Sweet surrender: Piracy special report

Flying Angel News

News from The Mission to Seafarers | Autumn 2012 | Issue 6

• A bill of rights for seafarers

• Piracy: A voice for the voiceless

• Falmouth cares for fire survivors

• Sea Sunday raises £30,000

• Ferry disaster in Hong Kong kills 38

• The 12 Gifts of Christmas

IN THIS

ISSUE

President: HRH The Princess RoyalChairman: Robert Woods CBE Acting Secretary General: Martin Sandford

St Michael Paternoster Royal, College Hill, London EC4R 2RL

Tel: +44 (0)20 7248 5202 Fax: +44 (0)20 7248 4761

Email: fan@missiontoseafarers.org Website: www.missiontoseafarers.org

Cover photo: Reuters

Founded in 1856 and entirely funded by voluntary donations, the Mission to Seafarers offers emergency assistance, practical support, and a friendly welcome to crews visiting 250 ports around the world.

Whether caring for victims of piracy or providing a lifeline to those stranded in foreign ports, we are there for the globe’s 1.3 million

merchant seafarers of all ranks, nationalities and beliefs.

Flying Angel News is published by The Mission to Seafarers

In the UK, The Mission to Seafarers is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, number: 6220240, registered charity no: 1123613. The Mission to Seafarers Scotland Limited is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland, number: 389483, registered charity in

Scotland: SCO41938. Registered office: 109 Avalon Gardens, Linlithgow Bridge, Linlithgow, West Lothian, EH49 7PL.

11th December A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols Service Will be held at St Michael Paternoster Royal, 6.00pm to 7.00pm followed by a reception at the Worshipful Company of Skinners.

24th October The Bournemouth Committee Bridge DriveFor more information contact Trevor Clements, telephone 01202 519934 or email basso@btinternet.com.

8th November The London Flying Angel Committee November LunchOn the HQS Wellington, Victoria Embankment, LondonWC2R 2PN. 12 noon onwards.For more info and to book, contact Maureen Hockliffe on 01474 323768 – hockliffe@btopenworld.com.

13th November The Bournemouth Committee Christmas Fayre At the Ocean View Hotel, East Cliff, Bournemouth 10.00 am – 12 noon. For more info, contact Trevor Clements on 01202 519934 or email basso@btinternet.com.

28th April 2013 The Flying Angel Ride 2013We are looking forward to the next Flying Angel Ride in 2013. Full details will be published in the next edition of FAN. If you would like to cycle with us and raise vital funds for seafarers do let us know.For further information please email Katherine Wylie on Katherine.Wylie@missiontoseafarers.org.

For more info about any of these events, contact uson 020 7248 5202 or at info@missiontoseafarers.org.

Diary dates

Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols ServiceWe would be delighted if you would join us at the start of the Christmas season by attending our popular carol service at St Michael Paternoster Royal Church in London.

The service will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies at the lovely Skinners’ Hall, home of one of the ‘great 12’ livery companies, which is a short walk from St Michael’s. The service will be attended by our President, HRH The Princess Royal.

Enjoy readings from our VIP guests – who will include Melvyn Bragg, Mark Hart, Dr Lucy Bruce and Lord West. (To be confirmed.)

Proceeds from the service will help us provide a warm welcome to seafarers in ports worldwide who are far from home on Christmas day.

Tickets are priced at £27.50. To find out more, contact Katherine Wylie on 020 7246 2939 or by email to Katherine.Wylie@missiontoseafarers.org.

A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols

11th December

Contents

In this issue...A bill of rights for seafarersThe Maritime Labour Convention has been ratified by over 30 countries worldwide and will become part of international law in August 2013.

Piracy special reportBen Bailey, Public Affairs Officer at The Mission to Seafarers, looks at the key issues worldwide and outlines how we are helping support those who are victims of piracy.

Falmouth cares for fire survivorsA devastating explosion on board the MSC Flaminia claimed the lives of two seafarers. Penny Phillips reports.

Fundraising news 8

Ports around the world 10

Interview with... 13

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3

6

www.missiontoseafarers.org 0300 555 1505

The 12 Gifts of ChristmasChristmas can be a very lonely time for seafarers around the world. Read about our new Christmas campaigns for 2012.

12

Martin Sandford

Acting Secretary General

From the

Dear Friends,Welcome to the autumn issue of Flying Angel News.

As Acting Secretary General, I would like to start by thank-ing so many of you for your messages of condolence and support after the tragic death of our Secretary General, the Revd Tom Heffer. I am pleased to be able to report that the Beyond the Next Horizon Fund, created in memory of Tom and of his pioneering work in the field of seafarers’ welfare, has so far raised over £22,300. This money will be used to help us take forward Tom’s vision of a dynamic and responsive Mission which is there for seafarers when they need us most.

As you read this issue of Flying Angel News, I hope you will be inspired by the work of our chaplains around the world. We have recently published our Review of the Year 2011, which outlines our key successes and thanks our valued supporters. In this edition of FAN we carry on the theme of thanksgiving, and have printed items of news about the good work you are all doing around the country and indeed the world. You can request a copy of the Review by email or telephone at the Mission headquarters in London.

Since our last issue there has been a major breakthrough in international legislation which enshrines the welfare rights of seafarers. The Mission played a significant role in the creation of the Maritime Labour Convention, which will be a huge step forward for seafarers when it enters into force next year.

Our fundraising teams have also been busy, cycling from London to Paris, collecting at the National Maritime Mu-seum and hosting summer garden parties. This dedicated effort by our supporters is vital if the Mission is to continue its good work.

With the nights firmly closing in, our thoughts naturally turn to comforting thoughts of home. It is right, therefore, to spare a thought for those men and women for whom this autumn season will be spent enduring the harshness of Mother Nature as they sail the seven seas. But because of your marvellous support, The Mission is able to be there for crews no matter what circumstances or difficulties they face.

As this is the last FAN of the year, may I take this oppor-tunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and I look forward to welcoming many of you to our Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols at St Michael’s on December 11th.

With best wishes,

Martin Sandford Acting Secretary General

Mission newsWelcome to hell:

2 Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Autumn 2012 | Issue 6

As an international provider of welfare services to crews of both the merchant and cruise fleet, The Mission to Seafarers welcomed the Dispatches

programme Cruises Undercover - The Truth Below Deck, which was shown on 1st October. One member of staff on the Celebrity Eclipse cruise liner, which was the subject of a five week undercover investigation, described conditions as like being ‘in hell’.

The Dispatches programme has helpfully highlighted the issues many seafarers and on board cruise staff face when working in the maritime industry. Long periods away from home, no opportunities to go ashore, contractual disputes and the payment of bribes in order to secure work have long been issues which The Mission to Seafarers has campaigned on.

To read more, please go to our news section on our website:Http://www.missiontoseafarers.org/media-centre/news/159/welcome-to-

hell-the-mts-welcomes-dispatches-investigation-into-poor-conditions-at-sea

Terry Waite joins the Mission on World Maritime Day

At our Annual Service for Seafarers (27th September), former hostage

Mr Terry Waite spoke of the importance of seafarer welfare agencies. He said: “It is not what you say to seafarers, but it is your presence that counts. Chaplains are not in ports to force people to believe what they do not believe. They are there for crews of all ranks who frequently experience loneliness and isolation.”

As well as celebrating the importance of shipping, the service provides an opportunity for retiring chaplains to be recognised for their work. This year, the Revd Joe Morgan and his wife Linda were recognised for 30 years in maritime ministry in South Wales.

Beyond the Next Horizon: The Tom Heffer Memorial FundYou can make a donation to the Beyond the Next Horizon Fund online at www.justgiving.com/beyond-the-next-horizon. Or cheques marked ‘Beyond the Next Horizon Fund’ can be sent to: The Mission to Seafarers, FREEPOST KE5265, London EC4B 4EP.

The Maritime Labour Convention will go some way to helping seafarers and staff on cruise ships. The Mission to Seafarers is preparing for an increase in the number of seafarers willing to complain about malpractice and bad treatment.

The Mission to Seafarers welcomes Dispatches investigation

A bill of rights for seafarers: The Maritime Labour Convention

3

Review of the Year 2011A message from our Chairman Robert Woods CBE

I would like to thank all our supporters at The

Mission to Seafarers for your cont inuing generosity. Thanks to your dedicated support, the Mission can continue to provide its unique mix of practical support and human kindness in the places where it is vitally needed.

From connecting a seafarer with his family thousands of miles away by telephone or internet, to providing post-trauma counselling following a pirate attack, the Mission is there.

To order your copy of the Review of the Year 2011, please email info@missiontoseafarers.org or telephone 020 7248 5202.

The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), sometimes referred to as the ‘seafarers’

bill of rights,’ will come into effect next year on 20 August 2013. This marks a significant step forward in the employment and welfare rights of the world’s seafarers, reports the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

30 countries, representing 33 per cent of the world’s gross shipping tonnage, were needed as signatories to the Convention before it could enter into force. Liberia became the first state to sign up, followed by the Marshall Islands and the Bahamas. After a rush to be in the first wave of signatories, it seemed the Convention would take longer than thought to become a reality.

For the first 6 months of this year, the total number of countries who had passed the legislation into their national law stood at 28. Then, as the summer months passed, a flurry of signatories presented their instruments of ratification to the ILO. In July, Cyprus became the 29th signatory to the Convention and then in mid-August, the governments of the Philippines and Russia tipped the balance and brought the first global standard of employment for seafarers into being.

The Maritime Labour Convention establishes minimum requirements for almost all aspects of working conditions for seafarers. The Convention sets out conditions for employment, hours of work and rest, accommodation, recreational facilities,

food and catering, health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection.

The Revd Canon Ken Peters, Director of Justice and Welfare at The Mission to Seafarers, joined Unions and other organisations in welcoming the news, but was quick to point out that there will be a 12-month adjustment period to enable those countries that haven’t ratified the Convention to get their houses in order.

“This Convention has been a long time in the making, and it’s entry into force means that an equal system of justice for everyone – from the first-time seafarer to the experienced shipowner – is in place for the very first time.

But we must not become complacent. Today, the countdown begins for shipowners and flag states so that seafarers can enjoy the rights which have been enshrined in international law for them.” he said.

Canon Peters, who represents seafarers’ missions at the IMO and ILO, represented the views of seafarers and chaplains at the MLC meetings which were held in Geneva, Switzerland. He is also qualified in training trainers of the MLC and regularly works with flag states to make sure they are aware of their obligations when it comes to implementing the legislation. “The entry into force of the Maritime Labour Convention is a truly historic moment. The basic principles of employment, which many people take for granted have, at long last, been extended to seafarers.”

Reports

London to Paris bike ride

Our wonderful supporters at V.Ships took on the challenge of a lifetime and cycled from Crystal Palace in London, to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

As well as getting lost along the way and putting up with tempera-tures close to 40 degrees, they cycled up to 80 miles each day and raised an amazing £3,500 for The Mission to Seafarers. A really big thank you to Terje Lovoll, Faye Carson, James Muir, Mark Myles and Maciek Bejm for their outstanding work!

If you and your colleagues would like to take part in 2013’s London to Paris bike ride then please get in touch with Katherine on 020 7246 2939 or email Katherine.Wylie@missiontoseafarers.org

Our bike ride to Paris, France raised an amazing £3,500 for The Mission to Seafarers.

www.missiontoseafarers.org @flyingangelnews www.facebook.com/themissiontoseafarers0300 555 1505

Our summer appeal featured the story of Daniston, an Indian seafarer who has endured over two years of captivity at

the hands of Somali pirates. He and his crew of 15 were taken hostage in September 2010, and while 8 men were released in 2011 after negotiations with the shipping company, Danistan and 6 others remain in captivity.

At the time of writing, Daniston is being held somewhere in Somalia; however, sources in London have told me that there are several attempts to secure a ransom for him and the rest of the Asphalt Venture crew who have been left behind.

This ordeal is especially difficult for Daniston’s mother, father, brother and sister, who live in a small village in South India. Our chaplain in Tuticorin, the Revd Simon Dharmaraj, has been making regular visits and telephone calls to the family to support them throughout Danistan’s time in captivity. They have only been able to speak to their son occasionally, and he has reported being beaten by his captors.

In January 2011, the family had not heard from Daniston in some weeks, and a local rally was held to support the 7 remaining hostages, attracting support from almost 1,000 people, including the bishop, who called for the release of the men and encouraged the assembled crowd to “raise a voice for

the voiceless”. Afterwards, Simon and the captives’ relatives delivered a petition to the local government calling for support in urging the state and central governments to negotiate the release of their loved ones.

In July, after 10 months of silence, Daniston phoned his family and asked them for help to put pressure on the shipping company to negotiate with the pirates. Whilst politicians and lawyers try to agree on the right course of action, our chaplain is giving pastoral support, counselling, advice and acting as a go-between between the shipping company and the family. In August 2011, Simon held a special prayer service at the Mission’s seafarers’ centre, when Daniston’s family and close friends to prayed for his release.

Progress in the fight against piracyThe summer months usually bring some welcome relief to seafarers. The monsoon season makes it difficult for the pirates to operate their dhows and skiffs against the rough seas and gales which seasonally blow through the region. But as the clouds break and the warmer weather arrives, the pirates will once again take to the water. Whilst it is almost certain that merchant ships will be attacked in the coming months, there

Piracy: A voice for the voicelessAs a report highlights the increasingly brutal treatment of seafarers captured by pirates off the coast of Somalia, Ben Bailey looks at the ways in which the Mission has been helping those affected.

4 Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Autumn 2012 | Issue 6

is much to suggest that the anti-piracy patrols and the passive defence measures deployed by seafarers themselves are beginning to work.

For the first few months of this year, the number of successful attacks dropped by more than 50 per cent. This has been attributed to better co-ordination by naval forces and developments in their tactics, such as the recent attack by EU NAVFOR on pirate bases on the Somali coastline.

Post-traumatic stress Despite the drop in pirate successes, evidence from The Human Cost of Piracy Report paints a depressing picture of the violence and torture going on. In 2011, 25 hostages died whilst in the hands of pirates. Eight were murdered by their captors, and a further 8 died because of disease or malnutrition. In total, 1,206 people were taken by pirate gangs.

“There were times when they would put all of us in chains and we were tied to the deck,” one seafarer reported. “The pirates would empty bottles filled with urine over us and then cover us in flour. We had to stay like this for 24 hours.”

The report says that all seafarers have been subjected to psychological abuse. This echoes the stories of our chaplains

who have heard how pirates forced crews to strip naked and be locked in a freezer, or who have been traumatised by attempts to break the morale of the crew with the intention of turning them against one another.

This is why our chaplains, working across the Indian Ocean and beyond, are trained to spot the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suggest coping strategies until a seafarer is able to access professional assistance in their home country.

A forgotten workforceAs we prepare to celebrate Christmas with our families, it is right that we spare a thought for all those who have to travel through these dangerous waters and, increasingly, the waters off the coast of Nigeria, where the problem of piracy is growing. Much of our fuel and many of our seasonal goods are brought through the High Risk Area by terrified seafarers, wondering if this voyage will be their last.

With your support, The Mission to Seafarers can continue to help the families of those held hostage and be there waiting on the dockside when they are released.

Piracy: A voice for the voicelessAs a report highlights the increasingly brutal treatment of seafarers captured by pirates off the coast of Somalia, Ben Bailey looks at the ways in which the Mission has been helping those affected.

Thanks to the generosity and commitment of our supporters, the Mission is still ministering to seafarers experiencing the difficulties of life at sea.

5 www.missiontoseafarers.org @flyingangelnews www.facebook.com/themissiontoseafarers0300 555 1505

The wind had freshened in the afternoon of Wednesday July 18th, but by 21.00 hours the pink strands in the Cornish summer sky heralded calm seas for the survivors of the

MSC Flaminia as they made their way to the safety of the Port of Falmouth and into the care of The Mission to Seafarers’ volunteers waiting for them.

The two-storey building of A&P Falmouth, the dockyard authority which runs the Falmouth ship repair yard, had been turned into an emergency control centre and reception area for the 18 seafarers and two passengers who had been on board the MSC Flaminia when it suffered a sudden and devastating explosion, 1,000 miles off the coast of Cornwall. The training room became a restaurant; the boardroom a doctor’s examination room; reception was where Immigration would stamp the crews’ passports, and the Directors’ offices were turned into police interview rooms. The Mission’s Flying Angel Centre was to be the final and most welcoming area that the seafarers would see at the end of the lengthy but necessary formalities.

The DS Crown, a tanker, now in Falmouth Bay, had rescued the survivors from the MSC Flaminia, and it was to this vessel that the Mission’s launch set sail with Fr Jon Bielawski, the local Roman Catholic priest, on the sombre journey to bless the ship, conduct a blessing for the dead and finally bring the body of the Polish chief officer ashore. He had been fatally injured, while 3 other crew members suffered serious burns, and one was still listed as missing.

The launch then began to bring the crew ashore. The first we saw in the dim evening light was a string of people walking slowly

and quietly towards us. As they approached, we stepped forward to shake each of their hands and welcome them. Their faces showed the strain of what they had been through.

The emergency team of 6 volunteers was made up of the Revd Jon Robertshaw, Jane McLennan, Graham Hall, Penny Phillips, Father Jon Bielawski and MtS port chaplain the Revd Mark Mesley. Between us, we had 160 years’ experience of the sea, shipping and seafarers’ welfare.

The evening was non-stop, with volunteers welcoming the crew, serving them food and drinks, showing them to changing rooms, escorting them to the doctor and ensuring a smooth flow through all the various processes. At all times, the crew were with someone. There was a smile for everyone, and words of encouragement and assurance; kindnesses were expressed throughout the evening to strangers who soon became friends. Jon held the hand of one Filipino seafarer whilst they jointly said a prayer.

After having all they could eat, the survivors were shown to a row of large, black holdalls which contained new clothes, shoes and toiletries, all personally labelled (sourcing a pair of size 15 shoes had been a challenge). All the crew were keen to remove and leave behind their old clothes, their last material reminder of the horror that they had witnessed.

A row of chairs lined up outside the boardroom as each seafarer waited to see a doctor. We were very grateful to a local GP, Dr Rob Jones, who offered his services, and jovially waved in each seafarer one at a time for examination.

The next stage was a visit to the immigration officer. Trevor Brooks arrived late into the evening and found his makeshift office

A devastating explosion in July on board the MSC Flaminia claimed the lives of two seafarers and injured three more. Penny Phillips, emergency co-ordinator for the Mission in Falmouth, describes how the local branch was able to support the men after their ordeal.

Falmouth cares for fire survivors

6 Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Autumn 2012 | Issue 6

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ready and waiting. The light touch and humour of all involved made the evening a lot more bearable for the survivors and once the police interviews were out of the way, the seafarers were taken to the Flying Angel Centre where they started to relax for the first time.

The sweet scent of the skyscraper lilies and sweet peas in the seafarers’ garden drifted into the centre, and a young German officer took photographs of the flowers. All 4 Mission phone boxes were in use, with crew ringing families in the Philippines, Poland and Germany. The Mission had provided each seafarer with two MtS telephone cards, which for Filipino crew meant 140 minutes of conversation with family.

It would have seemed like any other night in the centre to the untrained eye; seafarers with bent heads spending some quiet time in the Mission chapel, others using the table football game or strumming a guitar, and the Mission cat winding her way in and out of legs and bags. We got a shout from Rob Churcher, the ship agent, at 3.50am to say that the men could start boarding the coach to Heathrow, where they were due to stay the night.

Before he left, the immigration officer Trevor Brooks sought me out. He said he was totally overwhelmed with the level of compassion and care the Mission had shown the crew, adding: “I have never met such care for strangers.”

Dawn began to break, and we said our farewells to the men as they boarded the coach. The German captain was the last to leave. He had one foot on board the coach when he stopped, turned around and walked back towards the row of weary volunteers standing on the pavement. He shook our hands individually with

Falmouth cares for fire survivors

Photos: Clockwise from top to bottom. Support bags are filled and food prepared to welcome the crew of the Flaminia; The chaplaincy team at Falmouth; Sarah Newton, MP for Truro & Falmouth.

Feature

7www.missiontoseafarers.org @flyingangelnews www.facebook.com/themissiontoseafarers0300 555 1505

“Falmouth should be very proud of the work of The Mission to Seafarers, staffed by local volunteers who work tirelessly on behalf of the sailors from around the world who pass through our port. The reception of the Flaminia crew members illustrates what a difference this work can make.” Sarah Newton, MP for Truro & Falmouth

a firmness that portrayed much more than a handshake – it was the expression of the words that he was unable to utter.

The ship agent, Rob Churcher, said that the enormity of the events and what the Mission meant to seafarers had only struck him when he got home that night. He had said to his wife: “As the bus moved off, the seafarers waved to the Mission volunteers in a spontaneous show of appreciation – it was an amazing and moving thing to see and reminded me of children waving as they left their parents to go on a long trip. I hadn’t realised until that night just how important the work of The Mission to Seafarers is.”

The crew wanted to sign our visitors’ book and the comments

they have left were commendation enough for us. The messages are very personal, but I would like to share one written by a survivor who had been a paying passenger, an Irishman now living in Phoenix, Arizona. He wrote, just two words, in large capital letters: BLOODY MARVELLOUS!

I would like to thank everyone who supported the Mission’s emergency team that night, especially A&P Falmouth for allowing us to use rooms in their building. We are extremely fortunate to have a very close-knit marine community in Falmouth which is always ready to step up and help others in times of need. God willing, we will continue to be there for crews when they need us most.

Sea Sunday was a huge success this year, and everyone loved the theme of ‘message in bottle’.

We have received some warming and heart felt messages from people across the UK to seafarers around the world. We also received some fantastic artwork from Sunday schools which we will be passing to centres in the UK.

Every year we ask churches around the UK to get involved and give thanks to the seafarers who ensure we have all the items and food that we want. This year over 200 churches took part in July and to date has raised over £30,000. If you took part and have any pictures you would like to share please do email them to Nicola.Jackson@missiontoseafarers.org.

On behalf of everyone at The Mission to Seafarers we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part and celebrated the work of seafarers around the world.

We are now planning next year’s event so if you and your church would like to take part please contact Nicky Jackson, to register for a Sea Sunday pack 2013.

If you would like to get involved with our community fundraising drives in the UK, please contact Nicky Jackson either by telephone 07500 333190 or by email to Nicola.Jackson@missiontoseafarers.org.

Can you spare two hours in London?

We’re looking for volunteers to help us run a Mission to Seafarers stall on HQS Wellington (moored close to Temple Tube Station in London), on

8th November. From 11am – 3pm we’ll be selling Christmas cards, tea towels and notelets as part of the London Flying Angel Committee November lunch. To find out more, contact Nicky Jackson by telephone on 07500 333190, or email her on Nicola.Jackson@missiontoseafarers.org

Sign up for Payroll Giving

Donating through your pay is a simple and tax efficient way to

support The Mission to Seafarers.Donations are made from your

pay pre-tax, so if you pay tax at a basic rate, a donation of £10 will only cost you £8 and on a higher rate the cost to you will be £6. The Mission will receive the full £10.

Payroll Giving provides The Mission to Seafarers with regular income, which helps us to plan our work and allocate resources to continue our essential welfare services for the 1.3million seafarers across the world.

C o m p a n y P a y r o l l G i v i n g schemes demonstrate commitment to corporate social responsibility, while engaging employees in a cause that is important to them.

For more information and to introduce Payroll Giving to your company please contact Richard Snook on 0207 246 2937. Or to set up a donation through your pay go to: www.missiontoseafarers.org/payroll-giving

Fundraising news

8 Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Autumn 2012 | Issue 6

Will your church support Sea Sunday?

SEASUNDAY14 July 201 3

Thank you to The Baltic Exchange for sponsoring

our Annual National Service for Seafarers Reception. Guests from the industry

were welcomed by the Naze Shanty Crew and later heard more about the Charity’s work. Look out for photos in your Winter 2013 FAN.

Community news

The Mission to Seafarers thanks novelistNovelist K D Adamson dedicates her debut action-thriller book ‘Payload’ to seafarers in need

We are delighted to announce that K D Adamson has dedicated her new book Payload to seafarers in need around the world and will donate 20% of royalties from sales of the book to The Mission to Seafarers.

Payload is an explosive new novel that explores the dark side of the shipping industry and highlights key issues for seafarers including piracy, poor conditions and isolation.

The book is definitely not for the faint-hearted, and The Mission to Seafarers gives the content a triple XXX (18 +) rating, as it graphically tackles the most serious and distressing cultural taboos including adultery, greed, sui-cide, kidnap, theft, execution and murder.

Martin Sandford Acting Director General of The Mission to Seafarers said:

“The Board of Trustees has approved the partnership with K D Adamson to promote her new book, as the sad reality in our maritime world today is that seafarers face many of the hazards described in the book and are regularly attacked whilst transiting pirate hotspots. For some, that attack can lead to months of torture, imprisonment and abuse.”

As the largest provider of port-based welfare services in the world, The Mission to Seafarers provides a range of facilities for seafarers who have endured months of violence and captivity.

Partnerships

Thank you to our fundraisers

At The Mission to Seafarers the significant efforts of our loyal supporters who give up their time to raise money

enables us to carry on our vital local fundraising work around the UK. We would like to sincerely thank everyone who fundraises on behalf of seafarers in need around the world.

Thank you to: Len Holder, who donated £520 from the proceeds of his book, ‘A Light-Hearted Look at Seafaring’ to the Mission.

The Royal Naval Association Woking Branch, who have been holding a Flag Day Collection in Woking for over 30 years. This year they raised £970.00.

To Commander Bill Melly and his crew of volunteers, who took to the streets of Haslemere and Grayshott, raising £440.00.

To Joan Staddon in Devon, for tirelessly fundraising and whose latest fundraiser raised £186.26.

To The Purley 21st St Barnabas Scout Group in Surrey, whose annual Swimathon raised £50.00.

To Don Valentine and all his helpers, who raised £138.00 at the Rye Maritime Festival.

To Gill Evans in Gloucester, who raised £50.00.

To The Association of Old Worcester in Cambridge, who have raised £1,074 this year.

To The Aviation Heritage in Lincolnshire, who raised £100.00.

The Cutty Sark, who at their first open day since the launch of the restored Cutty Sark held a collection for The Mission to Seafarers and raised an amazing £690.00.

9 www.missiontoseafarers.org @flyingangelnews www.facebook.com/themissiontoseafarers0300 555 1505

Ports around the world

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Hong Kong, China: Ferry disaster kills 38

A ferry called the Lammia IV carrying 120 passengers to a firework display in Victoria Harbour Hong Kong has sunk following a

collision with a utility vessel, killing 38 people including 5 children. The Revd Stephen Miller, senior chaplain in Hong Kong for The

Mission to Seafarers, reports that the chaplaincy team has been called in to support the police, harbour rescue and local fire services with counselling for survivors of the tragedy and were doing ‘all they could’ to assist in the aftermath of the region’s biggest maritime disaster in decades.

Prayers were said in local churches and hospital visits to the injured continued to those still in intensive care.

The Mission to Seafarers was also preparing to visit seafarers arrested as a result of the collision. The Mission team led the service of remembrance in Hong Kong Cathedral which was held on 4th October and attended by leading figures in the Hong Kong community.

The Mission team in Singapore have spent time with the captain and crew of the container ship JPO Vulpecula,

which made global news headlines when they were involved in the Indian Ocean rescue of asylum-seekers. The crew coming ashore, many suffering from shock, met with Mission staff for a group debriefing and support session, to talk through the events of that tragic day.

The Revd Peter Manimuthu in Singapore said: “It was the crew of the JPO Vulpecula that was first on the scene to assist a capsized fishing boat off the coast of Australia and who were instrumental in saving many lives. Their heroic efforts and highly skilled seamanship in dangerous seas have been widely praised but the personal toll of assisting in the rescue had been overlooked.”

“The chief officer told us how the crew were extremely brave to lower themselves close to the waters while being

pounded by two metre high waves, and fighting to pull the refugees out; these poor souls were depleted of all strength, so they could barely hold on, and were also being pulled down by the surging seas.”

“As the team here heard the crew pour their hearts out, we did our very best to support them and give them a quiet space to gather their thoughts. Just listening to what they went through allowed the crew a chance to share their worst moments. Many were haunted by the scene many weeks later, and felt deep anguish that they could have done more. We reassured them that every life saved was the greatest achievement. I personally felt the presence of God through the solace we were able to give the crew and felt inspired by the deep humanity in those who had gathered. We served communion and prayed individually with those who wanted to pray.”

The fishing vessel that sunk off Christmas Island was photographed only hours before the tragedy unfolded. 100 asylum seekers are thought to have died. The Mission team in Singapore reports on the rescue of survivors by the crew of the JPO Vulpecula. Photo: Courtesy of Reuters

Singapore: Supporting seafarers post sea rescue

The Mission to Seafarers responds to the emergency in Hong Kong harbour on 2nd October following the sinking of the Lammia lV. Stephen Miller, senior chaplain for the Mission, reports on the support provided to survivors of the tragedy. Photo: Courtesy of Reuters

The Mission to Seafarers chaplaincy team based at Walvis Bay, Namibia

is currently awaiting the final judgment from the High Court concerning the arrest of the MV Demersal 5 and crew for outstanding debts and contractual problems. Indonesian seafarers stranded aboard the vessel had originally turned to the Mission asking for urgent assistance to recoup their wages and be repatriated home. The chaplaincy team immediately put together a plan to help them, and contacted the local Indonesian Embassy to assist with translation and interpreting services.

After a tense day of negotiations with the vessel’s agents, Wynnic Marine Services, the outstanding wage bill of US$6,370.00 for the crew was

agreed. The case was then passed to maritime lawyers DF Malherbe and Partners on behalf of the seafarers involved in the dispute to make further appropriate legal petitions. The Mission team were able to work with Wynnic Marine to ensure that 5 out of the 8 crew were released to take up new posts on board another vessel.

Dawn Martin, centre manager for The Mission to Seafarers centre in Namibia, told FAN: “It was a very difficult case and the seafarers involved were extremely anxious about their families at home and being stranded here for a long period time unpaid. We were quick to contact all the parties involved and get agreement around the table. I am so glad we made a real difference here.”

My tryst with the sea Mrs Ritu Yadav shares her lively ocean diary aboard the MV Vishva Ekta

Sail ing on var ied types of merchant vessels, I have seen

the highs and lows, troughs and crests of seafaring life. My better half, Davindra, is a ship’s captain with the Shipping Corporation of India Ltd, Mumbai and my son is also at sea; they make me very proud. Over the years, life for seafarers has undergone a big ‘sea change’ and not always for the better. Years ago we would hear about the dreaded Malacca Strait pirates. They attack crews infrequently now in the narrow waterway between India and China. Instead it is the rapid rise in numbers and attacks by Somali pirates that make the former look like saints and the latter the blight of our lives. .

Seafarers face a life where fear of the unknown, loneliness and danger are the norm, but there is the long-awaited excitement of visiting ports to look forward to. Going ashore is literally a ‘God send’. Recently while sailing from Masaieed (in Qatar) we encountered boisterous seas, where gale force winds ranked about 9 on the Beaufort Scale and the waves were as high as 5 to 6 metres. Every moment was tense and terrifying.

My husband, myself and the crew are now docked in Newcastle, Australia. All those members of the wonderful volunteer team at The Mission to Seafarers here, namely Kevin, Ken, David and Stuart, are to be thanked for their warm hospitality. I was so moved when I saw the compassion and devotion shown by the Mission team for the incoming crews.

Port news

11

Walvis Bay, Namibia: Seafarers Stranded as MV Demersal 5 is arrested

Suva, the Fiji Islands: Filipino fishermen need help to get home

The Mission to Seafarers in Suva on the Fiji Islands have helped a group of 6 Filipino fishermen negotiate safe passage home, after an on-board dispute escalated over

getting medical help for an injured seafarer. There were also general complaints about the very poor condition of the vessel.

Suva Seafarers’ centre manager Viti Whippy told FAN: “The fishermen went on a sit down strike at sea to get a sick seafarer to hospital and when they came to port they decided conditions were so poor that they couldn’t return to the vessel.” The fishermen were also short of money and The Mission to Seafarers provided free telephone calls so that the crew could call loved ones. The fishermen were given snacks and drinks before they left to stay in a local hotel, while the company’s agent on the Islands made plans to return them home.

Viti also told us that she had attended to a painful foot lesion which was causing oneof the fishermen considerably pain. The local centre first aid kit had come in very handy. Viti said: “The crew were really quite overwhelmed by the help we could provide and they all left smiling.”

www.missiontoseafarers.org @flyingangelnews www.facebook.com/themissiontoseafarers0300 555 1505

Colourful wall mural at our Mission to Seafarers centre in Walvis Bay, Namibia, Africa.

12 Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Autumn 2012 | Issue 6

Christmas stars for your loved onesFill our Christmas tree with stars, each one a dedication to your loved ones.

Be part of the Christmas celebrations at The Mission to Seafarers by dedicating one of our Christmas tree stars to a family member or

friend. For a suggested donation of £5, your dedication will be handwritten on a star hanging on our tree throughout the Christmas season, and seen by all at our Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols.

If we receive your order before 1st December then your loved one’s name will also appear in the order of service which you will be able to download online.

To request an application form please call Katherine on 020 7246 2939 or email Katherine.Wylie@missiontoseafarers.org.

The reality for most of the world’s 1.3 million seafarers is a Christmas that’s just a

regular working day. No presents, no company and no Christmas lunch. Our Chaplains often report that Christmas is the hardest time for seafarers at sea, when their loneliness is heightened.

This Christmas you can make a difference to a seafarer’s life by choosing to buy one of The Mission to Seafarers’ 12 Gifts of Christmas as a virtual present for your loved ones. Every donation makes a real difference to a seafarer and each Mission gift has been specially chosen to bring real help and comfort to seafarers in need.

How does it work?When you purchase a Mission gift from the 12 Gifts of Christmas list, you will be funding The Mission to Seafarers’ vital work in providing emotional and spiritual support to seafarers globally. You won’t receive the gifts; but you will be helping us provide these gifts as part of our overall service offering to seafarers in over 250 ports around the world.

You, or your chosen gift recipient, will receive a Christmas card with information about your Mission gift. You have the option to include a personal message in the card and there will be no mention of the cost of the gift.

What to do nextIf you would like to choose a Mission gift for yourself or a loved one this Christmas, please

contact Nicky Jackson either by telephone 07500 333190 or email Nicola.Jackson@missiontoseafarers.org and request a leaflet with all the details of the charity gifts. The 12 Gifts of Christmas list and suggested donation:£5 Christmas Message£8 Christmas Stocking£10 Phone Call Home£12 Bible£15 Transport£25 Chaplaincy Counselling£35 Warm Clothing£45 Ship Visitor£60 Hospital Visit£75 On-board Internet Access£90 Ship Eucharist Services£120 Fellowship on Christmas Day

Will you give a seafarer the gift of Christmas this year?

To all seafarers and supportersWe at The Mission to Seafarers wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

May you stay safe and well in 2013Best wishes, The Mission Team

Thinking of you at Christmas

Christmas 2012

12 Gifts of Christm

as

What type of port is Tuticorin?

Tuticorin is one of the major ports in India. It is a deep-sea harbour, which handles almost all type of vessels, including bulk carriers, general cargo, container vessels, tankers and cruise ships.

Can you describe a typical day?

We start the day at 10am with prayers at St. Peter’s Chapel. We then do ship visits from 11am to 2pm, distributing literature to seafarers in various languages and inviting them to visit our Fly-ing Angel centre. If the crew want me to, I conduct Holy Com-munion services on board the ships. In the evening we visit the port again between 5pm and 7pm, and collect seafarers who would like to come with us to the centre.

What’s the best thing about your role as port chaplain?

Deliverying cross-cultural pastoral ministry among the seafarers from different parts of the world is, I consider, the best thing about my role as port chaplain. The seafarers are excited when we happen to meet them again after a long gap. And their ap-preciation for our ministry makes me happy.

What kinds of problems do seafarers come to you with?

Loneliness, homesickness, unpaid wages, guilty consciences about decisions they have made in the past, marital problems, fears for the future and many more.

You have been supporting the family of Daniston, who was taken hostage by pirates – can you tell us about the kind of support you’ve given them?

I meet Daniston’s family in person once a month and have a time of devotion to give them hope for the future and pray along with them. I am frequently in touch with them over the phone and listen to their pain, disappointment and agony. As they cannot communicate in English, I contact the shipping company on their behalf and pass on information to the fam-ily members. I have been in touch with their lawyer also with regard to Daniston’s wages.

Does piracy affect a lot of the seafarers you meet?

Yes. They have lot of fear about piracy. If they are captured by pirates, they will miss their family members terribly and will lose hope for the future.

Can you tell us about a recent welfare case, or a memorable story from your time at the Mission?

In April this year, a seafarer called Immanuel was shocked to hear about the death of his mother in Philippines.The next morning, before his departure, I visited him again. Three months later, his ship called again at Tuticorin Port, and the chief mate expressed his gratitude for our service to seafarers.

Interview with...

The Revd Simon DharmarajPort chaplain, Tuticorin, India

www.missiontoseafarers.org 0300 555 1505

Simon joined the Mission in 2009 and supports seafarers in the port of Tuticorin, in southwest India. He has been supporting a local family whose son, Daniston, was kidnapped by pirates in 2010.

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Please return to: Rebecca Gebbie, The Mission to Seafarers, St Michael Paternoster Royal, College Hill, London, EC4R 2RL.

Our team in Falmouth works closely with the local coastguard and emergency services to support seafarers in all kinds of distress. Over the years, Father Mark Mesley, Penny Phillips and their team of volunteers have offered a friendly face, a listening ear and a safe space to recover to many crews returning to the dry land after an emergency at sea.

Legacy gifts are a vital part of our funding, and can help us maintain MtS services like this around the world, so that a welcoming face and a warm handshake are waiting for those plucked from the jaws of disaster.

If you are thinking of leaving a legacy gift, and would like more information on doing so, please complete this form and return it to the address below, or contact Rebecca Gebbie on 0207 246 2917 or by email to Rebecca.Gebbie@missiontoseafarers.org.

Over 150 years of serving seafarers… Help us to continue this essential work in the 21st century and beyond.

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A lifeline for seafarers

Increased piracy, longer voyages and less time ashore have made life harder and more isolating for seafarers everywhere,

yet it is easy to forget the 1.3 million men and women working at sea. Thankfully you rally round, and the generous responses to our fundraising appeals and campaigns enable us to offer hope and help where it is most needed.

The Mission to Seafarers is the only global maritime welfare charity that has professionally trained chaplains in a variety of disciplines including law, counselling and support. They deliver high quality pastoral care service to seafarers of all faiths, na-tionalities and ranks.

We produce the international newspaper The Sea which reaches over 100,000 seafarers and is delivered free. This provides crews with an essential digest of shipping news and views from around the world and is a real lifeline on board. The ‘Justice Matters’ section is also translated into 3 major languages: Spanish, Greek and Mandarin (Chinese.) If you would like to see a review copy of the Sea please email: Laura.Hayes@missiontoseafarers.org.

Both at sea and in the world’s busiest ports, The Mission to Seafarers is a lifeline for those in need.www.missiontoseafarers.org