve also tried to confront the widespread idea that we shouldn’t talk about difficult or personal issues on board. I once told a colleague that he could come to me if he wanted to talk about the things that bothered him. Later, he came to me and told me that his father-in-law was very sick, and that he couldn’t afford to pay for his treatment. Later, we did a fund-raiser on board so he could pay for the medicine. It felt great to be able to help.”

Remembering God can be a challenge Jeppe knows that God is there. He can see himself talking to God while watching the sun rise, or when observing the waves below and the stars above, Jeppe finds a moment thanking God for the life he has been given. “Sometimes I also pray to God while working. I always bring my Bible with me on board, as well as a book of hymns and a book with daily reflections on life and faith that I got from a Danish missionary to seafarers. But in situations where everything is new and exciting, I often tend to forget about God and the Bible. God needs to be a part of my daily routines or else I forget about him, and I don’t want that to happen.

Once, a friend of mine ended a text with the phrase “go with God”, and it reminded me that God is always with me, even at sea.”

On the second ship, Jeppe celebrated Easter by playing a Christian worship song called “The Love that God has Shown” on his guitar.

Suddenly, one of the Filipino crew members stopped and sang along in the hallway. This was a strong and significant experience. On the third ship, he talked to a Muslim co-worker about faith. He found it interesting to hear about the Christian faith, and the two young men had a lot to talk about.

Now, Jeppe is back in Denmark, on the small island of Ærø: “I often visit the local seamen’s home, Aggershøj. It is a nice place to be, and the Christian fellowship there creates a space where you can talk about everything. I sometimes miss that at sea.”

Jeppe lives in Marstal with two of his friends: “I enjoy going to town for a beer. After becoming a Christian, I don’t drink as much as I used to, and my friends say that I have become a more pleasant person to be around. I’ve found a new sense of calm, I think. My mindset has changed. I call myself a Christian, and that is what I am.” •

blev glemt under corona-pandemien. Han fortæller, at de ombord ikke havde meget internetforbindelse til videoopkald og streaming af film. Det var svært at være i.

Skideballe og sprog

Jeppe Seier

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n drengedrøm foldede sig ud, da Jeppe Seier med sommerfugle i maven, fløj til Montreal, Canada, for at påmønstre sit første skib for et års tid siden. Han havde aldrig været udenfor Europa før, og nu skulle han på langfart. Uddannet ubefaren skibsassistent og i praktik som kadet hos MAERSK TANKERS sagde han inden afrejsen: ”Jeg glæder mig helt vildt, for jeg har sejlet, siden jeg var 11 år, og det er ganske fantastisk at transportere sig over hav.”

Nu hjemvendt efter det første år som sømand er han meget klogere på mangt og meget. Han har mødt de mange uskrevne regler, coronas konsekvenser med forlænget sejltid, sprogbarrierer og sin egen ensomhed på dage med alt for langt hjem. Han går stadig målrettet efter et job på broen.

Fra novice I praktiktiden skulle Jeppe for alvor lære det hele fra bunden. I uddannelsesbogen er en række checklister nu vinget af, og han er tilbage på skolebænken, hvor han i sommeren 2023 forventer at være skibsfører.

Det sidste år har han sejlet på tre forskellige skibe med vidt forskellige besætninger. Da han påmønstrede CUMULUS MAERSK på Cypern, ventede desuden en spændende opgave med at flytte skibet fra britisk til dansk flag.

Han kunne lide at sætte sig ind i de mange regler og standarder, så alt kom i orden.

På et af skibene, MAERSK TANGIER, endte han med at arbejde noget længere end aftalt på grund af corona. Skibet sejlede rundt om Afrika, men i en måned lå det ud for et sommerhedt Nigeria, hvor de bl.a. rullede pigtråd ud og gik ekstra vagter pga. faren for pirater.

Han afmønstrede endelig fra Las Palmas på Mallorca. Jeppe havde lovet sin mor at komme hjem til jul. Det lykkedes, da han stod derhjemme kl. 22.45 den 23. december. ”Fem måneder er simpelthen alt for længe at være væk, når jeg troede, jeg skulle arbejde tre måneder og bare bliver forlænget. Når man ikke ved, hvornår man kan komme hjem, så er usikkerheden slem. Det var fuldstændigt forfærdeligt. Jeg har prøvet selv at forlænge, og det er noget helt andet,” siger Jeppe. Han mener, søfolkenes arbejdsvilkår

Hjemmefra troede Jeppe, at når han påmønstrede skibe under dansk flag, ville der være en del danske sømænd. Det var ikke tilfældet, og han fandt hurtigt ud af, at hans danske slet ikke rakte, og han kun kunne lære engelsk for langsomt. Alene at tænke søfart på engelsk voldte voldsomme problemer til at begynde med, men han var stædig. Det skulle lykkes.

”

Næste gang jeg skal ud at sejle, vil jeg tage noget med, der kan minde om Gud. Fx et kors til at stå på mit bord.

På det første skib var de to danskere ud af 20.

Derudover indere og filippinere. Han oplevede, at selv om arbejdssproget er engelsk, så taler man på sit modersmål sammen med andre fra samme nation, hvilket han var udfordret af, da han dels havde brug for at lære fagudtrykkene på engelsk, så han kunne agere både korrekt og sikkert, dels gerne ville det sociale fællesskab: ”Det var noget af det sværeste, synes jeg, fordi man også følte sig udenfor, når der stod nogen ved siden af og talte et sprog, jeg ikke forstod. At de ikke tog hensyn.”

Han fik også sit livs skideballe af en indisk > kaptajn for noget, han ikke var klar over, at

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han skulle have spurgt om. Alligevel vovede han som lavest i hierarkiet ombord efter et par uger at spørge, om han måtte komme tilbage på broen, og det var til hans store lettelse ok.

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Jeg bliver nødt til at få Gud ind i mine rutiner, ellers glemmer jeg ham, og det vil jeg jo ikke… ”På fortøjringsstationen fulgte en filippinsk matros ikke mine anvisninger, men her skal han gøre, hvad jeg siger, da jeg er skippers talerør og den med det overordnede blik. Da blev jeg nødt til at sætte mig i respekt. Jeg ved godt, jeg bare er en nyudklækket sømand, og filippineren har mange års erfaring. Jeg kan naturligvis lære en masse, og det prøver jeg også at være bevidst om.

Blandt andet fandt jeg ud af, at filippinere kan fixe meget med en svensknøgle og en stor skruetrækker!”

3 skibe – 3 erfaringer Oplevelsen som kadet på de tre skibe var meget forskellig, og det samme var oplevelsen af de uskrevne regler ombord: ”På det

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tredje skib hang vi ud sammen, og det var megafedt. Det gør noget ved oplevelsen, når der er et godt arbejdsmiljø. Jeg har prøvet bare at sidde i kabinen, når jeg havde fri samtidig med, at jeg ikke vidste, hvornår jeg kunne afmønstre. For mig er det vigtigt, at man kan gøre noget sammen. Jeg kan let blive ensom uden andre omkring mig.” ”Jeg prøvede at bryde med, at man ikke snakker om noget, der er svært. Jeg nævnte for en kollega, at han skulle sige til, hvis han ville snakke om det, der gik ham på. Endelig kom han og fortalte, at hans svigerfar var meget syg, men at der ikke var råd til behandling.

Faktisk lavede vi en indsamling ombord til medicin mm. Det var godt at kunne hjælpe.”

Vil ikke glemme Gud, men det er svært Jeppe ved, at Gud findes. Han kan se sig selv snakke med Gud, mens han ser solopgangen eller med panoramaudsigt til brænding og galakser takke Gud for at være til: ”Jeg kan også finde på at bede til Gud, mens jeg arbejder. Jeg har altid min bibel med på skibet. Og en salmebog og en andagtsbog jeg har fået af Simon (sømandsmissionær). Når alt er nyt og spændende, oplever jeg dog, at jeg hverken tænker på Gud eller bibel. Jeg bliver nødt til at få Gud ind i mine rutiner, ellers glemmer jeg ham, og det vil jeg jo ikke. Da en af mine venner i en sms skrev ”Guds fred”, blev jeg yderligere mindet på, at Gud sejler med mig. Der kommer nu meget i vejen, når man sidder helt alene.”

På det andet skib sad Jeppe i påsken og klimprede på en guitar – sangen – ”Den kærlighed, som Gud har vist, er ganske enkelt mægtig”. Pludselig stoppede en af de filippinske kolleger og sang med på engelsk. Det var en god oplevelse for ham. På det sidste skib snakkede han tro med en muslimsk kollega, som mente, at kristendommen lød interessant. De to unge mænd havde meget at tale om.

Nu er han så på Ærø igen: ”Jeg kommer tit på sømandshjemmet Aggershøj. Der er rart at være, og det kristne fællesskab betyder noget, fordi vi kan snakke om alt muligt. Det har jeg manglet til søs.”

Jeppe bor i Marstal med et par kammerater: ”Jeg kan godt lide at gå i byen og drikke en øl. Efter jeg blev kristen, drikker jeg ikke de samme mængder, og vennerne siger, at jeg er rarere at være sammen med. Jeg har fået mere ro på og synes, mit mindset er ændret.

Jeg kalder mig kristen - og jeg er det også.” •

Daily contact

When life is hard

Get a copy of our booklet from your local missionary to seafarers and be inspired to pray. The booklet is based on Martin Luther’s morning prayers. The text is written by the Swedish priest Bengt Pleijel and translated into Danish by pastor Flemming Baatz Kristensen in cooperation with the Danish Mission to Seafarers. The booklet is free of charge.

It will soon be translated in to english.

When we experience personal challenges, it is important to seek help and support. But sometimes we cannot and should not share our situation with our co-workers.

The International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) offers a free chat service for all seafarers in need of help and support. Follow the link below and find someone to talk to. All conversations are confidential, and you decide the extent and focus of the conversation: https://icma.as/support/ If you need to talk to someone via Messenger or another electronic platform, this can be arranged through the chat. •

Inspiration med Daglig kontakt Få hæftet hos sømandsmissionæren og bliv inspireret til at bede til Gud. Hæftet tager udgangspunkt i Luthers morgenbøn. Teksten er skrevet af den svenske præst Bengt Pleijel og oversat til dansk af sognepræst Flemming Baatz Kristensen og Indenlandsk Sømandsmission, der distribuerer hæftet.

Få hæftet til dit personlige brug.

More Danish flags at sea During 2020, the number of ships sailing under the Danish flag has gone up from 731 to 764, a 4.5% increase. The yearly gross tonnage has gone up 4.8% from 21.3 mil. To 22.3 mil.

According to Anne H. Steffensen, CEO of Danish Shipping, “2020 has been a challenging year for the shipping industry, to say the least, but we are happy that Danish shipping companies have added new vessels to the list and increased the overall capacity. This demonstrates the continued strength of Denmark as a maritime nation.”

Currently, Denmark ranks twelfth on the list of the greatest maritime nations measured on tonnage operated under the Danish flag. When measure on total tonnage, Denmark ranks fifth. • Source: Danish Shipping

Flere skibe sejler med Dannebrog Antallet af skibe, der sejler med Dannebrog er steget med 33 til 764 skibe i 2020. Det er en fremgang på 4,5 %, mens bruttotonnagen er vokset med 4,8 % fra 21,3 mio. bt. til 22,3 mio. bt. ”2020 har mildest talt været et besværligt år for rederibranchen, men vi kan glæde os over, at de danske rederier har flaget flere skibe ind og øget kapaciteten. Det vidner om, at Danmark er en meget stærk søfartsnation,” siger Anne H. Steffensen, adm. direktør i Danske Rederier.

Danmark er i øjeblikket verdens 12. største søfartsnation, hvis man måler på opereret tonnage under dansk flag og verdens 5. største søfartsnation, hvis man ser på de danske rederiers samlede opererede tonnage. • Kilde: Danske Rederier

THANK YOU

TAK

In 2010, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) chose the 25th of June as the International “Day of the Seafarer”, in order to thank seafarers all over the world for their contribution to the world economy and to the international society – and for their will to carry out a dangerous and demanding job.

Almost 90 percent of all commercial goods are shipped. All over the world, missionaries to seafarers mark this day by bringing a small gift or cookies to the ships in their local harbors. •

I 2010 besluttede Den Internationale Søfartsorganisation (IMO) at udpege den 25. juni til den internationale søfarendes dag for at takke søfarende for deres bidrag til verdensøkonomien og civilsamfundet; og for de risici og personlige omkostninger, de bærer, mens de er på deres job.

Næsten 90 procent af verdens varehandel transporteres af skibe. På mange havne går sømandsmissioner ombord med kager og små gaver den 25. juni. •

Når livet gør ondt Det er vigtigt at få hjælp, når man har personlige problemer, men det er ikke alt, man kan eller skal fortælle til en kollega.

International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) tilbyder gratis chat til enhver sømand, der måtte have et behov.

Følg linket, og din samtale kan begynde.

Samtalen er fortrolig, og den varer kun så længe du vil https://icma.as/support/ Har du behov for samtale via Messenger eller andre elektroniske platforme, kan det arrangeres via chatten. •

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By general secretary Nicolaj Wibe / Af generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe

Letting go of our need for control Kontrol og menneskeliv rimer ikke

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aving full control of life is simply impossible. It is a natural part of human life that anything can happen to us at any time. We easily lose control. Just as we reach a point where we feel like our lives are in order, we might receive bad news that knock us off course. In fact, the entire idea of self-control is an illusion. In life, things happen that pull the rug from under us, and suddenly we find ourselves at the bottom with no control at all. Controlling our vulnerable and unpredictable human lives is simply not possible.

But how do we then find a way to live a good life when we can’t control things? How do we find a good life in an unpredictable world?

”

When I was young, I often came across the condescending opinion that my faith was nothing but a crutch on which to lean my damaged self-perception and lack of control and determination.

When I was young, I often came across the condescending opinion that my faith was nothing but a crutch on which to lean my damaged self-perception and lack of control and determination. It is interesting to notice how, having reached the age of 57, I never hear that argument from my peers anymore.

At this point, most people have experienced enough to know how vulnerable we are.

Unbelievable strength The most used prayer across the globe is known as “Our Father”. A sentence in this

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prayer says “free us from evil.” I say this prayer every day, and often I repeat this specific sentence twice. I say to God: Protect my children and my wife, and then I mention my other loved ones, as well as other issues. Why? Because I know from experience that evil can fall on us any day. Therefore, I need someone greater than myself to watch over me.

Recently, a close friend of mine told me how she had once been walking down a steep staircase. She had her hands full, and suddenly she tripped and fell head first towards the concrete floor. While falling she shouted out to God: “Protect me!” In that moment, her coat caught on to something and she was able to regain her balance and avoid the fatal drop. God freed her from evil – or was it just a coincidence?

Free us from evil The question of whether something was a coincidence or an act of God will always be there. But when we realize that we have no control over our lives, the prayer “free us from evil” is there for us. And then, when we experience protection, when an accident is avoided, or when a sick relative recovers, the annoying question pops up: I wonder if it really was God, or just a coincidence? Over the years, I’ve gotten used to looking more towards God and less towards coincidence. I believe that God is always so close to us that he can intervene in any situation to prevent evil. It might look like a coincidence, but if you keep the prayer “Our Father” close at heart, you also invite God into your life, and then he is with you night and day.

We all know that praying or believing in God is no guarantee against illness, accidents or evil in our lives. But because we have no control of our own destinies, it makes good sense to ask God to protect and free us from evil.

Life must be shared We don’t have time go further into the question of why God sometimes seems silent when we experience hardships. My experience is

that this question must remain unanswered. A more productive reaction when evil strikes is to say: “God, something is happening that I can’t control. What do you want me to do now? Often, God answers this question and opens up a path for us.

Is there anything positive to say about our fundamental lack of control? In fact there is.

If we had full control of our lives, we wouldn’t be in need of God or each other, but in this world we need both God and each other.

When we get lost along the way, it is good to have God and your loved ones next to you so they can share your burden. In our relationships with others, we often find a way through even the most uncontrollable events.

The greatest loss of control would be to have no one to share our lives with. With God, and our friends and family, close to us, we can always find a path through the hardships. •

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ivskontrol findes ikke. Det er et vilkår for menneskelivet, at hvad som helst kan ske når som helst. Vi mister let kontrollen. Bedst man tror, der er styr på det vigtigste, kan der tikke en SMS ind med

”

Da jeg var ung, mødte jeg jævnligt den spottende bemærkning fra jævnaldrende, at min tro på Gud bare er en krykke til min invaliderede selvfølelse og manglende evne til at have styr på mit liv.

en dårlig nyhed, og man er bragt ud af balance. Selvkontrol findes heller ikke, for det samme kan ske her, at tæppet pludselig kan blive revet væk under ens fødder, og så ligger man der og har ikke styr på sig selv. Kontrol og det sårbare menneskeliv rimer ikke. Så hvordan leve godt med den manglende kontrol? Hvordan leve godt med sårbarhed?

Da jeg var ung, mødte jeg jævnligt den spottende bemærkning fra jævnaldrende, at min tro på Gud bare er en krykke til min invaliderede selvfølelse og manglende evne til at have styr på mit liv. Ganske tankevækkende hører jeg aldrig den bemærkning fra jævnaldrende nu, hvor jeg er 57 år. I den alder er de fleste af os blevet så livskloge, at vi ved, hvor sårbare vi er.

Enorme kræfter Den mest brugte bøn på denne jord er Fadervor. I den bøn beder man: ’Fri os fra det onde’. Jeg beder selv Fadervor hver dag. ’Fri os fra det onde’ beder jeg tit to gange. Jeg siger til Gud: Pas godt på mine børn, min kone, og så nævner jeg flere konkrete navne og sager for ham. Hvorfor? Fordi jeg ved, at det onde kan ramme i dag. Derfor har jeg brug for, at en med enorme kræfter passer på os.

En god veninde fortalte, at hun var på vej ned ad en stejl trappe. Hun havde hænderne fulde, og pludselig mister hun balancen og er på vej med hovedet forrest ned i beton-trinnene. I faldet råber hun til Gud: ’pas på mig’.

Hendes frakke kommer i samme øjeblik til at hænge fast i noget, hun genfinder balancen og redder sig fra et slemt fald. Gud friede hende ud af det onde. Eller var det en tilfældighed?

Fri os fra det onde Det spørgsmål slipper vi aldrig for. Når det er umuligt at have kontrol over sit liv, er bønnen ’Fri os fra det onde’ en dejlig bøn. Og når vi så bliver passet på, bliver skærmet, ulykker bliver standset, syge bliver raske osv., sniger den irriterende tanke sig ind: Gad vide, om det var Gud eller en tilfældighed? Jeg har vænnet mig til at tænke mere i Gud end tilfældigheder. Jeg tror, Gud er så tæt på, at han med et fingerknips kan hindre det onde i at ske. Det kan ligne en tilfældighed, men er man et menneske, der beder bønnen Fadervor, inviterer man Gud ind i sit liv, og så er Gud med dag og nat.

Enhver ved, at troen på Gud og bønnen Fadervor ikke er en garanti mod sygdom, ulykker og onde hændelser. Men netop fordi

vi ikke kan kontrollere vores eget liv, giver det vældig god mening at bede Gud bevare os fra det onde.

At dele liv Pladsen her er ikke til at gå ind spørgsmålet: hvor var Gud, da det onde, trods bøn, ramte?

Havde han ikke kontrol over situationen?

Min erfaring er, at det spørgsmål får man aldrig svar på. Et bedre spørgsmål, når det onde rammer, er: Gud, der er sket noget, jeg ikke kan kontrollere. Hvad vil du, jeg skal gøre nu? Det spørgsmål svarer Gud ofte på.

Der viser sig en vej.

Kan der siges noget positivt om menneskets manglende evne til livs- og selvkontrol? Ja, i høj grad. Havde vi total kontrol over vores liv, havde vi ingen brug for hverken Gud eller hinanden. Nu har vi brug for både Gud og hinanden. Når vi ikke selv kan finde vej i vores liv, er det godt at have Gud og et andet menneske at dele sit liv med.

Igennem dette fællesskab viser der sig en vej, selv igennem de mest ukontrollerbare hændelser.

Det største tab af livs- og selvkontrol vil være, at der ingen er at dele sit liv med. Med Gud og mennesker omkring sig vil der altid vise sig en vej. •

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By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

Bo and Mary are a perfect match - New education, new opportunities

Bo og Mary passer godt sammen - ny uddannelse – nye muligheder

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he heavy 50-ton trucks are slowly entering the small ferry in the little town of Hvalpsund, Denmark, forcing Mary to be deep-set. On the bridge we find 49-yearold Bo M. Pedersen, who is in the process of becoming a certified navigator. As the ships leaves the harbor, Bo feels the extra weight on the ship, and after twelve minutes of sailing, as we approach the opposite shore, he slows down earlier than usually. It’s a quiet day, but Bo is deeply focused, and once again the ship arrives safely – ready to unload. As the first truck drives ashore, the ship rises up in the water – the change is clearly felt. Right now it is spring, but Bo still remembers how it felt passing the frozen channel just a few months ago. It was a challenge. Still, he checks the weather forecast every morning before leaving home. “I always take note of how the wind is going to behave that day.”

Coming into the harbor in Hvalpsund is the easiest part of the job. This are different ways of approaching it. Eight different peo-

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ple sail the ferry, and we all do it differently.

You just have to find your own approach.”

Every morning at 5.15 am, Bo and his co-workers sail in a smaller boat from Hvalpsund to Sundsøre, from where the ferry has its first daily departure. They work for six days, followed by three days off.

A childhood dream Since the 16th century, there has been a ferry connection between Hvalpsund and Sundsøre. To Bo, who was born in Hvalpsund, the sight of the ferry coming and going has been a part of his upbringing.

“Years ago, my dream was to become first mate and then sail the ferry when I got older. Since then, I’ve had quite a detour, but now I am here as an intern, and I feel like I am in the perfect place. I am an extra addition to the usual crew, so I am free to try out various tasks and responsibilities. I am already familiar with most procedures on board. My superiors do a great job teaching me what they know, and that means a lot to me. Also, the ferry is in a great condition and it is being properly maintained.”

Bo is a trained OS and has been since 1989. After graduating, he sailed on board various coasters in Northern Europe for a while. In addition, Bo has worked as a net maker, he is a trained sergeant in the royal Danish life guard regiment, an FN-soldier, has had his own taxicab company, and since 1993 he has worked as a freelancer in the construction sector. Finally, he spent a short period as a clammer, sailing a small boat.

But one day, Bo was contacted by the ferry route administrator who asked him if he was interested in an internship. Bo took the chance. After a week, his navigation-internship was in place, and for a time he said goodbye to his family in order to go to Marstal School of Navigation in southern Denmark – a five hour drive from home. Here, he learned about seamanship, safety, navigation and elec-

tronics, as well as communication, service and tourism. The first five weeks of theory are followed by a six-month internship, followed again by twenty weeks of school from August to December of this year. When the training is completed, Bo will receive his maritime trading certificate as mate of forth rank, which will allow him to sign on to the ferry route as mate between Hvalpsund and Sundsøre.

A pleasant surprise Going to school was never Bo’s cup of tea, so it was with mixed feeling that he arrived at Marstal School of Navigation for five intense weeks of training and education: “So far, it has been the best educational experience of my life. We are ten very different men between the age of 33 and 58. To mention a few, the group counts a former air pilot and a former truck driver, who are now seeking to work with a very different form of transportation. The teachers are great a communicating their skills and knowledge. Some of it I’ve heard before, but that isn’t a problem.”

Bo wasn’t able find accommodation at the school, so he was offered a room at the local seamen’s home named Aggershøj. Here, he felt at home from day one. “Simon, the manager, is probably the nicest man in town!

When I arrived, I didn’t know anything about the place or about the Danish Mission to Seafarers, but it has been a great place to live – there is room for all types of people, and they always have time to talk. I am aware of their standpoints, but they don’t force their believes on anyone. Although I am not an outspoken Christian myself, Simon and the volunteers have made a strong impression on me through their openness and kindness. At Aggershøj, there is an unusual atmosphere that makes it possible to just be yourself, and that means a lot to me. When I arrived, I had just begun a new and challenging chapter in my life far from home. I wasn’t used to the amount of spare time.”

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Fifteen times around the world The ferry connection between Hvalpsund and Sundsøre saw its first motor-driven ferry in 1927, but the connection has been in existence since the 16th century, where the crossing was done in rowboats. The current ferry, Mary, was installed in 2006. The hull was built at Riga Shipyard, and in 2005 the ferry came to Denmark, where the various special equipment was installed. The ferry service is owned by the local municipality.

During the last fifteen years, Mary has been on the move for 81,000 hours, which amounts to 324,000 crossings, or 15 journeys around the globe.

The Ferry can carry 30 cars, or two trucks and 14 cars. It departs twice an hour from its two harbors.

At Aggershøj, Bo found time for contemplation: “If I get the job on board the ferry, it will be an opportunity to spend more time at home than I’m used to. I would probably have made some different decisions in life had I known what I know today at age 49.

There has been ups and downs, both in my professional life and in my private life, but I guess we all feel that way, right?”

Once again, Bo turns his attention to his duties on board – he needs to keep an eye on the wind. The southern wind is tricky, and the currents in this area are difficult to read: “This job really makes me happy, and I want to learn everything there is to know during my time here. I enjoy the variation that it brings to work on the bridge as well as among our passengers – we always rotate between the various tasks,” Bo says. •

e tunge 50 ton lastbiler ruller ind på den lille færge i Hvalpsund, og får Mary til at stikke noget dybere end vanligt. På broen står 49-årige Bo Michaelsen Pedersen, der er i praktik som færgenavigatør. Så snart han sejler, kan han mærke vægten, og da vi nærmer os Sundsøre efter 12 minutters sejltid, bremser han tidligere end vanligt. Koncentrationen er stor, og det går fint med at komme til kaj denne vindstille dag. Da den første lastbil kører besværet i land, stiger færgen lidt op i vandet. Det her kan mærkes.

I dag er det forår, men han husker fint, da færgen sejlede i is i vinter. Det var udfordrende. Han tjekker nu altid vejrudsigten, før han møder på arbejde. ”Jeg laver mig lige en mental note på, hvordan vinden arter sig.” ”Det er lettest at lægge færgen til i Hvalpsund. Der er ikke en rigtig måde at gøre det på. Vi er otte mand, der sejler her fast, og vi gør det på forskellig måde, så man finder sin egen facon.”

Bo og kollegerne sejler i en mindre båd fra Hvalpsund til arbejde kl. 5.15, fordi færgen altid overnatter i Sundsøre. De arbejder seks dage, tre dage fri.

Drømmen Siden 1500-tallet har man sejlet rutefart på Limfjorden mellem Hvalpsund og Sundsøre.

For Bo, der er født i Hvalpsund, har udsigten til færgen ofte været en del af hverdagen. ”I sin tid var min drøm at blive styrmand, og når jeg blev gammel at sejle med færgen.

Meget i mit liv er gået anderledes, men nu er jeg i praktik her. Jeg har det som blommen i >

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15 gange rundt om jorden Hvalpsund-Sundsøre Færgefart fik sin første motorfærge i 1927, men man har sejlet i rutefart mellem Hvalpsund og Sundsøre siden 1500-tallet. Tidligere sejlede man med robåde. I 2006 blev den nye færge MARY indsat på overfarten. Skroget til færgen er bygget på Riga Shipyard, og i 2005 ankom færgen til havnen i Assens, hvor aptering og specialudstyr blev monteret.

Færgeriet ejes af Skive- og Vesthimmerlands Kommuner.

Igennem de sidste 15 år har MARY leveret 81.000 timers sejlads, hvilket giver 324.000 gange over fjorden. Det vil også svare til 15 gange rundt om jorden.

Færgen kan medbringe 30 personbiler eller 2 lastvognstog og 14 personbiler.

Den sejler to gange i timen fra hvert sted.

is Snow and ice / Sne og

et æg. Jeg er jo overtalsmand – ekstra mand ombord, og jeg får lov til meget. Jeg kender allerede de fleste arbejdsgange og procedurer. Fx er Ove og Flemming gode kolleger, der kan lære fra sig. Det betyder meget. Færgen er også virkelig velholdt, fordi den hele tiden passes.”

Bo er uddannet ubefaren skibsassistent i 1989, hvorefter han sejlede på coastere i Nordeuropa kort tid. Han har arbejdet på et vodbinderi, er uddannet sergent i Prinsens Livregiment og FN-soldat, har drevet eget taxafirma og været freelancer i byggebranchen siden 1993. Desuden arbejdede han i en periode i muslingebranchen, hvor han sejlede en mindre båd.

En dag ringede overfartsleder Flemming Thomasen og spurgte Bo, om han ikke ville i praktik som voksenlærling. Bo slog til. I løbet

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af en uge havde han praktikplads som færgenavigatør, vinkede farvel til hustru og fire børn for at sejle til Marstal Navigationsskole på Ærø – fem timer fra hans hjem. Her skulle han lære sømandskab, sikkerhed, navigation og el-drift. Desuden kommunikation, service og turisme. Efter et grundforløb i fem uger er der seks måneders praktik og så igen 20 ugers undervisning i Marstal fra august-december 2021. Efter endt uddannelse får han sønæringsbevis som styrmand af 4. grad med begrænsning, og kan mønstre som styrmand på færgeruten mellem Hvalpsund og Sundsøre.

Overrasket Det med at gå i skole har ikke været Bos yndlingsbeskæftigelse. Derfor var han noget spændt på at begynde i Marstal med fem ugers koncentreret undervisning: ”Det er den bedste klasse, jeg har gået i. Vi er 10 meget forskellige mænd mellem 33 og 58 år. Der er fx også en tidligere luftkaptajn og en lastbilchauffør, der nu skal arbejde med en hel anden form for transport. Lærerne var virkelig gode til at undervise os. Noget af det var repetition for mig, men det var fint nok.”

Det viste sig, at Bo ikke kunne bo på skolen, så han fik et værelse på sømandshjemmet Aggershøj, hvor han følte sig hjemme fra dag et. ”Simon (bestyrer af Aggershøj) er Ærøs flinkeste mand! Jeg vidste ikke, hvad

det var for et sted – at det var Sømandsmissionen, men det var et godt sted at være, fordi de kan rumme alle og har al den tid, der er brug for, hvis nogen har brug for en snak. De pådutter ingenting. Jeg ved nok, hvad de står for. Selv er jeg ikke mere kristen end så mange andre, men Simon og volontørerne gjorde indtryk ved dem, de var.

På Aggershøj var der en enorm ro til bare at være, og det betød meget for mig. Jeg havde jo kastet mig selv ud i en ny situation med uddannelse langt fra familien og skole fra 8-15. Jeg var heller ikke vant til at have så meget fritid.”

Bo fik også tid til at tænke: ”Hvis jeg får et job på færgen, så passer det godt med at være mere hjemme end jeg har været tidligere. Noget i mit liv ville jeg nok have gjort anderledes undervejs, hvis jeg havde haft den livserfaring, jeg har i dag som 49-årig. Det er gået op og ned – både på erhvervsdelen, men også i privaten, men mon ikke mange kender til det?”

Bo retter fokus mod færgen igen, for vindretningen ændrer sig ofte. Den er værst fra syd. Desuden er der også en del strøm at tage hensyn til: ”Jeg vil gerne sætte mig ind i det hele, for jeg bliver glad indeni ved at arbejde her. Jeg kan godt lide variationen med enten at være på broen eller nede ved kunderne. Vi skiftes flere gange i løbet af en vagt,” fortæller Bo. •

By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

LOSING CONTROL of our lives makes us reflect on why we are here - hope is crucial when we face a personal crisis

TAB AF LIVSKONTROL får os til at tænke over, hvorfor vi er her - har vi et håb, kommer vi lettere gennem kriser

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“If we want to do a marathon, we have to train for it – and in the same way we should train for futurecrises by talking about our hopes and dreams.”

Professor, Niels Christian Hvidt Hvis vi skal løbe et maratonløb, vil vi træne – det bør vi også gøre, før vi møder en krise ved at tale om, hvad vi tror og håber på,” foreslår professor Niels Christian Hvidt.

othing makes a person think more about God and existential issues than a personal crisis or sudden illness.

Studies show that often these thoughts can change our approach to the challenges we face. When, for instance, a global pandemic postpones your return to your family, and suddenly you don’t know if you’ll make it back before your child is born, or in time to say goodbye to a beloved relative, you are left with a sense of losing control. We can all relate to this feeling to some extent, and we all react differently.

“When it comes to handling insecurity and a loss of control, we are not equally experienced. Depending on where we come from, our experience differs, and most Danes are strongly challenged in this area because they are used to being in control of their own lives.” These are the words of Niels Christian Hvidt from the University of Southern Denmark. Niels is a professor of existential and spiritual care and has done research on the existential and religious resources related to handling difficult periods in our lives. According to Niels, a central factor in this process is hope: ”Hope is crucial. When you can see a path ahead of you, it creates a sense of hope. Having a greater perspective on things and feeling like you have an impact on your own relationships makes a big difference.” He also points to what is known as the philosophy of hope, described by the French philosopher Gabriel Marcel, who distinguishes between what he calls specific hope and fundamental hope. A

specific hope could be that I will be able to return home this summer, and a general hope could be the conviction that the world is good, or that no matter what happens, God keeps me in his hand. Research shows that a hopeful and optimistic approach to life is generally helpful.

A sleeping faith In relation to our specific hopes, we sometimes get deeply disappointed, and in these

”

We are familiar with our specific hopes, but we haven’t necessarily learned to think in terms of fundamental hope, such as a hope related to God or fate. situations it is necessary to turn to our fundamental hopes in order to keep ourselves going. “Qualitative studies and questionnaires show that people in a state of crisis tend to ask for meaning and search for a more fundamental hope – but many of us are unable to express this in words. If we are used to a high level of self-control, we rarely >

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Did you know that people with religious believes and lifestyles are less sick than non-believers? Check www. faith-health.org – a network for research on faith and health.

feel a need for God’s support. Illness or any kind of crisis can activate this need and awaken the “sleeping faith” that most of us carry with us unconsciously.”

The early Christians quickly realized that miracles didn’t always happen when they asked for it, and even to lifelong Christians this reality is still challenging. Why does God allow illness and suffering if he is good and almighty? Surprisingly, studies show that this problem is primarily present in the minds of those who have little or no religious conviction.

“We are familiar with our specific hopes, but we haven’t necessarily learned to think in terms of fundamental hope, such as a hope related to God or fate. So when we lose control of our lives, we are existentially ill-prepared, and we don’t know how to respond,” Niels Christian Hvidt says.

A spiritual Marathon We must learn to use words: “Some people tend to keep the idea alive that it is unintelligent to have religious beliefs. This idea is ingrained in our culture, and it needs to be challenged. We must open up a conversation

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Vidste du: Mennesker med tro og tilhørende livsstil er mindre syge end ikketroende. Tjek www.faith-health-org - Netværk for forskning i tro og helbred

about the big questions in life and allow ourselves to wonder – where do we come from?

What is our purpose? We need to bring these questions into the public arena. This would also add depth to our human relationships.”

Professor Hvidt also points to the fact that we can prepare ourselves for difficult times: “If we want to complete a marathon, we have to train for it – and the same is true for our mental and spiritual lives. When we enter into a crisis or we lose control, it is helpful to be somewhat prepared. We can do this by talking about our fundamental hopes; what do we believe in? What do we hope for? What matters to us? etc. We should do this every year, if not once a month,” he adds.

Niels Christian Hvidt wants to promote the importance of our spiritual awareness: “Talking about faith needs to be something

legitimate, exciting and intriguing. When we share our thoughts and express our feelings in words, we also get better at talking to ourselves about these questions.” In this way, we can find a hope for the future. •

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ntet får mennesker til at tænke mere på Gud og eksistens end krise og sygdom, og det kan påvirke måden, hvorpå vi håndterer udfordringerne. Det viser flere undersøgelser. Når fx corona driller skibsfarten, og man ikke ved, om man når hjem til sit barns fødsel, pårørende der er alvorligt syge eller om man blot kan passe vagtplanen, så taber man livskontrol. Hele kloden har oplevet det på forskellig vis, men reaktionerne er forskellige. ”Vi er forskelligt øvede i at leve med tabet af kontrol og usikkerhed. Forskellige nationaliteter har forskellige erfaringer, men danskerne er fx voldsomt udfordrede, fordi de er vant til at have næsten fuldstændig kontrol over deres liv,” siger Niels Christian Hvidt fra Syddansk Universitet. Han er professor i eksistentiel og åndelig omsorg og

”

Vi kender fint de specifikke håb, men er slet ikke trænet i at tænke i det overordnede håb. Fx et håb på Gud, tilværelsen eller skæbnen.

har blandt andet forsket i de eksistentielle og religiøse ressourcer, der ofte betyder noget, når vi skal mestre vores liv gennem tilværelsens søgang. Helt specifikt spiller håb en rolle: ”Håb er enormt vigtigt. Man føler sig håbefuld, når man kan se en vej foran sig, som man kan betræde. At man kan se et perspektiv i det, man laver og har indflydelse på eget liv i de relationer, man er i.” Han peger på håbets filosof, franskmanden Gabriel Marcel, som taler om det specifikke håb og det grundlæggende håb. Det specifikke – fx: jeg håber at komme hjem til sommer. Det generelle håb, fx verden er god, eller det troende menneskes håb: at lige meget, hvad der sker, er der et grundlæggende sikkerhedsnet under mig.”

Er man håbefuld og optimistisk, er der meget at hente til sin tilværelse, viser undersøgelser.

En slumrende tro Nogle gange skuffes vi voldsomt på det specifikke håb, men så bruger mange det generelle håb til fortsat at være håbefulde: ”Fra kvalitative studier og spørgeskemaundersø-

gelser ved vi, at mennesker i kriser spørger efter en mening og et grundlæggende håb.

Men mange er ikke vant til at tale om det og kan have vanskeligt ved at sætte ord på. Hvis man normalt oplever en høj grad af livskontrol, føler man sjældent et behov for Gud som en støtte i hverdagen. Sygdom eller krise kan aktivere det behov og den slumrende tro, de fleste mennesker bærer i sig - ofte uden, at den har spillet en særlig aktiv rolle før i livet.”

Allerede de tidlige kristne måtte sande, at miraklerne ikke altid skete, når man bad om dem. Det er en udfordring, der selv for mange trofaste troende kan være et trosproblem - For hvorfor tillader Gud sygdom og lidelse, hvis han er god og almægtig? Overraskende for forskerne har undersøgelser vist, at dette problem fylder mest for de ganske lidt religiøse. ”Vi kender fint de specifikke håb, men er slet ikke trænet i at tænke i det overordnede håb. Fx et håb på Gud, tilværelsen eller skæbnen. Så når vi mister livskontrol, er vi eksistentielt uforberedte, og så er man noget på Herrens mark,” siger Niels Christian Hvidt.

Maraton Vi skal sætte ord på: ”Nogle har fortsat den fordom, at det er uintelligent at tro. Det har ligget længe i vores kultur. Og den fordom skal vi bryde. Vi skal lukke op for æsken med livets store spørgsmål om tilværelsens forunderlighed – hvor kommer vi fra? Hvor skal vi hen? Vi skal slå et slag for, at det bliver hipt at tale om. Det vil også fordybe de relationer, vi er i.”

Hvidt peger desuden på, at vi kan forberede os på svære tider: ”Hvis vi skal løbe et maratonløb, vil vi træne – det bør vi også gøre her. Når vi træder ind i en krise eller mister kontrol, så ville det være godt, hvis vi havde forberedt os en smule, så det ikke rammer for hårdt. Vi skal tale om det – hvad er det, vi tror på, hvad er det, vi håber på, hvad er værdifuldt for os osv. Det burde vi gøre årligt eller en gang om måneden,” tilføjer han.

Niels Christian Hvidt vil gerne slå et slag for en åndelig dannelse: ”Det skal gøres sjovt, spændende og legitimt at tale om tro.

For når vi deler vores tanker og formulerer følelser, bliver vi også bedre til at tale med os selv om emnerne.” Da er der håb i horisonten. •

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PHOTOS: KRISTINE ROAGER

By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

A crucial coaster

Jørgen Kjær Jensen worked for Royal Arctic Line since 1989

Livsnerven er en coaster

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he view from the bridge on board Pajuttatt is simply amazing. Here, in the beautiful western region of Greenland, Jørgen Kjær Jensen knows every inch of every little settlement in the Disco Bay, and he is also familiar with the larger towns, such as Ilulissat, Qeqertarsuaq, Qasigiannguit, Aasiaat and, just north of the Disco Bay, Uummannaq.

The ship is designed for the arctic regions and equipped with both crane and barge which allows it to operate regardless of the landing conditions. “We deliver goods to the settlements in the Disco Bay and the Uummannaq Bay. We service the settlements regardless of the weather conditions. From December through February the sea is usually frozen, but not this year, so we take a extra trip to pick up the large amounts of frozen fish. This helps

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et fra broen på Pajuttaat fejler udsigten ingenting. Her i smukke Vestgrønland kender Jørgen Kjær Jensen hver en lille bygd i Diskobugten som sin egen bukselomme, men også de lidt større byer som fx Ilulissat, Qeqertarsuaq, Qasigiannguit og Aasiaat, og lige nord for Diskobugten: Uummannaq.

Skibet er designet til de arktiske betingelser, og det er udstyret med kran og pram, så det kan operere uanset anløbsforhold. ”Vi sejler varer ud til bygderne i Diskobugten og i Uummannaq-bugten. Vi servicerer bygderne afhængig af vind og vejr. Fra december- februar/marts plejer der at være is, men

the local fishermen free up space in their storage rooms,” Jørgen explains. Royal Arctic Line is a driving force in the Greenlandic society.

The shipping company guarantees a steady delivery all over the country.

“In the large harbors there is a pilot, but mostly we take care of ourselves. Some of the settlements only have around 30 inhabitants and no real harbor, so we use the crane to bring the goods to shore. We do everything ourselves, whether on board or on shore – both loading and unloading.”

Read more in the next edition of Waves.

You can also find Waves on: www.somandsmissionen.dk/hvem-er-vi/ udgivelser. •

ikke i år, så vi sejler en ekstra tur og henter de mange fisk, der er lagt på frost. Dermed hjælper vi fiskerne med at få tømt ud i deres lagre,” siger Jørgen. Royal Arctic Line er en livsnerve for de grønlandske samfund, så det garanterer forsyninger til hele landet. ”I de store havne er der jo lods mm. Vi klarer os selv. I nogle af bygderne bor der måske kun 30 mennesker. Der er ikke nogen egentlig havn, så vi må hejse pallerne i land. Vi kører selv det hele, også på land. Lodser og laster.”

Læs mere i Waves 3. Du kan også finde Waves på www.somandsmissionen.dk/hvemer-vi/udgivelser. •

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

Jørgen Kjær Jensen har været ansat i Royal Arctic Line siden 1989