Flying Angel News

IN THIS
ISSUE
News from The Mission to Seafarers | Autumn 2013 | Issue 9
The future of shipping:
Mission charts the route ahead
The future of shipping
News from The Cruise
Sea Sunday takes place worldwide
News from ports around the world
Reader competition
Christmas is coming...
Flying Angel News
IN THIS
ISSUE
President:
HRH The Princess Royal
Chairman:
Robert Woods CBE
Secretary General:
The Revd Andrew Wright
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
Facebook: themissiontoseafarers
Twitter: @FlyingAngelNews
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 over 260 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 globes 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: SC041938. Registered offce: 109 Avalon Gardens, Linlithgow Bridge, Linlithgow, West Lothian, EH49 7PL.
Editor: Michael Keating (Fan@missiontoseafarers.org)
Cover credit: Jamie Smith
J eb|ua o[ |0e
ebbo0b a0d garob
10 December 2013
1800 - 2100
St Michael Paternoster Royal
near Cannon Street Tube Station
An evening with the Lloyds Choir
accompanied by readings from
industry guests including:
Stephen Hammond, MP Shipping Minister
John Nelson, Lloyds of London
Katharina Stanzel, INTERTANKO
Kuba Szymanski, InterManager
Tickets: 27.50

Contact Rebecca Watson t: 020 7246 2939
e: Rebecca.Watson@missiontoseafarers.org
www.missiontoseafarers.org s w e N l e g n A g n i y l F @ themissiontoseafarers
deberua|o0b
The service will be followed by a drinks
reception at Skinners Hall
Contents
In this issue...
The future
Life at sea is changing.
Our director of
development, Nicky
Wynne, looks at the
trends infuencing the
present and the future of
shipping and of our work
around the world
Show support
Find out what it means
to support the Mission on
the Flying Angel Ride in
our interview with Dave
Barrow, one of our most
successful fundraisers
from this years fagship
cycling event.
Port stories
Read the latest stories
from our ports around
the world, including the
Revd Chris Collisons
response to the news
that a seafarer was
critcally injured while
working on board
Mission news 2
Fundraising news 8
Welfare update 12
Interview with... 13
7
4
10
Reader
survey
Take part in our reader
survey to help us improve
Flying Angel News, and
you could win a copy
of the new Music for
Seafarers CD
13
Andrew Wright
Secretary
General
From the
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the Autumn edition of Flying Angel News.
The year so far has been a very busy one in the shipping world.
The new rules that will be enforced by the Maritime Labour
Convention (see page 2) have made waves in the maritime world.
Its laws regarding working conditions and access to medical and
welfare facilities, like our centres, will hopefully go a long way to
protect seafarers. Political leaders and fag states have been busy
getting their countries and shipping companies on board, and our
chaplains are ready for the challenges the new laws will create.
It has also been a very busy year for the Mission, in terms of what
we are doing and where we are going.
We are conducting research in conjunction with the
shipping industry to see where we can focus our efforts to
support seafarers (see page 4). Several new ports have been
identifed as places where our ministry is urgently needed. Many
of these ports are in areas where there is very little in the way of
community or facility, making the need for chaplaincy support
even more important. We are speaking to seafarers too, to fnd
out how we can best serve them and their families.
We are providing greater support to our chaplains through
the appointment of new regional co-ordinators. All current
Mission chaplains, they have demonstrated their commitment
to seafarers welfare by agreeing to oversee their local areas,
helping us to provide the best possible care (see page 3).
We have had a successful Sea Sunday (page 3) and our Flying
Angel Ride (page 7) was the biggest we have ever run. I thank
you all for your kind and dedicated support.
It was my privilege recently to join chaplains meeting in three
of our regions: Southern Africa, Australia and Oceania (New
Zealand and the Pacifc Islands). These conferences give
chaplains the chance to share stories, discuss ideas and
engage in training. There is so much great work going on and I
was hugely impressed with the passion for seafarers that I found.
Of special note was the wonderful work being done by volunteers
in so many places. In these early days at the Mission for me I
have learned much and seen a great deal to inspire.
During the Australian conference, one chaplain was called out
following an incident in which one seafarer fell 6 metres into a
hold. Thankfully, he survived and will recover, and our staff will
provide all the support he needs: a timely reminder of the fragility
of seafaring life and of the crucial part the Mission has to play in
response. Our work is vital. Thanks for making it possible.
Andrew Wright
Secretary General
J eb|ua o[ |0e
ebbo0b a0d garob
10 December 2013
1800 - 2100
St Michael Paternoster Royal
near Cannon Street Tube Station
An evening with the Lloyds Choir
accompanied by readings from
industry guests including:
Stephen Hammond, MP Shipping Minister
John Nelson, Lloyds of London
Katharina Stanzel, INTERTANKO
Kuba Szymanski, InterManager
Tickets: 27.50

Contact Rebecca Watson t: 020 7246 2939
e: Rebecca.Watson@missiontoseafarers.org
www.missiontoseafarers.org s w e N l e g n A g n i y l F @ themissiontoseafarers
deberua|o0b
The service will be followed by a drinks
reception at Skinners Hall
www.missiontoseafarers.org 0300 555 1505
Mission news
Maritme Labour Conventon marks sea change for crews
02 Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Autumn 2013 | Issue 9
T
he Mission welcomed the entry into force of the Maritime
Labour Convention (MLC 2006) on 20 August.
MLC 2006 establishes minimum living and working standards
for seafarers covering areas such as hours of work and rest,
access to shore-based welfare facilities, accommodation, health
and safety, repatriation and complaint handling.
51 countries representing over 75 per cent of the worlds
gross tonnage have ratifed MLC 2006. Ships fying the fag of a
country that has ratifed MLC 2006 must abide by its standards
and those that do not can be detained by inspectors until they do.
The Missions director of justice and welfare, the Revd
Canon Ken Peters, was the frst representative of a Christian
maritime organisation to become a qualifed trainer of trainers
on MLC 2006. He has also worked extensively with the Liberian
Registry the frst fag state to ratify MLC 2006 in providing
training to their ship inspectors.
The Liberian Registry awarded Canon Peters an honorary
Master Mariners Licence in recognition of his work, and he also
regularly trains staff from the ITF.
He said: There is now an equal system of justice for
everyone and the worlds 1.3 million seafarers know that the
Mission is always on hand to provide practical support in their
times of need.
MLC 2006 enshrines a seafarers right to access to shore-
based welfare facilities in law, which is a signifcant step and one
that is essential to protecting the physical, mental and spiritual
wellbeing of seafarers.
They need to be granted time off their ships to rest and
recuperate and our chaplains will be there to assist them in
260 ports in 71 countries around the world, whether they need
to use our centres to communicate with their families, talk to
someone about their experiences on board, or simply to relax
in a welcoming environment.
As it takes effect we will be working with our chaplains
around the world to gauge the outcomes and to see how
seafarers needs are changing.
The UK ratifed the Convention shortly before it came into
force on 20 August.
You can fnd out more about MLC 2006 in our guide on page
12 and on our website at www.missiontoseafarers.org/mlc.
Director of justice and welfare the Revd Canon Ken Peters
Mission sets sail with the BBC
B
BC TWO recently ran a six-part series called The Cruise:
A Life at Sea based around the Revd Colin Still and his
ministry to crew and passengers on board the Fred
Olsen Cruise Lines ship Balmoral during its Grand Voyage
112-night world cruise.
The documentary, produced by the BBCs religion and
ethics department, followed Colin as he worked with the
ships 1,700 passengers over the journey, which passed
through destinations including Dubai, Thailand, Singapore and
Indonesia, stopping off at some Mission centres along the way.
Colin was appointed as the ships chaplain by the Missions
chaplain in Southampton, the Revd Andrew Huckett, as part of
our Church on the High Seas programme.
Colin said: This is a valuable piece of Christian ministry,
listening to and supporting those who wanted to talk to me.
I most enjoyed building a bond of trust with passengers
and the crew, and I particularly enjoyed the marriage renewal
ceremonies, as they are such happy occasions. This work
has given me the opportunity to see so much of the world. We
passed through the Panama and Suez canals and visited New
Zealand and Australia, Singapore and Sri Lanka. The Mission
to Seafarers has centres in all of these places, and I valued
meeting new faces in the global Mission family.
You can hear Colin talk about his work on board
Balmoral and see photos from the voyage on our website at
www.missiontoseafarers.org/cruise.
The Revd Colin Still, the Missions volunteer sea chaplain,
was the star of the recent BBC TWO documentary
Sea Sunday celebratons prove
to be a great success
W
ed like to thank everyone who took part in an event for this
years Sea Sunday. This year we had a record number of
churches around the world taking part in Sea Sunday in some
stunning locations as you can see from the photos here.
To see more photos from the day, visit our Facebook page. If
you have some from your local Sea Sunday event that you would
like to share, please send them to Fan@missiontoseafarers.org.
Sea Sunday is a great way to recognise the hard work and
diffcult conditions that seafarers face every day to bring us over
90 per cent of the goods we use on a daily basis. You can hold a
Sea Sunday event at any time of the year or as part of a Harvest
thanksgiving service, so you can still say thank you to seafarers
around the world.
For more information or to order your full resources pack
including sermon notes, information leaflets and childrens
materials, please contact Nicky Jackson on 01354 695005 or
visit www.seasunday.org.
03
News
R
ecently we announced that the Mission has a presence
in 260 ports worldwide and as our global family grows,
were constantly looking at the ways that we work and how we
can improve them, so that we can continue to deliver quality
welfare and support to the worlds seafarers and their families.
With that in mind, our director of chaplaincy, the Revd Canon
Huw Mosford, has announced the appointment of regional co-
ordinators to help oversee our work at home and overseas.
They are all existing Mission chaplains and have agreed
to take on the responsibility for overseeing our work in their
local areas.
The new appointments (regions in bold) are:
Cyprus and the Gulf (including Aqaba) the Revd Adam
Boulter;
Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, Malaysia
the Revd Stephen Miller;
England and near Europe the Revd Simon Davies;
Japan and Korea the Revd Simon Ro;
Brazil and South America TBC; Ireland, Scotland and
Wales the Revd Tim Tunley.
Please join us in congratulating our chaplains on being
appointed and for their commitment to the welfare of seafarers
around the world.
Mission announces new regional co-ordinators
Anti-clockwise: a Sea Sunday service in Colombo; the Revd
Colin Still assists in Brighton; crowds gather in Mwnt; the
church in the sea, St Cwyfans; and celebrants at Portscatho
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04 Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Autumn 2013 | Issue 9
B
eing where seafarers and their families need us most is
the driver of all that we strive to achieve at The Mission to
Seafarers, now and in the future.
Increasingly the sea plays a vital role in peoples lives
as we become more and more reliant on it as a means of
transportation of goods. Merchant shipping is the lifeblood of
the world economy, carrying 90 per cent of international trade
on over 102,000 commercial ships worldwide, manned by 1.3m
seafarers. Forget low-cost air travel: tankers, bulk carriers and
container ships are the most important means of transportation
of our time.
2013 is a very signifcant year for seafarers and shipowners.
The International Labour Organization Maritime Labour
Convention entered into force worldwide on 20 August, creating
a new set of standards for seafarers living and working
conditions. Ship operators must be prepared to comply with the
new legislation.
However, new rules wont protect seafarers from all of the
dangers they face. Collisions, shipwrecks and maritime accidents
do happen, and crews battle the elements on a daily basis.
Pirate attacks, although still a scourge of the sea, have
dramatically decreased during the past year, particularly off
the coast of Somalia. However, due to the growing number of
attacks occurring near West Africa, it is vital that shipowners do
not get complacent and continue to take the necessary protective
measures.
At the Mission, our aim is to ensure that we respond to the
ever-changing shipping environment so that we always provide
the best possible care to all seafarers and their families.
To ensure that we are quick to respond to issues that
arise globally we are changing the way we work to include the
establishment of regional co-ordinators. Making best use of
existing chaplains and their skills, this will enable a stronger
global Mission network that understands local environments and
best supports local chaplains.
Our specialist welfare service provision, based in key ports
around the world, will continue to deal with the issues affecting
seafarers, such as isolation, abandonment and criminalisation.
With that in mind, we are currently analysing what the key ports
of the future will be to so that we will always be where we are
needed most.
We are currently undertaking a Global Review to to inform
our strategic direction over the next 5 10 years. The Review
will underpin the future of our welfare work throughout the world.
Full steam ahead in the right directon
The Missions director of development, Nicky
Wynne, looks at the future of shipping and talks
about the ways in which the Mission is evolving to
adapt to the needs of the worlds seafarers
Shi ps are t he most
i mportant means of
transport of our time
Recent technological advancements have meant that
crew sizes are continuing to decrease
05
The future
Using The Sea, our newspaper for seafarers of which 174,000
copies are distributed annually, we are carrying out a special
survey asking crews to tell us what they need from the Mission.
We are also asking key thought leaders in the shipping industry
to share their valuable insight with us and to contribute to our
development.
As a part of our Review work we are utilising an extensive
research report carried out by Lloyds Register, Qinetiq and the
University of Strathclyde, Global Marine Trends 2030. The
report is based on two years of research and looks into the future
of the maritime industries.
Over the forthcoming years technology will play an
increasingly vital role in shipping and port-based activities as
ports themselves become more automated and manned by
fewer staff. Ports such as Hamburg and Singapore are very
technologically advanced and are almost fully automated in
some respects. Such developments will have an effect on the
isolation experienced by seafarers.
According to the report, the future of shipping will be heavily
infuenced by China and it suggests that after it becomes the
worlds largest oil consumer, overtaking the USA, by 2030 China
will own a quarter of the merchant feet. Over the years, trade
patterns will change and seaborne trade will increase from 9
billion tonnes annually to between 19-24 billion tonnes.
Population growth also plays a signifcant role in the report.
By 2030 there will be 8.3bn people on the planet. The marine
world will be almost unrecognizable due to the rise of emerging
countries, new consumer classes and resource demand.
We, at the Mission, must consider what impact this will
have upon the needs of the seafarer. We are asking ourselves
questions such as:
Who will the seafarer be in the next 10+ years and what will
their cultural needs be?
How can we best serve the seafarers of the future and their
families?
How can we work closely with the shipping world of the
future to ensure our service provision to seafarers is fully
supported?
The report provides three scenarios to model the future:
Status Quo the world will continue its current momentum with
some booms and busts over the next twenty years.
Global Commons concern over resource limitation and the
environment will see a desire for a more sustainable world being
developed and fairness in wealth distribution. Governments will
fnd common ground and see accelerated economic growth
within a framework of sustainable development.
Competing nations states act in their own interest. There will
be little effort to forge agreements amongst governments for
sustainable development and international norms.
Whatever the future might look like, seaborne trade will play a
crucial role. By understanding the future the Mission can ensure
that the welfare services we will provide to seafarers and their
families is as effective as possible.
Full steam ahead in the right directon
To fnd out more about the Missions work, visit our website
www.missiontoseafarers.org
Who will the seafarer be
in the next 10 years and
what will their needs be?
Director of development, Nicky Wynne, working with a
seafarer on a ship in anchorage off Fujairah
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06 Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Summer 2013 | Issue 9
Lloyds Register was proud to take part in the Flying Angel
Ride for The Mission to Seafarers and raise money to
support the charitys welfare work with seafarers around
the world.
You will fnd more details about our funding and some
of the current programmes of research and training
benefting from our activity at The Lloyds Register
Foundation.
Discover more at www.lrfoundation.org.uk
Lloyds Register is a trading name of Lloyds
Register Group Limited and its subsidiaries. For
further details please see www.lr.org/entities
Best wishes
Univan_40th anniversary.indd 1 29/05/2013 16:40:46
For more information on taking part in the next Flying Angel Ride, please contact Rebecca Watson on 020 7246 2939 or
Rebecca.Watson@missiontoseafarers.org
Feature
07
Partnerships
Feeling inspired?
Can you tell us a little about what Lloyds Register do?
Lloyds Register was set up in 1760 in London and it maintains
a happy relationship between tradition and foresight. Since
our foundation we have responded to change and led the
developments that have made lives safer and helped businesses
prosper.
How long have you supported The Mission to Seafarers
for? What frst got you involved with us?
The Mission is such a great charity to support and it directly
relates to our core marine business, so we have supported them
for a few years now.
I myself was at sea and I am a Master Mariner. Life at sea
can be lonely and to see happy and friendly faces at the Mission
is a real boost when you feel homesick.
This year was your second time doing the Flying Angel
Ride. How did you fnd it?
The ride was great. The 25 per cent slope hill was a killer, but the
atmosphere among all of us taking part, and those cheering from
the sidelines, was really positive. This made all the difference ,
especially when you were tired and aching, so to get that push
at the end was marvellous.
It was a great team building exercise for us, too. We had a
team of 26 people and I think that it brought us closer together.
What really made a difference was knowing that you were
supporting the Mission.
The Lloyds Register team was one of the top fundraising
teams. Do you have any advice for our supporters?
The top tip is to have a great team of people supporting you.
Even if they are not actually taking part in the rides themselves,
the guys on the ground do the hard work too, motivating our
colleagues and clients in parting with their hard earned cash,
all in the name of charity.
From sponsored cake bake offs, bonus balls on the lottery
to dress down Fridays, they had a lot of great ideas and helped
to squeeze some support from us all.
I felt very lucky and honoured to have this team behind me
to support me through it all.
Why should people support the Mission by taking part in
a challenge event?
We know that the fundraising goes towards the helping of fellow
seafarers and their families, so the aches and pains of a few
muscles or the odd knocked knee is nothing compared to the
hard work that the Missions teams put in to running a very
successful charity.
That, compared with the feeling of having achieved a
personal goal, creates a real feeling of satisfaction at the end.
Getng involved
This years Flying Angel Ride was our biggest yet, with over 100 partcipants
raising over 20,000 to help us work with seafarers around the world. We spoke
to Dave Barrow, regional marine manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa at
Lloyds Register, about his work in the shipping industry and what drives him
to fundraise for the Mission
Lloyds Register was proud to take part in the Flying Angel
Ride for The Mission to Seafarers and raise money to
support the charitys welfare work with seafarers around
the world.
You will fnd more details about our funding and some
of the current programmes of research and training
benefting from our activity at The Lloyds Register
Foundation.
Discover more at www.lrfoundation.org.uk
Lloyds Register is a trading name of Lloyds
Register Group Limited and its subsidiaries. For
further details please see www.lr.org/entities
Best wishes
Univan_40th anniversary.indd 1 29/05/2013 16:40:46
www.missiontoseafarers.org @FlyingAngelNews
www.facebook.com/themissiontoseafarers 0300 555 1505
08 Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Autumn 2013 | Issue 9
Fundraising news
T
his October, were running our
second Woolly Hat Day and we want
to make it as big as possible.
We are asking everyone to wear their
woolly hats and raise a heap of cash for
seafarers in need. Woolly hats are a vital
piece of clothing for seafarers as they
travel the world and battle the elements to bring us over 90
per cent of the things we use on a daily basis.
So this October, show you are thinking of seafarers by
wearing a woolly hat and raising funds for seafarers in need.
You can get your work colleagues involved, your school, your
church or your ship. All you need is our fundraising pack, which
is full of great ideas to help you raise as much as possible.
Were also looking for photos of you in your woolly hats.
Heres one of us throwing ours. You can get involved by
posting your photos on our Facebook page, on Twitter using
the hashtag #whd2013 or by posting them to us.
Join us on Friday 11 October for the big Woolly Hat Day
fundraiser, or choose your own date. To register your event,
please contact Nicky Jackson on 01354 695002 or visit
www.missiontoseafarers.org/whd.
Wear your woolly hat and
raise cash for the Mission
The Missions international headquarters staff raise their
hats to seafarers around the world. Join us!
T
he Liberian Registry (LISCR) has committed 36,000 over
the next three years to support the work of the Mission.
LISCR recently set up a new offce in Singapore and its
funding will support the Missions care and welfare work in the
region, where we have had a presence since 1924.Singapore
is the worlds second-busiest container port, attracting 140,000
vessels a year. LISCRs funding will help the Mission to provide
essential welfare services for crews.
The Missions chaplain in Singapore, the Revd Peter
Manimuthu, said: There might be legal problems or shipping
problems, but a human problem is a chaplains problem.
LISCR was the frst fag to ratify the Maritime Labour
Convention (see page 12) and the Missions director of justice
and welfare, the Revd Canon Ken Peters, works with LICSR on
their ship inspection training programmes (see page 3).
Ken said: I would like to thank LISCR for its support.
Long-term commitment from the shipping industry helps us to
plan for the future and to ensure we continue to provide services
to seafarers where they need us most.
Singapore funding boost
Singapore centre manager Soon Kok with Mission
chaplain the Revd Peter Manimuthu
09
Fundraising
Fundraise for us!
We need your help! Could you organise a coffee morning or quiz night, or would you like to literally go that
extra mile and take on a run or challenge event in aid of The Mission to Seafarers? These events can be a great
way to get people together, have fun, and raise funds for seafarers at the same time. We can offer tips, advice and
resources to help ensure that your event is a huge success. To fnd out more contact Fan@missiontoseafarers.org.
A thank you to all of our loyal supporters around the world
Wed like to thank our supporters who have helped us with fundraising and volunteering. Thanks to everyone, on behalf
of seafarers around the world, including:
An enormous thank you to all the honorary secretaries, honorary preachers, honorary speakers, chaplains, volunteers and
everyone else who made Sea Sunday possible by promoting it in their churches, by organising services and by speaking on
behalf of The Mission to Seafarers; and
Bill Melly, Dr and Mrs Adie and Ann Aldridge-Goult for holding Flag Day Collections in their local towns.
Sad news
The Bournemouth Committee is sorry to record the death of Mrs Ann Rowe on 3 August, a former Committee chairman and a
stalwart supporter of The Mission to Seafarers. Enthusiastic to the end and unfailingly cheerful, her many friends could always be
relied upon to support her cause. When the Committee seemed to be fading in the late 1980s, Ann and her friends re-established
it. She will be sadly missed by us all, and we offer condolences to her husband Murray and to her son, daughter and grandchildren.
F
red Olsen Cruise Lines has generously donated
3,336.98 to The Mission to Seafarers after guests and
crew on board the Fred Olsen ship Balmoral gave foreign
currency and supported fundraising initiatives such as raffes
and Sunday Service collections.
The Mission frst worked with Fred Olsen on the
Titanic Memorial Cruise on Balmoral in April 2012, which
commemorated the journey of the ill-fated liner Titanic.
The Missions director of chaplaincy, the Revd Canon Huw
Mosford led the centenary memorial service at the site where
the Titanic rests.
More recently, the Mission has worked with the cruise line
as part of the recent BBC documentary The Cruise: A Life
at Sea, which followed the Revd Colin Still as he provided
spiritual and practical support to passengers and crew on
board Balmoral during its World Cruise earlier this year (see
page 4).
The Revd Andrew Wright, Secretary General of The
Mission to Seafarers, said: We are very thankful for the
fantastic support from the guests and crew on board Balmoral.
The collection will help us to continue to provide welfare and
care to crews that are away from their families at sea.
Mission partners with cruise line on Grand Voyage
Top: Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Balmoral
Bottom left: The Balmoral crew arriving in Laem Chabang
Left: Last years Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Right: This years Flying Angel Award winners
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Ports around the world
10 Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Autumn 2013 | Issue 9
North Tees, UK: chaplain and volunteers support injured
seafarer afer terrible berthing injury
A
ndrew was working on a rope
from the chemical tanker
Kemira Gas to the stern tug while it was
being berthed at a North Tees jetty, when
suddenly his left leg was caught in the
rope and trapped. Andrew fell and lost
consciousness.
After the accident he was rushed
to hospital, where he was kept in an
induced coma while doctors tried to
save his leg, but because the injury was
so bad they were left with no choice but
to amputate it beneath the knee.
The Missions chaplain, the Revd
Chris Collison, was told about the
accident by Tony Metcalfe, a volunteer
and ship visitor for the Mission. Chris
visited the ship to console Andrews
colleagues, who soon set sail for their
next port.
Soon afterwards, the Temse, a sis-
ter ship of the Kemira Gas docked.
Many members of the crew were friends
with Andrew and had heard about what
happened, so Chris visited them and
explained the situation and Andrews
condition. Chris agreed to take a
few of the crew to see Andrew in
hospital where he had just regained
consciousness.
The two crew spoke to Andrew in
Tagalog, which gave him some com-
fort, and Chris listened to his story and
explained his situation. Fortunately Chris
was also able to present him with some
get well gifts the crew of the Temse had
given him, so he knew that his friends
were thinking of him. Chris also provided
Andrew with a mobile phone so he could
keep in touch with his family.
Back in the centre, Chris arranged
for Sue Sargeant, a Filipino volunteer,
to visit Andrew and she helped to look
after him while he was recuperating in
hospital.
When the time for Andrews
repatriation had come, Chris prepared
him for his journey. He was very worried
about returning home, having lost his
leg and potentially his role as being his
familys main breadwinner. Before he
left, the local port community were able
to present Andrew with a cheque for
2,000 to help him support his family on
his return.
When Andrew arrived home and
was reunited with his family, he kept in
touch with Chris, letting him know how
his treatment was going. His company
funded his medical treatment and a new
prosthetic leg, and it was hoped that
Andrew would be able to take up an
offce role with them when he had fully
recovered.
Chris said: I was happy to
be there for Andrew and Im very
grateful to Sue Sargeant and other staff
and volunteers who helped out and
called in.
The port community were shocked
by the accident, and they responded
with generosity and by taking a fresh
look at berthing procedures.
The sea will always be a
dangerous place where bad things
happen. All we can try to do is to help
if we can, listen, care and network with
others.
Mission chaplain the Revd Chris Collision (left), with Andrew (middle) and Michael Shakesheff (right)
M
ission chaplain John Attenborough was working in the
centre in Tilbury when an unhappy seafarer dropped in. He
explained that his contract had ended and that he had not been
paid for three and a half months.
John decided to investigate. With the seafarer, he visited the
ship and spoke to the ships captain, who told John that despite
the captains support and his requests for the seafarer to be paid,
the company had let his contract expire without paying him his
wages and had left him there.
John got in touch with a local ITF representative and brought
the matter to their attention. After his intervention, John got a call
from the captain to tell him that thanks to his timely appearance
and assistance, the seafarers problems had been resolved and
that he was due to receive his wages and a plane ticket home.
If you would like to support The Mission to Seafarers in our work in 260 ports across the world, please visit
www.missiontoseafarers.org/fan or contact us at Fan@missiontoseafarers.org.
Port news
Tilbury, UK: interventon solves contract pay dispute
11
T
he Revd Stephen Hazlett was on a ship visit when he
came across a young seafarer who was deeply upset. After
spending a long time at sea, he had begun to feel very homesick
and missed his partner. Stephen was able to transport him to the
nearby seafarers centre and helped him use Skype so he could
speak to his partner.
The seafarer was so pleased with this development that he
invited Stephen to bless his home during the conversation, and
Stephen performed a short blessing ceremony for the couple
over Skype.
Roterdam, Netherlands:
caring across the seas
Milford Haven, UK: care and
compassion for injured crew
T
he Revd Stephen Traynor, the Missions chaplain in Milford
Haven, recently assisted a seafarer who had been left with
a broken arm following an accident with a mooring line. Ariel
was working on board the Aurelia when the line snapped and
injured him.
After he was taken to hospital, Stephen regularly visited
Ariel to bring him messages of support from his crew and
to help him keep in touch with his family and his employer.
Stephen also assisted in getting Ariel repatriated once he was
well enough to travel.
Support us
The Missions Tilbury chaplain on a ship visit
Simon on board with the ships captain,
Jes Meinertz.
Busan, South Korea: chaplain boards worlds biggest ship
T
he Missions chaplain in South Korea, the Revd Simon Ro, was on board the worlds largest ship recently after the new
Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Triple E ship arrived in Busan.The Triple E is 400m long, 59m wide, 73m high and can carry 18,000
containers. It weighs 165,000 dwt. Simon met the 22-man crew and gave them a traditional Mission welcome. He said: It was
a great privilege for me to become the frst ship visitor from seafarers centres in Busan.
www.missiontoseafarers.org @FlyingAngelNews
www.facebook.com/themissiontoseafarers 0300 555 1505
12 Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Autumn 2013 | Issue 9
The Mission to Seafarers is the worlds largest charitable port-based welfare service, working in 260 ports to give vital
support to seafarers across the world. To support us, visit www.justgiving.com/themissiontoseafarers for more information.
T
he Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) is
an international set of rules designed to create a decent
standard of living for the worlds seafarers and to improve
competition for quality shipowners.
Who does it help?
MLC 2006 covers anyone working on a ship operating on
commercial activities on international voyages. In addition to
traditional seafarers, cruise ship staff and cadets are covered.
MLC 2006 has been ratifed by 51 countries representing
over 75 per cent of the worlds gross tonnage of ships. Ratifying
countries are given up to one year to get up to standard, so on
20 August, MLC 2006 became law for the countries that had
ratifed it before 20 August 2012. For example, the UK ratifed
MLC 2006 on 7 August 2013, so it has until 7 August 2014 to get
the ships fying its fag up to standard.
What does it do?
MLC 2006 has fve titles which cover different aspects of
seafarers welfare.
Minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship
includes minimum working age (now 16), the recruitment
process, training and medical certifcation.
Conditions of employment covers maximum working hours
(14 hours per day), paid annual leave and regular wage
payment. It also assigns fag states the responsibility for
repatriating crews, should employers abandon them.
Accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering
grants seafarers rooms in safe berths away from impact zones
and dangerous equipment. It also demands that food and water
be provided to seafarers free of charge.
Health protection, medical care, welfare and social security
protection is about seafarers welfare. Flag states must ensure
that shore-based welfare facilities in their ports are accessible
to seafarers in order to help maintain their physical and mental
health and wellbeing. It also gives seafarers access to health
care and compensation to help cover treatment they need.
Compliance and enforcement allows inspectors to detain
substandard ships. Seafarers also have a new complaints
procedure that they can use if they feel theyre being
mistreated, and interested parties such as our chaplains can
raise problems with local agencies if there are issues.
What will it change?
MLC 2006s standardised legislation should make it
easier for inspectors to enforce its rules, better protecting crews.
Failure to abide by these standards can lead to ships being
delayed, detained or arrested, all of which are costly to
shipowners. It is also easily updatable, which means the
International Labour Organization can make changes to it to
respond to the changing needs of seafarers.
The Missions director of justice and welfare, the Revd
Canon Ken Peters, said: MLC 2006 is a paradigm shift in the
care of seafarers because, with its entry into force, seafarers
have a degree of protection from the worst exploitation.
Access to medical care is an important aspect of MLC
2006, and now seafarers have the right to on board medical
care and can access qualifed medical personnel in ports when
needed. MLC 2006s standards relating to repatriation will help
to protect seafarers, too and at last there os a clear line of
responsibility on this matter.
How will it affect The Mission to Seafarers?
Thanks to MLC 2006s new onboard and on shore
complaints systems, we are anticipating more work for our
teams around the world. MLC 2006 grants seafarers the right to
access shore-based welfare facilities, which could mean our
centres will be welcoming more seafarers than ever.
We are creating a multilingual guide for our chaplains, in
order to better equip them to deal with seafarers complaints,
and our teams are always on hand to offer practical and spiritual
support whenever and wherever we are needed.
Whatever changes and challenges MLC 2006 brings, we
are ready, as always, to support seafarers around the world.
A sea change in welfare
The Maritme Labour Conventon entered into force on 20
August, creatng a new set of standards for seafarers welfare.
But what does that actually mean?
Support us
MLC Fact
Better welfare access
MLC Fact
Ratifed by 51 countries
MLC Fact
Minimum work age: 16
MLC Fact
14 working hours a day
Reader survey
Whats the port of Suape like?
Suape port is making a great name for itself. It handles many
types of ships and in 2012 it handled over 11 million tons of
cargo. Its getting bigger every year and now over 30,000
people work here.
What goes on during a typical day?
I spend a lot of my time visiting ships and spending time with
seafarers. Ships are usually docked for around 20 hours,
which isnt a very long time. A lot of the operations work here
is mechanised or automated, so sometimes crews do have
some time to get off their ships for some outdoor activities but
they generally dont travel far.
While Im visiting ships I am able to offer crews counselling
if they have experienced any diffculties or trauma at sea;
offer spiritual support; and Im able to help them contact their
families at home.
I am building the Missions work out here from the ground up.
I regularly meet staff at the ports administration centre to help
better build our relationships, and I also try to promote the
Mission to the public, telling them what we do here and how
we help those who need us.
Recently I had a meeting with the executive secretary of justice
and human rights, Paulo Roberto Xavier de Moraes and the
ports director, Jorge Dias, to discuss how the Mission can
better serve our seafarers.
What problems do seafarers most frequently come to you
with?
There are many struggles that are part of the life of a seafarer.
Being on a ship for long periods of time can have a large strain
on your mental, emotional and spiritual health. I help counsel
the men and women who struggle with depression, thoughts of
suicide, relationship problems and fnancial worries.
How did you join the Mission?
Before I joined the Mission, I was co-ordinating pastoral work in
the Pernambuco countryside and working for the government.
The Mission approached me and wanted to help connect the
Mission with the Anglican Church and the government. I knew
it would be a challenge, but I was very excited to be given
such a big opportunity to serve and help people who are often
forgotten about.
What part of your work gives you the most satisfaction?
The most satisfying part of my job are the times when I am able
to make a positive impact on a seafarers life. Listening to the
personal issues and struggles of seafarers, and helping them
construct and develop solutions to resolve them, is why Im here
and being able to do that is very rewarding.
The Revd Antonio Luis
Port chaplain, Suape, Brazil
Antonio works for the Mission in
Brazil, and is helping to develop
our services in the area. There is
no centre in Suape, so Antonio
spends a lot of his time ship
visiting and supporting crews on
board
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FC2013
Events 2013
Worldwide
Woolly hats are vital pieces of clothing for crews around the
world as they battle the elements. Show seafarers youre
thinking of them, and help us raises funds to provide vital
services to seafarers, by wearing a woolly hat and raising
money on 11 October. To fnd out more about Woolly Hat
Day, visit www.missiontoseafarers.org/whd.
Woolly Hat Day, 11 Oct
St Michael Paternoster Royal, London
Join us for an evening with the Lloyds Choir and readings from
VIP guests including shipping minister Stephen Hammond MP,
John Nelson from Lloyds of London, Katharina Stanzel from
INTERTANKO and Kuba Szymanski from InterManager. The
carol service will be followed by a drinks reception at Skinners
Hall. For more details, contact us on 020 7246 2939.
A Festval of Nine Lessons and Carols, 10 Dec
HQS Wellington, London
The Committee is holding its annual Autumn Lunch on HQS
Wellington, which is moored on the Embankment in London.
HQS Wellington served the nation in World War II and has been
impeccably maintained since. Tickets are 24 and include a
buffet lunch and a glass of wine. For more information contact
Heather Jones on 020 8467 8467.
London Flying Angel Commitee Lunch, 7 Nov