Edward Barett er kaptajn på WIND OSPREY, et stort offshore supply skib.
A Filipino seafarer was pleased with the Easter greeting from the Danish Mission to Seafares. This could be seen on the front page of WAVES. He wore the big smile, when he got the magazine with himself on the cover.
En filippinsk sømand var glad for en påskehilsen fra Sømandsmissionen. Det kunne ses på forsiden af WAVES. Han havde det store smil på, da han fik bladet med sig selv på forsiden.
By Hanne Baltzer
God lets me be me
Having recently confirmed her Christian faith in a Danish church filled with family, friends and flowers, eighteen-year-old Caroline shines like the sun. Filled by joy, she tells us how ten of her fellow students from her maritime college were there to be part of this important moment in her life; to celebrate that she is still a child of God, and that she puts her faith in him. When the pastor mentioned that Caroline had chosen to confirm her faith on her birthday, the entire congregation broke into applause.
In Denmark, it is tradition to confirm your faith along with your classmates when you are about 13 years old, but, back then, Caroline chose differently. In 2019, her mother was dying from brain cancer, and Caroline did not have the time or energy to follow her classmates through the preparations leading up to the ritual. Instead, she and her family held a party a bit earlier to ensure that her mother could be a part of it. Her thoughts went to her mother: “My mother sometimes talked about God. Towards the end of her life, she found comfort in God when everything seemed dark. It saddens me that she couldn’t be here for my confirmation. She would have been proud of me.”
A new conviction
Having a personal faith in God is a newfound gift in Caroline’s life. Before, she sometimes wondered if there is life after death, if Jesus really is the son of God, if there was a God at all, and so on. When she started at Svendborg Maritime College, she met Paul Hoegh who is a welfare-worker, and they had some important conversations.
“I suddenly started noticing the crucifixes and images of Jesus decorating the school walls. At our daily morning gatherings, Paul often told stories from the Bible, and I could relate to their message. Also, the songs and hymns we sang every morning started making sense to me. The simple message of Jesus who came to save us struck a chord in me, and I started reading the New Testament”, Caroline tells, as her hand automatically takes hold of the beautiful silver cross that hangs from her neck.
“I found a road and a compassion that I hadn’t been able to find since my mother died. There is freedom in Christianity; here no one can judge you because Jesus is there. He has proved to me that he is there for me always. At that point, I decided to turn to God, and it has been a source of great comfort and safety ever since.”
Thankful
Soon after, Caroline joined an open course in Christianity where she learned a lot. Here, she could ask questions and discuss the most fundamental aspects of the Christian faith with others. The course led her to the decision to confirm her faith publicly.
I’ve had many comments from others asking me what is going on; some more skeptical than others, but my faith feels real and important to me, and my family supports me.
“I’ve had many comments from others asking me what is going on; some more skeptical than others, but my faith feels real and important to me, and my family supports me.”
Caroline also talks about faith with some of her friends, many of whom attended her confirmation. They ask questions and are interested in understanding why her faith in God means so much to her now.
“I simply feel so happy inside, and I am thankful that the people around me, who mean so much to me, wanted to take part in my confirmation ceremony. They are showing a genuine interest in my life,” the young woman smiles.
Caroline’s grandfather was a shipmaster. He often told her amusing and inspiring stories from life at sea, and of how he met her
Kristendommen giver frihed til at være mig
Netop konfirmeret i Sct. Hans Kirke i Odense. Kirken var fuld, familien og andre var der med roser og buketter. Caroline stråler, når hun fortæller, at 10 af vennerne fra søfartsskolen var med i kirken. De var med til at fejre, at hun bekræftede sin barnedåb. Med til at fejre, at hun tror på Gud. Da præsten sagde, at Caroline havde valgt at blive konfirmeret på sin 18-års fødselsdag, brød menigheden ud i spontan jubel.
I Danmark plejer man at blive konfirmeret som 13-årig, men det blev Caroline ikke. Hendes mor var uhelbredelig syg med hjernekræft i 2019, hvorfor Caroline ikke fulgte kammeraterne til konfirmationsforberedelse. I stedet holdt hun en fejring, så hendes mor nåede med, før hun gik bort. På konfirmationsdagen sendte hun varme tanker til sin mor: ”Min mor snakkede også om Gud. I hendes sidste tid fandt hun tryghed i Gud, når hun var lidt i panik. Jeg er ked af, at hun ikke oplevede min konfirmation. Hun ville have været stolt af mig.”
Ny overbevisning
Det med at have en personlig tro er ret nyt for Caroline. Af og til har hun tænkt på, om der er noget efter døden, om den historiske Jesus
også var Gud, om der er en levende Gud og meget mere. Da hun begyndte på søfartsskolen i Svendborg, mødte hun velfærdsmedarbejder Paul Høeg, som hun talte en del med.
”Jeg begyndte også at lægge mærke til kors og malerier med Jesus, som hang på væggen. Paul fortalte til morgensamlingerne ofte en historie fra Biblen, som jeg kunne relatere mig til, og i sømandssangbogen begyndte sangene at give en dybere mening for mig. Budskabet om Jesus, der frelser os, ramte mig, og jeg begyndte at læse i Det nye Testamente,” fortæller Caroline, inden hun ganske automatisk tager fat i halskædens smukke sølvkors.
”Jeg fandt en vej og en omsorg, som jeg ikke havde kunnet finde, efter at jeg mistede min mor. I kristendommen er der frihed. Der er ingen, der dømmer mig, for Jesus er der, og han har vist mig, at han er der for mig. Jeg vendte mig til Gud. Det er der stor tryghed i.”
Taknemlig
Caroline begyndte på kristendomskursus/ alfakursus i Odense, hvor hun lærte en del, stillede spørgsmål og debatterede vigtige emner med de andre deltagere. Kurset ledte hende frem til konfirmationen.
grandmother. Along with her grandfather, her own sailing experience also inspired her to apply for the maritime college. “As a kid, I used to sail a lot, and in 2022 I visited the college here in Svendborg. I applied, and when I started, I instantly knew that it was the right place for me. Now, I recommend it to everyone. I am currently in the three-year maritime high school program. Eventually, I hope to become shipmaster, and I can’t wait for my first engagement. I am eager to travel and experience the world,” she smiles. •
At the Maritime College in Svendborg, Caroline found her personal faith./
På Svendborg Søfartsskole fandt Caroline en personlig tro.
”Jeg har fået mange kommentarer fra andre om, hvad det lige er, jeg har gang i, men min kristentro føles ægte og vigtig for mig. Min familie støtter mig.”
Flere af dem, der var med Caroline i kirken i Odense, taler hun kristendom med. De stiller hende spørgsmål og vil gerne høre hendes uddybning af, hvorfor troen fylder så meget hos hende nu.
”Jeg er simpelthen så glad inden i. Jeg er også taknemlig over, at de mennesker omkring mig, der betyder noget for mig, ville tage med ind til konfirmationen i kirken. De er interesseret i mit liv,” smiler den unge kvinde.
Carolines farfar var skibsfører. Han fortalte ofte sjove historier om livet til søs, om hvordan han mødte hendes farmor og om alt muligt. Livet til søs inspirerede Caroline til at søge ind på søfartsskolen.
”Som barn gik jeg til sejlads. I 2022 var jeg til brobygning her på skolen, og det var så fedt, at jeg til enhver tid vil anbefale det til andre. Derfor er jeg nu i gang med HF-søfart. Jeg håber, jeg kan uddanne mig til skibsfører og glæder mig til, jeg skal ud at sejle. Jeg har lyst til at rejse og opleve,” smiler hun.
Af Hanne Baltzer
By Hanne Baltzer
Wind Osprey operates in every ocean - Visiting a Danish windfarm installation vessel
Here, in Esbjerg Harbor, the Danish windfarm installation vessel WIND OSPREY is on hold. The deck is dominated by the vast turbine components ready to be assembled in the North Sea – alongside the powerful crane that can lift everything from towers and wings to cells and turbines. One component can weigh up to 500 ton, and the crane lifts up to 1600 ton within a 40-meter radius; its primary hook rises 160 meters above the deck.
In the North Sea, the weather is often a challenge, but tomorrow the forecast looks promising, and the vessel is ready to set out.
This impressive, floating construction site always welcomes visitors, and on the fourth floor the English captain, Edward Barett, has just concluded a meeting. Edward started sailing in 1997 and graduated as shipmaster in 2012 – an achievement that opened the door to his current position as captain. He has now worked in the offshore sector for some years, and when the Danish company Cadeler bought up his former employer, he and many of his co-workers followed along – a decision he has never regretted.
“We are highly qualified specialists when it comes to these specific tasks. We have all the necessary certificates, and we work constantly to perfect our ability to perform these types of offshore operations. We work in twelve-hour shifts, and most of us have been with the company for at least 3 years. We enjoy a healthy work environment, a decent salary, and good working conditions, and I think that is why people stay on for a long time. Currently, I believe we have
about fifteen nationalities on board, and the common language is English. This is definitely a good place to be,” the captain says.
A six legged beast
On the bridge there are windows on all sites allowing the crew to operate and install in every direction. The vessel is raised up on six legs with adjustable height depending on the quality of the ocean floor and the weight of the various elements involved in the process. Before the construction begins, the ship lifts itself up into the necessary position above the surface. This is followed by a procedure called ”preloading”, where the weight of the vessel along with additional ballast water is used to drive the legs safely into the ocean floor. After the preloading is completed, the hydraulic system is used to raise the entire vessel to a specific level or “air gap”, making sure that waves, tide, and
WIND OSPREY
Missionary to seafarers, Finn Løvlund, is visiting Wind Osprey.
Sømandsmissionær Finn Løvlund (tv) er på besøg ombord på Wind Osprey.
currents only affect the relatively slim legs and not the vessel itself. To further stabilize the vessel and ensure safety, the balance of the entire construction is constantly surveilled and upheld.
A growing business
Today, the company owns nine installations vessels, and four new ships with even greater capacity and technology are on the way.
Importantly, the new vessels offer an increased crane capacity that can handle the growing dimensions of the turbines. The new vessels will be able to transport and install seven complete sets of 15MW turbines or five 20+ MW turbines at a time. The increased capacity reduces the number of necessary transits on each project which improves the installation speed and reduces the CO2-emission.
Wind Osprey kan
operere havet rundt - skibet sætter havmølleparker op
Her på Esbjerg Havn venter WIND OSPREY, der sejler under dansk flag. På dækket står de store vindmølleelementer som et samlesæt klar til opsætning i Nordsøen, og kranen er parat til at løfte tårne, møllevinger, vindturbiner og celler. En komponent kan veje 500 ton, og kranen kan løfte op til 1600 tons i en radius på 40 meter. Den primære krog kan nå 160 meter over dækket.
Vejrrestriktionerne begrænser, men i morgen er udsigterne gode, og skibet klar til afgang.
Det store offshore supply skib tager gæstfrit i mod. Fire etager oppe fra det primære dæk er den engelske kaptajn Edward Barett netop færdig med et møde. Han blev kadet i 1997, bestod skibsførereksamen i 2012, hvorefter han blev kaptajn.
Af Hanne Baltzer
Længde er 161.3 meter og bredde er 49.03 meter.
Flag: Denmark
Edward har arbejdet indenfor offshore i en årrække. Da det danske specialrederi Cadeler, opkøbte det rederi, han arbejdede for, fulgte han sammen med flere af kollegerne med over i Cadeler. Det har han ikke fortrudt.
”Vi er højt kvalificerede specialister til de her opgaver med diverse certifikater og konstant træning i at udføre de enkelte operationer. Vi arbejder i 12 timers skift, og mange af os har været ansat i mindst tre år. Her er et godt arbejdsmiljø, fin betaling, og fine arbejdsforhold med et velfungerende internet ombord. Derfor kommer folk tilbage hyre efter hyre. Lige nu er vi nok 15 nationaliteter ombord. Arbejdssproget er engelsk. Nej, vi mangler ikke noget,” siger kaptajnen.
Holder balancen på seks ben
På broen er der vinduer hele vejen rundt, så mandskabet kan operere og installere, uanset hvilket verdenshjørne, der skal have vindmøller på havbunden. Skibet har seks ben, hvor højden kan justeres på hvert ben afhængig af, om det er sand eller mudder, de skal stå på og hvordan koordinering i forhold til vægten på de elementer, der flyttes rundt med, er nødvendig. Når skibet begynder på aktionen, løfter det sig selv op til den krævede højde over havoverfladen. Derefter sker ”preloading”, hvor prammens vægt og yderligere ballastvand bruges til at drive benene sikkert ned i havbunden, så de ikke trænger længere ind, mens operationer udføres. Efter forbelastning bruges donkraftsy-
IMO: 9621704
MMSI: 219029785
Kaldesignal: OZPA2
Klasse: Klasse A
Skibstype: Cargo, Offshore supply skib
stemet til at hæve hele prammen over vandet til en forudbestemt højde eller ”luftspalte”, så bølge-, tidevands- og strømbelastning kun virker på de relativt slanke ben og ikke på prammens skrog. For at stabilisere skibet on location skal der hele tiden være ligevægt.
WIND OSPREY
Today, WIND OSPREY can carry four turbines, although not too many years ago the vessel could carry twelve. This drastic shift clearly illustrates how the growing size of the turbines is putting pressure on the development of the vessels. Nonetheless, the biggest challenge is still on shore, where the transportation of the large components is still a challenge for the Danish infrastructure.
At home at sea
Denmark was the first country in the world to build an offshore wind farm. The park, known as Vindeby, was built in the southern region of the country in 1991, and a lot has happened since. Currently, WIND OSPREY is installing turbines for Simens Gamesa, and the timeframe for installing each turbine depends on various factors.
“In Rotterdam, it took us twenty-four hours, and in Germany it took only fifteen. This depends on the nature of the ocean floor, biological factors, current patterns, and other variables,” Edward Barett explains.
“Many European governments are looking to invest in offshore wind farms, for in-
stance in the North Sea. The North Sea is ideal because of the strong winds and the relatively shallow waters which provide ideal working conditions. The crews are transported by helicopter, and the 28-day shifts are administered by the company’s administration back on shore. The crews always
work for 28 days followed by 28 days at home. Personally, I think there is a strong sense of home on board. We don’t need the same welfare services at as many of our maritime colleagues because we are so privileged here. Everything is simply excellent,” Edward Barett says. •
Vokseværk
Rederiet ejer ni installationsskibe, og fire større skibe er bestilt med endnu større lastekapacitet og teknologisk ydeevne. På de nye skibe bliver krankapaciteten fx højere, fordi elementerne til møllerne bliver større, længere og tungere. Skibene vil være i stand til at transportere og installere syv komplette sæt 15MW vindmøller eller fem sæt 20+ MW vindmøller per last. Det reducerer antallet af transitter, der er nødvendige for hvert projekt, hvilket øger installations-tempoet og reducerer udledningen af CO2
WIND OSPREY kan sejle ud med fire vindmøller. For ikke så lang tid siden sejlede de med 12 vindmøller, men da møllerne hele tiden konstrueres større, skal skibene også
kunne matche det. Den største udfordring er dog på land, når møllerne skal transporteres, da infrastrukturen i fx Danmark ikke er fulgt med.
Hjem til søs
Danmark var det første land i verden til at opstille en havvindmøllepark med parken Vindeby ud for Lolland i 1991. Det er mange havvindmøller siden. For tiden sætter WIND OPPREY møller op for Siemens Gamesa. Hvor lang tid, det tager at sætte en mølle op, afhænger af flere faktorer.
”Ved Rotterdam tog det 24 timer og ud for Tyskland 15 timer. Det beror blandt andet på havbundens biologi og strømforhold,” forklarer Edward Barett.
”Mange europæiske regeringer vil investere i vindmøller, fx i Nordsøen. Den er velegnet, dels på grund af meget vind, men også fordi Nordsøen ikke er særlig dyb. Det giver gode arbejdsforhold for os. Vi kan sagtens skifte mandskab til søs. Da flyver helikopterne derud. Det er rederiet, der bestyrer det og dermed sørger for organisering af den 28 dages rotation. Mandskabet er 28 dage på job efterfulgt af 28 dage hjemme. Jeg synes, vi har et hjem her ombord, når vi ikke er hjemme privat. Vi har ikke brug for de samme velfærdsydelser, som kollegerne på fx containerskibe eller lignende, fordi vi er privilegerede. Alt er excellent,” siger Edward Barett. •
Edward Barett
By general secretary Nicolaj Wibe
Sustainability and
the good life
Denmark is the 10. largest maritime nation in the world. Danish Shipping is working towards climate neutrality in 2050, and an intermediate aim is to for five percent of the Danish merchant fleet to operate on climate neutral fuels such as hydrogen, e-ammonia and e-methanol before 2030. These ambitious goals have been established in cooperation with the Danish government.
Danish shipping only conducts a small percentage of their operations within Danish borders, so to take on such an ambitious climate-vision while mainly dealing with foreign harbors and infrastructures brings out the deepest respect in the Danish Mission to Seafarers. Taking global responsibility and not just thinking about our own interests is what really matters.
Full attention
Green and renewable energy, sustainability and a will to embrace change are key factors in the future of the maritime sector. We know that emission from large maritime vessels is a significant source of air pollution. These exhaust fumes contain sulfur, particles, volatile organic bonds, and other substances that damage the ozone layer. All these emissions damage the environment and our general health, and an eco-friendly change in the sector is simply a necessity.
Of course, this is currently an explosive political topic, but we believe that we must all give our full attention to the challenges threatening the health and well-being of our planet. We believe that we carry a responsibility on behalf of future generations. In the Danish
Den grønne energi og det gode liv
Danmark er verdens 10. største søfartsnation. Danske Rederier har en tydelig målsætning om klimaneutralitet i 2050, og at fem procent af den danske flåde i 2030 skal sejle på klimaneutrale brændstoffer såsom brint, e-ammoniak og e-metanol. To målsætninger som Danske Rederier deler med den danske regering.
Danske Rederier sejler meget lidt inden for danske grænser. At man påtager sig ansvar for sine sejladser ude på de store verdenshave og i mødet med fremmede havne, har Sømandsmissionen stor respekt for. Man skal ikke bare tænke på sig selv.
Fuld opmærksomhed
Grøn energi, vedvarende energi, bæredygtighed og omstillingsparathed er blevet nøgleord i søfarten. Vi ved, at forurening fra skibenes skorstene er en af de store kilder til forurenet luft. Udstødningsgasserne fra de store motorer indeholder svovl, kvælstof, partikler, flygtige organiske forbindelser og stoffer, der nedbryder ozonlaget. Samtlige stoffer er skadelige for miljøet og for sundheden. Derfor er det godt og nødvendigt, at der bliver sat ind.
Der er masser af politisk sprængstof i dette, men vi tror, det er godt med fuld opmærksom på det, der ødelægger det sunde
Mission to Seafarers, we care about the good life, and to turn this into reality we provide welfare to a large number of seafarers. But we also believe that the good life is more than just welfare, environmental stability, and green energy. The good life also includes positive relations with co-workers, strong family relationships, and a general feeling of safety. But what is required in order for us to have a good life?
Fundamental value
The Danish Mission to seafarers is a Christian organization. This means that we find our value outside ourselves. It is not our legacy or our organizational structure that gives us a right to exist, although these are important elements. What justifies our exist-
liv på jorden. Vi tror, at de næste generationer får gavn og glæde af det.
Sømandsmissionen er optaget af det gode liv. Vi leverer velfærdsydelser til et stort antal søfolk netop for at bakke op. Men det gode liv er mere end grøn energi og velfærd. Det gode liv er også god relation til kolleger, god relation til familien og at føle sig tryg der, hvor man er.
Hvor meget skal der til, for at man synes, man har et godt liv?
Grundlæggende værdi
Sømandsmissionen er kirkeligt forankret.
Af generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe
ence is our faith in God. We cannot, as individuals or as an organization, create our own fundamental value or sense of safety. This is given to us by God. When we are interested in seeking out the good life, we look for our answers and solutions in a place beyond our own human capabilities. If we rely on our own human performances, qualities, looks, education and abilities in our attempt to create a good life, most of us will eventually fail the task. There is always something that falls apart in the process,
and we rarely succeed. Therefore, the good life must be anchored to something outside ourselves.
A safe anchor
I there is one thing all seafarers understand, it is the importance of making sure that the ship’s anchor has a firm grip in the ocean floor. If the anchor is placed correctly, the ship is safe.
As humans we also have an inner anchor, and the safest anchorage is God. God creat-
Det vil sige, vi har vores værdigrundlag uden for os selv. Det er ikke vores historie og vedtægter, vi er dybest forankrede i, selvom de betyder meget. Dybest forankrede er vi i troen på Gud. Vi skal ikke skabe vores egen grundlæggende værdi eller tryghed. Den har vi i Gud.
Når Sømandsmissionen er optaget af det gode liv, henviser vi til en forankring i livet, som rækker udenfor det, mennesket selv kan præstere. Hvis menneskets præstation, kvalitet, udseende, uddannelse og evner er det, der skal skabe det virkelig gode liv, er vi mange, der mislykkes i det. For der er al-
tid noget, der går i stykker. Der er altid noget, der mislykkes. Det er kun sjældent, vi lykkes hele vejen rundt. Ergo må det gode liv være forankret udenfor os selv.
Anker af tryghed
Hvis der er noget, den søfarende ved, så er det vigtigheden i, at skibets anker ligger rigtigt på havbunden. Ligger ankeret godt, er skibet i tryghed.
Mennesket har også et indre anker. Den sikreste ankerplads er hos Gud. Det er Gud, der har skabt mennesket, det er Gud, der tager sig af det, og det er Gud, der igennem Jesus
Life is about discovering the foundation of your own value; the one place where you can know for certain that you are surrounded by unconditional love.
ed us, God provides for us, and through his son, Jesus Christ, he offers you absolute freedom and eternal life. Jesus alone can offer us forgiveness, which is the ultimate source of freedom for all human beings. Life is about discovering the foundation of your own value; the one place where you can know for certain that you are surrounded by unconditional love. Your fundamental value lies in the fact that you are created and loved by God, and that Jesus welcomes you to be his beloved child, no strings attached. He loves you so much that even if you were the only person on earth, Jesus would have done the same for you that he did for billions of people when he died on the cross. This truth is the strongest anchorage you’ll ever find. •
Kristus kan række dig frihed og evigt liv. Det er Jesus, der kan række os tilgivelse, hvilket er den ultimative frihed for ethvert menneske. Livet handler om, hvor du finder din grundværdi, og hvor du med sikkerhed kan vide dig uendelig elsket. Din grundværdi er, at du er skabt og elsket af Gud, og at Jesus Kristus med åben favn tager dig til sig som sit elskede barn. Så elsket er du, at var du det eneste menneske på jord, der havde brug for at blive frelst fra synd og skyld, så havde Jesus gjort det samme for dig, som han gjorde for millioner den gang på korset. Dette er en rigtig god ankerplads at have i sit liv. •
By Hanne Baltzer
A life below the sur face
It is not every day that a Portuguese submarine shows up in a harbor in Greenland, but not long ago an entire submarine crew, except for a few, stayed at Hotel SØMA in Nuuk. Three times a day, the local seamen’s home even delivered food from restaurant SØMA to those who had to stay on board. Here, missionary to seafarers Niels Chemnitz had the pleasure of speaking to several members of the crew including the logistics officer David. David spoke of the days at sea as “the grey days” because of their repetitive nature. Here, the confined space and absence of windows make every day alike, until they finally reach a harbor where they get a chance to connect with their friends and family that they have left above the surface. It is not always an easy life, David tells.
The Portuguese harpoon
“I am a lieutenant in the Portuguese navy sailing on board the submarine ARPAO, meaning “harpoon”. This is our first visit to Nuuk, and we were very happy to be greeted by the people from the seamen’s home at the harbor. I joined the navy in 2008 and graduated as officer after five years in the naval academy. Afterwards, I sailed for a couple of years before I was recommended a transfer to the submarine division and nine additional months of training. Portugal is a maritime nation. We have more water than land, so we are seafarers by heart, and a large part of the population are used to sailing all over the world. At ARPAO, we con-
stantly seek new challenges, and this year we are exploring the Arctic regions. That is why we are here in Greenland. So far, everything has gone according to plan, even though we’ve never been this far north in the history of our country. It is a great achievement! Our next goal is to cross the Arctic Circle with support from the Danish navy. They will help us navigate through the ice, even though we are not afraid of the icebergs.
Invisible
“People often ask how I deal with the long periods without daylight or windows to look through. The most intriguing aspect of my job is that in the submarine I can see everything around me, but without being seen by others. When I look into the periscope, I might see a merchant ship or a navy vessel, but they have no idea that I am observing them. Due to our digital equipment, I always know our exact position, and as soon as we reach a depth of ten meters or more, all light disappears, so a window would do us no good anyway.”
Zero communication
“I am a submarine officer as well as a seafarer. It is quite challenging to be away from friends and family for long periods of time, especially if you have children. In a submarine this disconnection is even more challenging because of the complete lack of communication. I often say that when I am on a submarine mission, I am invisible. From
the moment I leave shore, the days vanish from my calendar. Last year, I had 212 of these days, living in a parallel world. This also means that when you return to “the real world” you have to get up to date with everything that has happened. It is like a bomb of information that hits you out of nowhere. But we are used to it. It is a lifestyle.”
Family support
“Having a supportive family means a lot to us. This is what makes it possible for us to feel comfortable in our job and avoid loneliness. If the family is not supportive, everything becomes more difficult. If I am in a bad mood on board, everyone knows it. If I am not OK, my family will eventually sense it, and they’ll start worrying. It is like a symbiosis. It is also important that I carefully explain to them everything that is going to happen while I’m gone. Because of the absolute isolation, being a submariner is definitely more intense than being a regular seafarer.
In Portugal, you can volunteer to join a submarine, but only a few people volunteer for something they have limited knowledge about. The biggest challenge is the mental as pects. You must know what you are putting yourself through, and you have to be mentally prepared.” •
Af Hanne Baltzer
In Nuuk, the submarine crew received their visitors from the seamen’s home with great hospitality, and the hospitality was returned in equal amounts.
Ubåden tog gæstfrit imod besøgende fra sømandshjemmet i Nuuk, der gerne bød de uventede gæster velkommen til Grønland.
ombord
Livet på en ubåd er en neddykket fornøjelse
Det er langt fra hver dag, at en portugisisk ubåd anløber havnen i Nuuk. Alt personale, på nær dem der skulle passe på ubåden, blev indlogeret på Hotel SØMA. Sømandshjemmet tog sig af at levere mad fra Restaurant SØMA til mandskabet på ubåden morgen, middag og aften. Der havde sømandsmissionær Niels Chemnitz den fornøjelse at hilse på de mange søfolk, blandt andet logistikofficeren David, som han havde en længere samtale med. David kaldte dagene til søs de ”grå dage”, fordi hverdagen blot gentager sig dag efter dag på den trange plads uden vinduer, indtil de når i havn og skal indhente måneders venner- og familieliv via videosamtaler. Det er ikke altid let. Her fortæller David om livet ombord.
Harpunen fra
Portugal
”Jeg er løjtnant i den portugisiske flåde og sejler ubåden ARPAO, der betyder harpun. Det er vores første besøg i Nuuk, og det var dejligt, sømandshjemmets folk stod på havnen og bød os velkommen. Jeg kom ind i flåden i 2008 og blev uddannet officer efter fem år på flåde-
The lieutenant David and Niels, who works as missionary to seafarers, had an interesting talk about life on board a submarine.
Løjtnant David og sømandsmissionær Niels fik sig en interessant snak om at arbejde på en ubåd.
akademiet. Derefter sejlede jeg et par år, inden jeg blev opfordret til at sejle med ubåde og uddannede mig i yderligere ni måneder. Portugal er en søfartsnation. Der er mere vand end land, så vi er søfolk, og vi er vant til at være en stor gruppe af søfarende, der sejler over hele verden. Her ombord udfordrer vi hele tiden vores grænser, og i år er det så at sejle til Arktiske-områder. Det er derfor, vi er her. Indtil videre går det godt. Det er første gang, at vi er så nord på i verden. Så det er stort! Nu er vores mål at krydse Polarcirklen med support fra den danske flåde. Den vil hjælpe os med at finde vej gennem isen, selv om vi ikke er bange for isbjergene.”
Usynlig
”Jeg bliver tit spurgt om, hvordan jeg klarer at være under vandet, når der ingen vinduer er. Den mest interessante del af mit job er, at jeg i ubåden kan se alt omkring mig, men ingen ved, at jeg er her. Det er interessant, for nogle gange, når jeg ser gennem periskopet, kan jeg se fartøjer eller måske et krigsskib, men de har ingen anelse om, at jeg ser dem. Jeg kan se, hvor jeg er, fordi vi har meget elektronisk udstyr til at hjælpe os med det. Når vi er mere end 10 meter nede, er der mørkt, og da er vinduer også ligegyldige.”
Nul kommunikation
”Jeg er både ubådsofficer og sømand. Det er ganske udfordrende at være meget væk fra venner og familie. Og hvis du har børn, er det allermest udfordrende, fordi du ikke er
hjemme i lang tid. I ubådene er det værre end på et skib, fordi vi ikke har nogen kommunikation overhovedet med vores familier. Jeg plejer at sige, at når jeg er på mission med ubåden, er jeg ”usynlig”. For fra det tidspunkt, hvor vi afsejler, er dagene ikke eksisterende i min kalender. Sidste år havde jeg 212 dage af den slags. Det mest udfordrende er, at når du anløber havn, skal du opdatere dig på alt det, der er sket, mens du var væk. Det er som en bombe af information, der rammer dig på et sekund. Men vi er vant til det. Det er en form for livsstil.”
Familiens opbakning
”Det er virkelig vigtigt for os, at familien bakker os op. Da kan jeg føle mig godt tilpas i mit job og ikke alene. Hvis familien ikke bakker op, er det svært for alle. Hvis jeg er i dårligt humør ombord, vil alle opdage det. Hvis jeg ikke er okay, vil min familie finde ud af det og bekymre sig om mig. Så det er lidt som at være i en symbiose. Jeg har brug for at forklare alting meget grundigt for min familie, hvad det er, jeg er på vej til at gøre. Så det er mere intenst end en normal søfarendes situation, fordi der simpelthen ikke er nogen kommunikation mulig, når jeg er afsted.
I Portugal kan vi melde os frivilligt til at blive ubådsmatros. Men ikke mange melder sig til noget, de ikke ved, hvad er. Det vigtigste ved at arbejde i en ubåd er den psykiske del. Du er nødt til at vide, hvad du gør. Og dit sind skal være indstillet på det. Uden problemer.” •
By Hanne Baltzer
Every day is a battle
The strong, young man and aspiring seafarer takes a seat and prepares to tell his story. He wants to share his personal experience as a warning to others. Therefore, he has chosen to be anonymous, but in this article we’ll refer to him as Daniel.
The 34 years that lie behind him are a collage of letdowns, violence, 89 different places of residence, frustration, family issues, crime and alcohol – as well as dreams, and a strong will to fight for a better life. With a history of addiction to both cocaine and alcohol, Daniel is now in a constant fight to hold on to a life without substance abuse; a life he wants more than anything else in this world. He feels rootless, and his past has left a deep void within – a void that is difficult to fill with something relevant, although he constantly strives to get there. He was thirteen when he had his first glass of red wine, and he was instantly hooked. The alcohol offered him a sense of calm in the middle of the chaos that sur-
rounded him; a chaos created by adults who were either mentally unstable or addicted to alcohol or drugs themselves. “I became a puppet controlled by the power of pure addiction, and it all happened in an instant.”
Dreaming of a life at sea
Since he was fourteen, Daniel has dreamt of standing on the bridge of a ship gazing across the endless ocean which, to him, is the ultimate image of freedom and opportunity. He hopes that this vision will one day become reality, despite the challenges that come with his ADHD diagnosis and his troubled history of substance abuse that still lurks in the dark. Currently, Daniel is working towards a degree as OS, and he has just been accepted into an internship program called “get on board”. Despite the three month-engagements away from the most important thing in his life, his son, Daniel is optimistic and looks forward to building up his experience at sea.
Hver dag er en fight
Knockout
It has been a long time since Daniel last followed through on anything in his life. He hopes that this time it will be different, but he also knows that a relapse is never far away. He knows that staying sober will be a life-long struggle, and that the violent persistence of addiction never fully fades away. Four years ago, when he became a father, he thought that the joy brought by his newborn son would knock out the addiction, but even that wasn’t enough, and Daniel still struggles to forgive himself for that. It was a strong blow to his mental health, and it led him into a depression. The burdens of life only seemed to grow heavier.
“For a long time, I tried to deal with everything alone. At one point, I even owned a paving company with several employees. I enjoyed that, and it gave me a feeling of accomplishment. But it eventually went wrong”, Daniel tells. At one point my abuse got worse, and I had to use rougher
Af Hanne Baltzer
Den unge veltrænede mand og kommende søfarer sætter sig i stolen for at fortælle sin historie, fordi han ved at dele sine erfaringer vil advare andre. Derfor ønsker han at være anonym, men i artiklen hedder han Dan.
Hans 34-årige livshistorie er et galleri af svigt, nederlag, vold, bopæl 89 steder, frustrationer, far-følelser, kriminalitet, druk, drømme og en fightervilje for at få en hverdag til at fungere, som andre lever uden at tænke nærmere over. Med en baggrund som tidligere misbruger af både kokain og alkohol kæmper Dan hvert minut for et liv uden afhængighed – det liv han helst vil leve. Han føler sig rodløs og med et dybt hulrum inden i, der er svært at fylde ud med noget relevant, selvom han arbejder på sagen. Han var 13 år, da han tog det første glas rødvin, og blev afhængig næsten med det samme. Det efterlod nemlig ro i hans
krop midt i et kaos med voksne, der var psykisk syge eller på narko og alt for meget alkohol. ”Jeg blev en marionetdukke, jeg ikke kunne styre. Afhængigheden tog magten i løbet af nul tid.”
Drømmen til søs
Siden han var 14 år, har Dan drømt om at stå på broen en dag som styrmand og kigge ud over det grænseløse hav, som i hans optik åbner muligheder for at forfølge sine drømme. Han håber, at det bliver muligt, selv om han både er udfordret af sin ADHD (Attention Deficit/hyperactivity Disorder) og års afhængighed, der stadig i ny og næ truer med at tage magten. Netop nu er han hyret ind til projektet ”Kom med ombord”, hvilket han venter sig meget af. Tre måneders hyre ad gangen er dog lang tid at være væk fra det bedste, han har i sit liv – en lille søn med masser af gåpåmod.
Knockout
Det er længe siden, han har fuldført noget. Han håber, det lykkes, men han ved, at tilbagefald er en realistisk modstander. Han har en formodning om, at det er en livslang kamp, for afhængigheden er voldsom, vedholdende og tilbagevendende. Da han blev far for fire år siden, troede han, at sønnen kunne knockoute misbruget, for det var fantastisk at blive far. Men det var ikke nok, hvilket han har svært ved at tilgive sig selv for. Han fik da også både et knæk på psyken og en fødselsdepression.
”Jeg prøvede at klare mig selv i lang tid. På et tidspunkt havde jeg også et brolæggerfirma med ansatte. Det kunne jeg lide, for det var en god fornemmelse, at noget kunne lykkes. Men så gik det alligevel ikke,” siger Dan. På et tidspunkt accelererede misbruget, og mere grove metoder måtte til for at få midler til sprut og stoffer. Han mener
methods to get money for liquor and drugs. According to himself, it is a miracle that his neither dead nor in prison at this moment.
An empty void
Dan is not afraid to speak of his emotions: I have this empty void inside my body. There are still only a few things that can fill it, and it is neither women, power, liquor or drugs. At one point, I no longer felt anything, and I felt like I had nothing to give to this world. I am the kind of person who prefers to do things with passion. When I went to rehab, I tried to work out, take walks in the fresh air, meditate, and learn how to get back in touch with my emotions. But none of it was working, and I fell in again. The abuse
regained control of me before I even realized it. Then, later on, I returned to rehab. This time, the symptoms got so bad that I couldn’t sleep, but I knew that I didn’t want to be a slave to my addiction. I wanted to take responsibility. I didn’t want to waste my life. I made it through while following the advice provided by Alcoholics Anonymous. They actually listened to me, which was a completely new experience. Their philosophy is to take one day at the time – sometimes even just one hour, or merely a second, at the time. They teach you to become aware of what you do and how you relax and teach your brain to shift focus toward a better and more constructive content in life.
“I don’t underestimate the current threat of a relapse. Addiction is a violent and persistent enemy. You can’t allow it to have a say in your life. Not at all. When I gave in to it, I ended up on the locked ward. I was close to dying, fighting demons I couldn’t control. I never want to get near to such dark
place in my life ever again. It was nothing but darkness, and it is the closet you’ll get to Hell on earth.” Daniel looks up, and his voice is marked by equal amounts of pain and realism. He fought his way through.
“I am proud of who I am today, because I’m doing something that I’ve dreamed of for a long time. And I really cherish the relationships I’ve found here at the maritime college. It feels almost unreal because I’ve never had friends like this before. It gives a strong sense of safety. At the same time, I know that my addiction hasn’t put down its gloves. It still looks for any chance to knock me over. Therefore, I must be ready and alert at all times. I can never convince myself that it is gone. I can’t feed it or nourish it in any way. I have to acknowledge that I am a child who has been hurt. I am starting to realize this, and that is also why I’ve been avoiding mirrors for a long time. I haven’t been able to look myself in the eye. But still, every day, every second, is a step forward to a new future.” •
selv, det er et mirakel, at han ikke er at finde hverken død eller i fængsel.
Hulrum
Dan er ikke bange for at sætte ord på følelser:
”Jeg har et hulrum i kroppen. Der er stadig ikke meget, der kan fylde det ud. I hvert fald ikke hverken kvinder, magt, stoffer eller sprut. Jeg kunne ikke mærke noget og synes ikke, jeg kunne bidrage med noget som helst til den her verden. Jeg vil helst gøre noget helhjertet. Da jeg kom i afrusning, prøvede jeg at træne, gå ture i frisk luft, meditere og lærte noget om, hvordan jeg kunne mærke mig selv. Jeg faldt i igen. Misbruget stak af, før jeg så mig om. Så kom jeg igen til afrusningen og fik masser af abstinenser, kunne ikke sove, men ville for alt i verden ikke være afhængig af afhængigheden. Jeg ville gerne
være den, der tog ansvar. Jeg ville ikke spilde mit liv. Jeg gennemførte samtidig med, at jeg fulgte råd fra organisationen Anonyme Alkoholikere (AA). De lyttede også til mig.”
Det var nyt, at nogle lyttede. AA slår på, at man skal tage en dag ad gangen. Nogle gange en time ad gangen. Andre gange et sekund ad gangen. At være opmærksom på, hvad man gør, hvordan man slapper af og træner hjernen til at flytte fokus til et bedre livsindhold.
”Jeg ignorerer ikke, at afhængigheden er en voldsom fjende. Der er ikke plads til at give spillerum. Slet ikke. Da jeg gav los, endte jeg på den lukkede psykiatriske afdeling og var tæt på at dø og i dybt mørke med plads til dæmoner, jeg ikke kunne styre. Så ondt psykisk vil jeg ikke have igen. Det var helt mørkt og det tætteste, man kommer på helvede på jord.” Dan kigger op
med både smerte og realisme i blikket. Han kæmpede sig igennem.
”Jeg er stolt af mig selv nu, fordi jeg er i gang med noget, jeg har drømt om længe. Og jeg er så glad for de relationer, jeg har fået her på uddannelsen. Det føles ret uvirkeligt, for jeg har aldrig før prøvet at have kammerater på den måde. Det er der tryghed i. Samtidig ved jeg, at min afhængighed har boksehandsker på og er klar til kamp. Derfor skal jeg hele tiden være skarp i nuet. Jeg må aldrig nogensinde tro, at den er væk. Jeg vil ikke fodre den. Samtidig må jeg erkende, at jeg er det sårede barn. Det er ved at gå op for mig, og derfor har jeg også undgået spejle i lang tid. Jeg kunne ikke overskue at se mig selv i øjnene. Alligevel er hvert skridt, hvert sekund et step frem mod en bedre hverdag.” •
A role model in a dynamic maritime environment
By Hanne Baltzer
Marstal School of Navigation, located at the island of Aeroe in southern Denmark, offers its students a long range of educations along with a strong community. The school’s maritime high school program counts 130 students spread out across three yeargroups. After their graduation, half of them will stay and move on to the School of Navigation which has room for 125 students.
The school principal, Helle Bak Poulsen, comes from a maritime background herself. She is a passionate leader, and when it comes to improving and modernizing the school she is not lacking ideas and visions. Most recently, she has started a new online initiative in cooperation with the Maritime Center in Nuuk, where students from Greenland can take part in the education as home trade master.
On a daily basis, Helle works alongside Helen Christensen who is responsible for the general wellbeing of the students living on campus. Through a direct and caring approach to the young people, Helen helps them with all types of challenges and tasks, whether personal and practical.
“We recruit many of our students from the boarding schools around the country, and many choose us because their friends and acquaintances recommend our programs. Currently, 63 students live on campus. All meals are served in the main building right next to the dorms, and our
first-year students are guaranteed a spot in the dorms, where they can stay free of cost as long as they are below eighteen.
Freedom and responsibility
At the school’s open events, Helle and Helen encounter the future students for the first time.
“My goal is always to take their individual needs into account, but of course that requires some information. Some of our rooms are shared by two students which can sometimes be a challenge, especially if one of the students is mentally vulnerable,” Helen says.
When the students are eighteen, she must have their written consent before she can contact their parents. Mostly, she has a positive cooperation with the parents: “I am also here to support the students when they receive a difficult message. The parents call me first so I can be present when their child receives the call. It can be tough. It is always difficult to see the students go through hardships. I can sense when they are truly down or sick, and when they are merely trying to cut a morning lecture. I am not here to be their alarm clock, which I make very clear from the beginning. I put actions behind my words, and they know it.”
A holistic approach
At Aeroe, education and everyday life goes hand in hand. We strive for a strong commu-
nity defined by respect and discipline in a positive and caring environment. Our students are also a natural and active part of the local community.
“We are all here to support the young people, including our career advisors. We all cooperate to ensure a safe and positive environment where everyone feels welcome. Every student is here to learn how to be part of a professional community. Many of our students have never been away from home before, so we try to give them the tools they need to step into a cooperation and a fellowship at sea. We teach them how to be reliable adults,” Helle Bak Poulsen says.
Not long ago, the students attended a course titled “Power and boundaries”. Here, it became clear that it wasn’t just the women, but also some of the young men, who felt like their personal boundaries were sometimes violated. “We teach our students to define their own personal boundaries and find confidence in their professional skills. This ability is a necessity in all professional environments,” the principal says. She also finds it important that former students can always call the school: “Even after their graduation, our students can always call us, and some do. It’s always good to get a status – to hear where they are currently working and how they are holding up,” Helle Bak Poulsen says. •
Student Thora Lamberth has created a green and cozy atmosphere in her dorm room. / Thora Clausen Lamberth har indrettet sig grønt og hyggeligt på 4. maj kollegiet.
Helen Christensen (right) helps the students navigate through everyday life./ Skolemor Helen Christensen (th) hjælper med at navigere i hverdagen.
Et aktivt søfartsmiljø med en skolemor
Marstal Navigationsskole på Ærø er en campus med flere uddannelser, kollegie og fællesskab. På HF-søfart går der 130 elever fordelt på tre årgange. 50 procent af dem fortsætter på navigationsskolen, hvor der går 125 studerende.
Helle Bak Poulsen er rektor for Marstal Navigationsskole. Hun er selv skibsuddannet og har en stor passion for stedet med mange ideer til at ændre, forny og modernisere. Som noget ekstraordinært har hun indledt et samarbejde med Grønlands maritime center i Nuuk, hvor eleverne deroppe deltager i online undervisning til kystskipper.
Dagligt samarbejder hun med skolemor Helen Christensen, som gennem en kontant og varm tilgang til de HF-søfartselever, der bor på Navigationsskolens skolehjem, 4. maj kollegiet, holder opsyn og orden. Helen hjælper de unge med forskelligt alt afhængig af, hvad de har brug for input og hjælp til.
”Vi rekrutterer ofte elever fra efterskolerne eller eleverne kommer her, fordi andre anbefaler skolen. 63 elever bor lige nu på skolehjemmet og spiser på navigationsskolen, der ligger ved siden af. 1. års eleverne er garanteret en plads på kollegiet, og frem til de er 18 år, er det gratis at bo her.”
Pjat eller på sin plads
Til åbent hus-arrangementer møder rektor og skolemor eleverne for første gang.
”Jeg vil gerne tage hensyn til den enkelte, men det fordrer, at jeg får noget at vide om vedkommende. Nogle af værelserne på kollegiet bor der to på, hvilket kan være en udfordring, hvis den unge for eksempel har ADHD (Attention Deficit/hyperactivity Disorder) eller lignende,” siger Helen Christensen.
Efter at de unge er fyldt 18, skal hun have deres samtykke, hvis hun vil kontakte forældrene. Hun har ofte en god forældrekontakt: ”Jeg er her også, når de unge får en alvorlig besked. Da ringer forældrene til mig først. Jeg opsøger den unge og er der, når de får opringningen. Det kan være barsk. Det er det også, når de virkelig har det dårligt. Jeg har en god fornemmelse af, hvornår de er syge, og hvornår det er pjat. Jeg vil ikke være deres vækkeur, hvilket de får at vide efter, at jeg har fået dem op nogle gange. Jeg er konsekvent, og det ved de.”
Tværfaglig indsats
Uddannelse og skolehjem hænger sammen på Ærø. Der skulle gerne være sammenhold og respekt, pligter og en positiv omgangsto-
At Marstal school of Navigation, the students use a large simulator to practice safety procedures at sea. From the control room, the teacher plans a route containing various obstacles that the students must avoid. The simulator brings the challenges on the bridge alive, and the learning curve is steep. /
ne. Eleverne er også en naturlig og aktiv del af lokalsamfundet.
”Der er mange omkring de unge, fx også studievejledere. Vi samarbejder på tværs for at give dem trygge rammer at være i, for man skal have lov til at være den, man er. Her på navigationsskolen skal man lære at begå sig i et fællesskab. For nogle af eleverne er det første gang, de er væk hjemmefra. Derfor forbereder vi dem på, hvordan man kan begå sig i et fællesskab ombord. Vi har også en opdragelsesfunktion,” mener Helle Bak Poulsen.
For ikke så længe siden havde eleverne et undervisningsforløb ”Magt og grænser”. Der viste det sig, at det ikke kun var kvinderne, men også nogle af de unge mænd der var udfordret og følte deres grænser overskredet af og til. ”Vi lærer eleverne at sætte grænser og stå fast på deres faglighed, for i ethvert arbejdsforhold skal der sættes grænser,” mener rektor. For hende er det vigtigt, at der altid er en åben linje til navigationsskolen: ”De kan til enhver tid ringe, hvilket nogle benytter sig af. Det er godt at høre fra dem. Senere er det også hyggeligt at høre, hvor de arbejder, og hvordan de har det,” siger rektor. •
På Marstal Navigationsskole trænes eleverne i en stor simulator, for i søfart er sikkerhed i højsædet. Læreren sidder ude bagved og lægger en rute med forhindringer, som eleverne inde i den store simulator skal kunne styre uden om. Broen kan være udfordret, og det er der meget læring i.
Contact our Missionary to Seafarers
We would like to meet you!
The Danish Mission to Seafarers talks to seafarers, fishers and others with a maritime connection. Every day, we experience the positive outcome of an open dialogue between people. Maybe a talk about life at sea. Always feel free to contact us! •
Invitation
Kontakt sømandsmissionæren
Vi vil gerne møde dig
Sømandsmissionens medarbejdere taler med søfolk, fiskere og andre, der færdes på havnen. Det er vores erfaring, at dialog mellem folk om det, der fylder lige nu, kan give dagen ny kulør. Kontakt os endelig. •
