Sea Ministry Helping Seafarers

30 May 2008

Volunteer ship visitors for the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) from all over the West of England and Wales met and shared their stories and thoughts about their work with seafarers. The training day for volunteers was held at Llantarnam Abbey in South Wales.

These events are held regularly so that AOS can support its volunteers and keep them up to date with pressing welfare and campaigning issues so that the message and work AOS does is consistent throughout Great Britain.

The ship visitors told how as AOS volunteers they visit nearly 200 ships each month offering both welfare and faith support to thousands of seafarers.  One story that was brought up was from a Russian seafarer who had not seen his family for nine months, he was finally going to be travelling home and his local AOS team, once he was in port, enabled him to contact his family to say when he would be arriving home; and also arranged for him to buy small gifts for his children at the local shops.  

This is a great example of what our AOS Chaplains do best; they listen, empathise and act. Apostleship of the Sea is the frontline service for the care of seafarers visiting our shores. We provide practical and pastoral help and provide solidarity and a hand of friendship to all seafarers. We also work and campaign to educate the governments and the public on issues facing seafarers on a daily basis. We say “No” to exploitation, and unsafe work practices. We say “Yes” to human rights and fair trade and working conditions.  AOS port chaplains and ship visitors visit 12,000 ships every year, in 57 ports around Great Britain, and we provide ecumenical seafarer’s centres where facilities are on hand for seafarers to rest, relax, communicate with their families and socialise. However we need your support to keep our work going.

Sheila Bailey from the AOS told cliftondiocese.com, “The work of the AOS throughout Great Britain is only possible thanks to the support of the Catholic community and Catholic parishes, particularly on Sea Sunday, which this year takes place on Sunday 13 July. We rely on your kindness and generosity to continue our ministry, so please remember us.”

The AOS, is an agency of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of England & Wales and Scotland. It is also an independent charity wholly reliant on voluntary donations to continue its ministry.

Ninety percent of world trade is carried by ship, and some 100,000 seafarers visit British ports each year. They are commonly away from home for nine to 12 months at a time, suffering loneliness, depression and even exploitation. They also have to work in gruelling and often dangerous conditions. AOS chaplains and ship visitors welcome seafarers to our shores - regardless of their colour, race or creed (if any) and provide them with pastoral and practical assistance. They recognise them as brothers with an intrinsic human dignity which can be overlooked in the modern globalised maritime industry.