flying angel news winter 2012

Flying Angel News

News from The Mission to Seafarers | Winter 2012 | Issue 3

Mission helps stranded seafarers

• Mission honoured at industry awards

• Being there for crews at Christmas

• New MtS website: tell us what you think

• Busy year for MtS committees

• 1,000 support rally for hostage Danistan

• My friend the sea: a supporter’s story

IN THISISSUE

Caring for seafarers around the world

Charity numbers: 212432 / SC039211

President: HRH The Princess RoyalChairman: Robert Woods CBE Secretary General: The Revd Tom Heffer

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

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

Email: [email protected] Website: www.missiontoseafarers.org

Cover image: Ben Bailey

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 1.2 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.

3rd May London Flying Angel Committee Spring Luncheon Speaker: Admiral The Rt Hon Lord West of Spithead. On board HQS Wellington.

27th May Flying Angel Ride Our popular bike ride returns with 35- and 75-mile routes through the New Forest.

25th June Day of the Seafarer Hold a street collection in your local area to celebrate this special day.

8th July Sea Sunday Remember seafarers around the world with a Sea Sunday service and activities at your church. For an info pack or to request a speaker, contact Nicky Jackson on 07500 333190.

27th Sept World Maritime Day

27th Sept MtS Annual Service Service held at St Michael Paternoster Royal, followed by lunch at the Worshipful Company of Skinners.

10th Oct Annual National Service for Seafarers Service held at St Paul’s Cathedral, with a reception hosted by MtS.

Dec The 12 Gifts of Christmas Choose a virtual gift for a seafarer.

12th Dec A Festival of Nine Lessons & CarolsService held at St Michael Paternoster Royal, followed by a reception at the Worshipful Company of Skinners.

For more info about any of these events, contact uson 020 7248 5202 or at [email protected]

To find out more call Katherine on 020 7246 2939 or email [email protected]

Get fit for 2012!

Our fantastic challenge events help you get in shape while raising much-needed funds for the Mission. Sign

up now and we’ll support you every step of the way.

Cycle. Run. Trek.

Adidas Half Marathon - 11th March Join team Flying Angel at Northampton’s famous Silverstone race track.

Bupa 10,000 - 27th May Enjoy London in spring with a 10k run. Do it in under 38 mins and you could win £2,000!

Flying Angel Ride - 27th May This popular bike ride returns with 35- or 75-mile routes through the New Forest.

British 10k London Run - 8th JulyRun along part of the Olympic marathon course before the big event!

London to Paris Cycle - 15th-19th Aug Ever wanted to cycle the Champs Elysée or wheelie past the Eiffel Tower? Now you can!

London to Brighton Cycle - 16th Sept Cycle more than 50 miles from the UK capital to Brighton’s historic seafront.

Trek Kilimanjaro - 11th-21st OctOur greatest challenge! Climb this famous mountain for an unforgettable experience.

Trek Machu Picchu - 1st-10th Nov100 years since Bingham first laid eyes on this amazing ancient city you can too.

Diary dates

Contents

The Revd Tom Heffer

Welcome to the first Flying Angel News of 2012. I want to start by thanking you for your wonderful support throughout last year. Because of you, we have been able to make a lasting difference to seafarers and their families the world over.

Sadly, the start of this year has brought much sorrow as our hearts went out to 3,000 passengers and 1,000 crew on board the Costa Concordia, the luxury liner which capsized off the coast of Italy in January. What happened to this vessel is mercifully not an everyday occurrence, but in this year when we commemorate the centenary of the sinking of the Titanic, it is a sobering reminder that safety at sea should always be of paramount concern, no matter how large the ship or how far away it is from the shore.

Away from the media spotlight, however, the world’s fleet continues to fuel, feed and clothe much of the globe, with many seafarers spending up to a year away from their loved ones.

The loneliness and isolation of a life at sea is one of many problems our chaplains encounter. Strangers in a foreign land, seafarers find themselves in ports far from the nearest town and without the support networks many of us take for granted. Imagine the relief then, when a crew is visited by an MtS chaplain or welcomed to one of our centres. Here, they can access a range of services; contact home and reconnect with humanity after weeks on the ocean wave.

Our work extends far beyond tea and sympathy. In 250 ports, our chaplains and ship visitors stand ready to answer needs of every kind. For the two Romanian seafarers in this issue’s main feature, help from the MtS in Falmouth meant a vital lifeline of support after they had endured months of not being paid.

None of this is possible without your continuing support. Through your kind donations, the Flying Angel is able to bring strength and solace to people who not only go to the ends of the earth, but who may also feel out on the edge.

With my prayers and best wishes,

Secretary General

From the In this issue...MtS honoured in top awardsSydney MtS wins Lloyd’s List Seafarers’ Welfare Award and the Revd Peter Ellis is named ICSW Personality of the Year

Living on the edgeBen Bailey reports from Falmouth on the plight of two stranded Romanian seafarers and the help the Mission is giving them.

“Hello Mum”

MtS offers a vital link with home to those far from their families

Mission news 2

Fundraising news 6

Piracy update 12

Ports around the world 10

Interview with... 13

4

2

9

www.missiontoseafarers.org 0300 555 1505

My friend the seaAfter a chance meeting with a Norwegian seafarer, MtS supporter June Yates began 12 years at sea.

12

The MtS had much to celebrate at the Lloyd’s List Australia Shipping and Maritime Industry Awards in November. Our

Sydney centre received the Seafarers’ Welfare Award in recognition of ‘an outstanding contribution to the welfare of seafarers,’ while Jack Tomes, who has been volunteering in Hobart for more than 65 years, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Hearing the news, MtS Secretary General the Revd Tom Heffer said, “In my recent visit to Australia I saw first-hand how richly blessed we are with hardworking, committed staff and volunteers who regularly go the extra mile to ensure that visiting seafarers are welcomed and cared for. Their vital and demanding work takes place without fuss or fanfare, but makes a huge difference to the lives of so many. It is wonderful to see this contribution being recognised by the maritime industry.”

Just a few weeks after Sydney’s award win, Mission chaplain the Revd Peter Ellis was honoured for an illustrious career serving seafarers when the International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare named him Welfare Personality of the Year. Voted for by the world’s seafarers, the award reflects the welcoming presence Peter has provided in ports in Asia and Europe over the last 40 years. Following stints in Singapore and the UK, Peter spent the 20 years before his retirement in 2011 as chaplain to the bustling port of Hong Kong. A friendly face at the quayside, he visited ships laden with newspapers, European football DVDs and telephone cards. He met thousands of seafarers during his career and helped with a huge range of problems.

“The work for which Peter has been rightly honoured exemplifies the spirit of the Flying Angel which is known and loved by crews the world over,” said Tom. “Peter has served with selfless commitment and has been instrumental in strengthening links with the maritime community of Asia and we thank him for his service.”

Mission newsMtS centre, chaplain and volunteer all honoured in top awards

Tell us what you think of the new MtS website!

The Mission to Seafarers has a new-look, fresher, brighter website

at www.missiontoseafarers.org! We would love to hear what you think of it. Is it interesting, engaging, informative? Is it easy to find the information you need? Can you think of other areas we could include to make it better? We want to make our website the best possible platform for supporting seafarers, telling people what we do and raising the funds needed to sustain the Mission’s all-important work. As valued supporters we can only do this with your help!

If you have any feedback you would like to share, please email us at: [email protected].

2 Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Winter 2012 | Issue 3

The new Mission to Seafarers homepage at www.missiontoseafarers.org

(L-R): The Revd Dennis Claughton, MtS Fremantle chaplain; the Revd Ian Porter, MtS Sydney chaplain; the Revd Jed Crispin, MtS Melbourne chaplain; Col Brown, MtS Australia National Co-ordinator; Jack Tomes, volunteer at Hobart MtS; the Revd Bruce Mitchell, MtS Hobart chaplain.

The Revd Peter Ellis receives his award from Guy Ryder, Executive Director for Standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work for the International Labour Organization.

Bringing Christmas to seafarers far from home

Mission news

2011 marked the Mission in Mombasa’s 90th year in operation. The foundation stone for the centre may have been laid

in 1921, but the services of the Mission are needed as much now as they were then. These days the busy Flying Angel Club welcomes seafarers who have navigated the perilous pirate-infested waters of the Indian Ocean.

The large centre provides crews with a range of services. Alongside post-trauma care and counselling services, MtS Mombasa offers recreational facilities including a swimming pool, television room, sports hall and football field. For crews faced with the very real prospect of pirate attack, a space to relax away from their ship is vital. Former seafarer the Revd Michael Sparrow, who has served seafarers in this principal port for trade into East and Central Africa for seven years, says, “really one just has to provide kind, loving hospitality.”

3www.missiontoseafarers.org @flyingangelnews www.facebook.com/missiontoseafarers0300 555 1505

Mombasa Mission celebrates 90 years of serving seafarers

The seafarers’ centre in Mombasa.

For many seafarers, Christmas is just another day of long hours and hard work. But thanks to our amazing donors

and volunteers, crews who were far from home received festive hospitality at Mission centres around the world.

Our team in Antwerp held a Christmas service followed by a party for 180 seafarers. Chaplain John Attenborough said, “It was just an amazing atmosphere. Many seafarers said it was the best Christmas they’d had since they’d been at sea. If they can be part of a big party and a big celebration it feels like a family. As they left, every seafarer shook my hand and said ‘thank you so much for a wonderful evening.’” The team also provided extra gifts for seafarers to give to their colleagues stuck on board ship, and kept 200 presents for crews arriving over the next few days so no one felt left out.

Hartlepool MtS collected a record 1,500 donated gifts including gloves, sweets, clothes and toiletries, which were wrapped by a team of volunteers. Centre manager Aidan Webster said, “It’s great for seafarers to open a gift on Christmas Day, knowing that their families are doing exactly the same at home. It really brightens up their Christmas.”

Our team in Tyne and Wear had its Christmas activities generously sponsored by the Port of Tyne. Festive treats provided thanks to the Port’s help included free phone cards for seafarers to speak to loved ones around the world. MtS welfare officer Dianne Erskine said: “We are really grateful to the Port of Tyne for helping out at this time of year. Any comfort that we can give is always appreciated and very well received.”

Seafarers in Falmouth benefited from the compassion of churchgoers around Truro, as part of the ‘Sinbad’s Christmas’ project. Scheme organiser Primrose Peacock joined Mission chaplains and other volunteers on Christmas Day to distribute gifts: “We walked along the quay to each ship, calling out greetings. Heads soon popped up with exclamations of delight! Two crews asked us to sing to them and seemed to appreciate rather ragged versions of Away in a Manger,” she said. “It has been gratifying to work with a charity which is efficient, enthusiastic, kind and of high integrity.”

Photos from top: Chaplains and volunteers on the quayside in Falmouth; seafarers Danilo and Benedict with Les Cheyne (credit: Hartlepool Mail); seafarers receive free phone cards sponsored by The Port of Tyne (credit: Port of Tyne).

Nestled amidst the rolling moorland of Cornwall, the River Fal runs majestically out towards the English Channel. For

many years, the river has been an ideal location for shipowners to moor their out-of-work commercial ventures. The water is deep and the surrounding woodland provides natural shelter from the bracing elements as they blow in from the ancient coastline. In the summer, tourists are bussed down to enjoy Cornish cream teas and to get a closer look at the gargantuan vessels situated here.

On the cold wintry morning that I visit, the sky is black and the wind moans through the trees. For the two seafarers accompanying me, it is an emotional journey as we arrive alongside the ship which has caused them and their families so much heartache. Five months previously, George and Florin took jobs as watchkeepers, but their employer failed to pay their wages, leaving them in a no-man’s land of foreign bureaucracy with no money, no food and no familiar support network.

“That’s the ship,” says Florin pointing to a large reefer moored in the middle of the river. It is the first time he and his fellow Romanian George have set eyes on the Dona Liberta since they were forced to leave because of its unsanitary conditions.

“The generator kept breaking down so we didn’t have any electricity, and we had to use rainwater for washing,” says George. “It was so cold at night that it was hard for us to sleep. We had no fridge and so our food didn’t stay fresh. When we found a rod on board, we began catching fish from the river

because the chandler stopped coming as the bill hadn’t been paid.”

The Mission to Seafarers in Falmouth is no stranger to providing emergency help and assistance. From the disaster onboard MSC Napoli to providing hospitality for 98 Chinese fishermen who had to be evacuated when their ship caught fire, the team here is an essential part of the local maritime network, always on hand to answer the call for assistance. As concern for the men mounted, MtS port chaplain the Revd Mark Mesley was asked to investigate the situation.

“They were living in terrible conditions,” says Mark, “but initially they were reticent about the scale of their problems. Seafarers often fear blacklisting by the industry for complaining about poor treatment and they didn’t want to make a bad situation worse. They had concerns for their pay and for their families who were also suffering.”

Friends for 25 years, George and Florin went to college together and I can see that their strong bond helps them to

“I cannot go home without any money. I am the only hope we

have to pay the debts, to bring happiness back to my family.”

In the first of a two-part feature, Ben Bailey reports on the plight of two Romanian seafarers stranded in the River Fal, and the help the Mission gave them.

Living on the edge


support each other during these trying times. Back home, however, the situation is one of absolute despair.

“I have no words to describe how bad it is,” George’s wife tells Flying Angel News. “At one point, the phone was cut off for non- payment, and I lost my only direct way to contact my husband. We’re living on leftovers from neighbours; my youngest son has had to come out of school because I cannot afford the fees and the electricity and gas keeps getting turned off because I haven’t enough money to feed the meter. I feel suicidal on the worst of days, but it’s my responsibility to my children that pulls me through.”

Following Mark’s report, the Mission and the other agencies worked to find a way forward. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) served the ship with a prohibition order, declaring it unsanitary. This meant that George and Florin had no choice but to leave the ship and await further news. Falmouth MtS helped them to book into a local hotel and made its communications suite at the seafarers’ centre available to them so that they could contact their families. Father Mark tapped into the local church network to find a Romanian-speaking parishioner who could translate the legal language and help the men make progress with their claim.

Prisoners of conscience, trapped by their sense of duty towards their families, George and Florin wait to learn their fate. While I’m with them in Falmouth, word comes that the shipowner has made a partial offer of payment. But the situation is so grave that even that would not free the families from the cycle of debt they now find themselves enslaved in.

“I cannot go home without any money,” says George. “My wife cannot work because she must look after my children and there are no jobs in Romania, the situation is very bad. I am the only hope we have to pay the debts; to bring happiness back to my family.”

For Father Mark, the situation is complex and difficult, but he is clear about the Mission’s role: “As a port chaplain, it is my responsibility to be there for seafarers and to help them when we can. Our team is one part of a wide response network and we have a duty to ensure that when there is a problem, the right people are notified so that it can be addressed.”

“I’m so thankful that Father Mark is here to help us,” says Florin. “It’s the Mission that has made all of this happen. They have talked to the port authorities, the MCA, the union and the lawyer. We would still be on that ship if the Flying Angel hadn’t stepped in to help us – we trust them.”

Of course, the problem of non-payment of wages does not only exist within England’s green and pleasant waterways. All around the world, MtS staff are championing the rights of seafarers who are suffering at the hands of unscrupulous shipowners. But we can’t do it without your help. Thanks to the continuing generosity of our donors, the Mission is able to bring comfort, hope and support to people like Florin and George when they need the Flying Angel the most. Through regular giving and by leaving a gift in your will, you are helping to provide a vital network of practical assistance when no one else cares.

Cover story

5 www.missiontoseafarers.org @flyingangelnews www.facebook.com/missiontoseafarers0300 555 1505

Main image: The stranded seafarers with MtS chaplain the Revd Mark Mesley. Above, clockwise from top left: Laid-up ships in the River Fal; Florin fishes for food off the side of his ship; with few supplies left, supper is fish caught from the river.

“I’m so thankful that Father Mark is here to help us. We would still be

on that ship if the Flying Angel hadn’t stepped in.”

An ex-seafarer is donating the proceeds of his life story to the Mission. Born in the Netherlands in 1926, Huib van Hoeven writes about his youth in the Netherlands under

German occupation, taking part in resistance work, joining the Dutch Navy and working in bomb and mine disposal. He describes how he went on to command a squadron of minesweepers, and later co-ordinated large infrastructure projects for NATO. After retirement from the navy, he settled in England and became active in several projects for the Church of England at parish and diocesan level. Illustrated by the author, the book takes the form of letters to his granddaughter recounting events at each stage of his life.

‘Sea Crossings’ is on sale for £6.50. To buy the book go to: www.authorsonline.co.uk

The Mission received a kind donation of £3,500 from City of London livery

company The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers. Coming just before Christmas, the donation will be used for general support of our work in 250 ports around the world.

We were enormously grateful to receive a grant of £123,157 from

Seafarers UK to support the operating costs of Mission to Seafarers chaplains in Cardiff, Newport, Port Talbot, Singapore, Cyprus and Scotland. This funding will enable us to continue providing pastoral support, spiritual ministry and emergency assistance to thousands of seafarers.

Fundraising news

We couldn’t continue to help seafarers worldwide without the support we receive from our wonderful fundraising committees around the British Isles.

In October the Jersey committee held an event at the St Helier Maritime Museum attended by the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, General Sir John McColl and the Dean of Jersey, the Very Reverend Bob Key. MtS executive director Martin Sandford spoke to 160 guests about the Mission’s work, in particular our support for victims of Indian Ocean piracy. The Jersey group, which raised £9,000 in 2011, also spent December distributing Christmas gifts to seafarers.

In Winchester, the committee held its annual Trafalgar Night in November. 120 guests gathered to celebrate and remember Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar at the Gurka Museum. The group also hosted a talk by Rear Admiral John Lang entitled ‘Two Men in a Boat - A Norwegian Odyssey’. Bridge drives in Bournemouth have raised funds throughout the year, while the committee’s Christmas Fayre raised £1,900. It was a hectic year too for the Clevedon group, with activities ranging from street collections, to talks, to a summer BBQ and a Christmas Fayre. London’s Flying Angel Committee held its annual autumn buffet lunch for 100 guests on the HQS Wellington at Embankment, raising £1,970.

In Belfast, Roger and Val Denny, handed over a cheque for more than £5,000 raised through running car boot sales, while the Coleraine street collection made almost £1,000 thanks to the fantastic Anna Millen. And supporters across the UK were busy selling our Christmas cards throughout December.

On behalf of everyone at the Mission we would like to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to all our committees and supporters for their continued support, hard work and commitment to helping seafarers in the UK and around the world.

Busy year for Mission committees


Seafarers UK give major grant

Christmas gift from Wyre Drawers

The Jersey committee’s event at St Helier Maritime Museum attracted 160 people.

‘Sea Crossings: Letters to my granddaughter’ on sale for MtS

Community newsFundraising news


To celebrate the Day of the Seafarer on 25th June 2012, we’re holding street collections up and down the UK. We need your help to make this happen! If you can spare a couple of hours in June, or even rally a troop of volunteers to run your own Flag Day collection, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Nicky Jackson on 07500 333190 or email [email protected].

Fly the flag for seafarers on 25 June

Recycle for the Mission

Join us for

Sea Sunday is set aside in the Church calendar to remember seafarers and pray for

them, their families and those who serve them.

As well as raising money to support those who work at sea, the day is celebrated around the

world with services, parades and ship blessings.

To find out more about how your church can get involved, go to:

www.seasunday.org

You can now help the Mission by

recycling your old mobile phones and inkjet cartridges. This is a simple way to raise funds for MtS while helping the environment, and it

won’t cost you a penny!There are more than 50 million mobile phones in circulation in the UK, and it’s estimated that between 10 and 15 million people will replace their phones this year alone. Most old handsets end up left at the back of a drawer, or thrown in the bin to end up as landfill. However, since phones contain heavy metals such as copper, gold, silver and palladium this can harm plants and wildlife. Ink ca r t r i dges t oo take their toll on the environment: it takes one litre of oil to manufacture every 15 inkjet ca r t r i dges and 3.3 litres for every laser toner cartridge made, of which 85% end up as landfill. But both can raise significant funds: empty cartridges are worth up to £5 and old mobile phones can generate up to £24.

If you would like to get involved we can send you a Freepost envelope or arrange for a collection point box or sack to be delivered to your church or place of work. Or if space is limited we can send out a display box with 50 envelopes.For further information please contact Nicky Jackson on 07500 333190 or email [email protected]

Join us for our most popular cycle event on 27th May 2012. We’re heading to the beautiful New Forest with the choice of either a 35- or 75-mile route starting at Brockenhurst. Sign up now to receive:

• a training schedule to help you get started, and a fundraising pack with tips on how to reach your £175 target

• energy snacks and water throughout the day, plus a goody bag

• a celebratory hog roast/BBQ • a chance to win great prizes, includ-

ing a Brompton folding bike!

We’re aiming for our most successful ride yet, so book your place now before they all go!

The Flying Angel Ride returns!

To find out more call Katherine on 020 7246 2939 or email [email protected].



When you’ve been at sea for months, the sound of a loved one’s voice thousands of miles away can mean everything.

Life on the ocean waves in a small crew can be terribly isolating, making moments of contact with friends and family crucial to seafarers’ welfare.

A recent International Transport Workers’ Federation survey showed that phone calls from seafarers’ centres (85%) and mobiles (82%) were the most popular means of seafarers contacting friends and family. In ports around the world, MtS centres offer telephone access, as well as cheap phone and SIM cards and internet access to put seafarers in touch with home.

One ship’s captain, whose crew received SIM cards as a Christmas gift from our chaplain Geoff Moore, later wrote to say: “This morning we passed the Azores on our way to the Caribbean ports. That was our first (and last) possibility during crossing [the] Atlantic to make phone calls home. We used Global Roaming SIM cards we received from you at Ipswich. We contacted our families and all faces started shining. We wish to thank you very much for your nice and practical gift. Only sailors and people forced to stay far from their families can really appreciate the worth of this small piece of plastic! Thanks to people like you and other Mission staff we are not alone at sea.”

The ITF survey showed that 80% of seafarers overall and 97% of ratings said they had no access to the internet while at sea, and that where access was available it was expensive. The opportunity to get online during the few hours ashore is therefore vital. It can mean the chance to Skype husbands, wives or children, to catch up on news from friends, and to see pictures of family events, rapidly growing children and even new arrivals. One Honduran seafarer accessing the internet at the

Port of Fujairah told us, “I have not seen pictures of my newborn baby for five months as we are not allowed to download large picture files on our ship. It is so good to see her growing. I wish I was there but this is the next best thing. Thank you.”

Due to the rapid turnaround times in port, seafarers may not get off their ship at all, which is why visits from MtS chaplains and volunteers bearing Flying Angel phone cards, SIMs and often internet-linked laptops are so crucial. Our teams understand the challenges seafarers face and go out of their way to help them make contact with home. In Antwerp, we have started selling long-range antennae to boost the port’s wireless signal, while in other ports 24-hour wifi means that crews can access the internet from their own laptops even when the centre is closed.

In some ports, many ships will not even dock, stopping several miles out at sea – too far for crew to get to shore and back before they leave again. Fujairah anchorage in the UAE holds up to 100 vessels at a time, so the Mission uses its Flying Angel launch – the first purpose-built seafarer support vessel in the world – to bring thousands of seafarers a small taste of home. The boat welcomes aboard around 75 seafarers a day, which means that since her work began in 2007, over 80,000 seafarers have benefited from her operations.

None of this would be possible without help from our supporters. Providing an internet connection or a phone line may seem simple, but to men and women far from home these things are lifelines. Thank you for helping us maintain these vital services.


Feature

“Hello Mum”MtS offers a vital link with home to those far from their families

Pictures (clockwise from top left): Accessing the internet at an MtS centre; Antwerp chaplain John Attenborough explains how to use the Flying Angel phone card; a seafarer phones home from onboard ship.

In January the UK Foreign Affairs Select Committee released its report,

‘Piracy off the coast of Somalia’, giving robust recommendations to spur on the Government’s efforts against piracy.

The report endorses the Government’s decision to permit armed guards on British-flagged vessels, but says it must provide clear legal direction on the use of weapons. MPs also said that the Government should review procedures to support families of British hostages abroad. The committee accused the UK of doing too little to defeat a problem that reportedly cost £86 million in ransoms last year alone, and said it should work harder to prosecute pirates, including considering bringing them to Britain for trial.

Committee Chair Richard Ottaway MP said: “It is unacceptable that 2.6 million square miles of the Indian Ocean has become a no-go area for small vessels, and a dangerous one for commercial shipping. There is a clear need to take decisive action.”

The UK is set to host a major international conference on piracy in February 2012.

In January, a rally to support seven Indian seafarers from the vessel MV Asphalt Venture, who have been held by pirates since September 2010,

attracted support from almost 1,000 people in the town of Tuticorin. MtS chaplain the Revd Simon Dharmaraj who has been supporting

the hostages’ families reports that the local bishop, the Right Revd JAD Jebachandran, 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.

Simon has been in close contact with the family of a local seafarer, Danistan, to support them throughout his time in captivity. They have only been able to speak to their son for two minutes every few weeks, and he has reported being beaten. It is believed his captors hope to negotiate the release of Somali pirates held by the Indian government in return for freeing the rest of the crew.

9www.missiontoseafarers.org @flyingangelnews www.facebook.com/missiontoseafarers0300 555 1505 8 Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | Winter 2012 | Issue 3

Piracy update

My name is Rebecca Gebbie, I have worked in the MtS London office since 2008, and have probably spoken to many of you in that time. I am the Mission to Seafarers’ legacy officer, which means that I work with solicitors and executors to make sure that when you leave us a gift in your will, your wishes are properly carried out and your compassion lives on through our daily work.

We all know how important it is to make our wishes clear. Once you have taken care of family and dear friends, I hope you consider remembering The Mission to Seafarers in your will. As a friend of the Mission, you know how vital our chaplains, centres and advocacy work are to those who spend their lives at sea, facing loneliness and danger to provide for those they love.

No matter how large or small, a gift from your estate makes an enormous difference to our work. If you are thinking about remembering The Mission to Seafarers in your will, I am always available to talk to you on 0207 246 2917, or if you have email, you can contact me at: [email protected]



Piracy update

Report urges tough UK action on piracyTuticorin: rally for hostage Danistan

T he 14,000 seafarers who dock at Townsville, Australia, each year will

be greeted with fantastic new MtS facilities including a canteen, a wifi internet café, a library and an outdoor recreation space thanks to a major redevelopment funded by the Port of Townsville Ltd. The Bishop of North Queensland, Bill Ray, who led the opening ceremony, said the facilities marked a new chapter in Townsville MtS’ 84-year history: “The former facilities were very crowded, but thanks to the generosity of Port of Townsville Ltd we’re now able to offer this wonderful space that will serve seafarers for many years to come.”

Our centre in Durban received a special guest in December when

the then Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation, who was in South Africa for the COP17 climate change conference, dropped in to say hello. MtS chaplain in Durban, Revd Des Vaubell, said “Mr Mitropoulos seemed very impressed with the facilities, especially the communication capabilities we have for seafarers. He met the Mission staff and spent a great deal of time talking to seafarers. I was impressed that in the midst of a very busy conference he made time to visit the Durban Mission.”

MtS chaplain in Holyhead, Bil l Rogerson, helped two shipwrecked

Russian seafarers make precious contact with their families when their ship, the MV Swanland, sank amidst storms and 50ft waves in the Irish Sea in December. The two survivors had been rescued by a helicopter co-piloted by Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, which battled through 70mph winds to reach them. Having spent time with the two men offering a listening ear, Bill said, “They told me ‘Thank God for the Mission to Seafarers, you really care for us. Thank you for your help and understanding.’”

MtS staff and volunteers in South Tyneside rallied to support a

Filipino community after meeting ship’s cook and volunteer firefighter Richard Fernandez. The team were so inspired by Richard’s life-saving stories that they called on support from local fire stations to send new equipment to his crew in the Philippines. Mission volunteer Neville Cresdee said, “Richard has been introduced to many fire brigades, with a response stretching all along the east coast, extending to Holland.”

Richard’s heroic efforts aren’t limited

to his community at home. In December he led the rescue of 11 Algerians who had been stranded in a dinghy for five days with no food or water after their ship sank off Gibraltar. The men were suffering from frostbite and hypothermia. They were found by chance when the Master of Richard’s ship spotted them floating in the distance during the journey from Italy to Houston, USA.

The ship-wrecked seafarers’ company allowed Richard to claim the dinghy for use by his volunteer fire and rescue crew

in the Philippines. The offer could not have come at a more crucial time, as Richard’s community was struggling through the aftermath of December’s Typhoon Washi, which killed more than 1,200 people and left 60,000 homeless. His wife Emelyn has taken charge of a rescue team delivering food and supplies to the victims. With the aid of Richard’s shipping agent and chaplains from the Houston Seafarers’ Centre, the salvaged dinghy and outboard motor are now on their way to the Philippines to support the rescue effort.

Ports around the world

In September our centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, received a surprise visit from an

ex-seafarer who had driven many miles through hurricane conditions for a trip down memory lane. Mr Cave, who had stayed at the centre in the 1960s, recalled waking to find his only pair of shoes had gone missing. Distressed, he told the chaplain of his loss, who quickly bought him replacement footwear which he noted was of very good quality. The seafarer said he had never forgotten the kindness of the Mission chaplain, and left a very generous donation in recognition of the help he had received 50 years earlier.

Holyhead: help for wreck survivors

Tyne and Houston help equip lifesaving Filipino firefighters

Durban: IMO head visits MtS centre

Townsville: refurb to benefit 14,000


Halifax: memories inspire big donation

Bishop Bill Ray and Port Chairman RossDunning unveil a plaque to comm-emorate the day, in front of 80 guests.

(L-R) Captain Alli, S. African Maritime Safety Association; Efthimios Mitropoulos, IMO Secretary General; Revd Des Vaubell, MtS Durban chaplain.

Staff at MtS Hong Kong were surprised when a stranded seafarer arrived at their doors carrying only a suitcase, a 42” flatscreen TV and a chainsaw. The exhausted ship’s

fitter, who was en route from Rome to Kiribati, had fallen asleep and missed his connecting flight. He rushed to the Mariners’ Club in search of help, only to realise that although he was carrying the chainsaw for his brother and the TV for his daughter, he had lost a backpack containing his laptop and phone. The MtS took care of the fatigued seafarer and helped arrange a new ticket. Happily, the man’s rucksack was handed in at the airport, and he finally made it home a week later, having not dared sleep a wink on his way back!

Hong Kong: fatigued seafarer stuck in HK

Port news

Wellington: hello to World Cup fever!

MtS Wellington, New Zealand, was swamped with visitors when October’s

Rugby World Cup brought in more than 2,500 people in just a few days. With the 35,000-seater Westpac Stadium only 200 metres from the port, the seafarers’ centre found itself at the heart of World Cup fever! No sooner had the competition finished than cruise ship season began, with more than 90 liners expected to dock. Looking to the busy weeks ahead, MtS chaplain the Revd Bob Peters pledged: “The Mission team will be there to meet and greet the passengers and offer some honest Kiwi hospitality.”


The Revd Bob Peters stands on the deck of a ship at the Port of Wellington with the Westpac Stadium behind.

Homeward bound: My Lady Norma I sets sail after 12 months stranded in UK

My Lady Norma I is finally ready to depart for Malaysia after 12 months laid up in Penzance undergoing repairs. The crew of the 50-year-old ship have

been befriended by the MtS during their long stay away from family and friends. Crew member Fazurin Halim said, “We will miss the people of Penzance very much and the English culture,” before joking: “Oh, and the weather.”Inset: MtS chaplain the Revd Mark Mesley and honorary chaplain the Revd Jon Robertshaw bid farewell to the crew before their 45-day voyage. Jon said, “We’ll be keeping in touch. It’s going to be a big venture to get this old ship back.”

“I thank the father and the Mission for listening to me... No one else would, all everyone else wanted was information. It was like being interrogated... It’s only the Mission that would listen to my story, because the Father was interested in me as a person.”

A seafarer in Mombasa who was helped by the Revd Michael Sparrow after a pirate attack.

"Until now it has been hard for me to find the words to say thank you to all of you in Falmouth. Thank you so much - you are all now part of my life. My wife is so thankful to you and is eager that I express her gratitude also. I will forever treasure what you did for me. When I think of it it makes me strong and happy in my life."

“Whenever I enter a port the first thing I look for is the Flying Angel Club and the chaplain... I know that is where I can phone home and where I can be safe and cared for.”

A Filipino bosun who had to be airlifted from his vessel after an accident on board. As he recovered from serious chest injuries in Falmouth he was supported by the MtS team.

A seafarer at our centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Seafarers’ stories

Photo: The Cornishman.


Your stories

My friend the seaAt 21, I emigrated alone to Canada with no job, money or spon-

sorship. I just went with my faith and a prayer for God’s will in my life. One evening the Norwegian cargo ship Trolleggen docked. I met Frank and the friendship continued while he was back at sea. Months later when Trolleggen returned, he asked me if I would like to work on board. The captain agreed, saying “I’ll give you about six weeks”. That six weeks turned into twelve wonderful years!

MS Trolleggen had thirty crew. I was one of two girls working in the crew mess, saloon and officers’ mess, serving meals, wash-ing up and cleaning the officer cabins. Trolleggen had a set run from Vancouver Island down the west coast of the States to Long Beach, California, where it loaded wood pulp and carried timber on top, offloading this at Venezuela and then picking up Bauxite from

Trinidad and Guyana to take back to Long Beach and Vancouver.

There were difficult times in Venezuela. It was hard to dock because some ships paid to jump the queue, which left us sitting at anchor for weeks. It was extreme-ly hot on board with no air con-ditioning, and although the tender would take you ashore occasion-ally, life could be very tough.

There were dangerous moments too. One morning the Captain came and asked the AB’s to secure the timber because the weather forecast was bad. An understate-ment! As the AB’s finished their breakfast, the storm began and the whole lot went overboard. The ship almost turned over, ev-erything in the galley smashed, the saloon’s heavy furniture was thrown, tables crashed about and it was hard to stand up. That was a time when I honestly thought we were not going to make it. Trolleggen was so badly damaged it went into dry dock.

I had been on Trolleggen some years without a holiday when the Captain informed us it was being sold. Returning to Norway, Frank said it would be impossible for me to get on another ship without him. This annoyed me as I longed to be back at sea. I left the house for a day away, bought an all-day train ticket and thought “I will get off when I feel like it”, which was at Tromso. When I got there, I bought a coffee. I was drinking it and looking out of the cafe window when I saw the Norwegian Seaman’s Of-fice, and went to enquire how difficult it would be for me to get back

to sea. I was asked go downstairs for a medical, and afterwards, to my surprise, they said: “You join the Royal Viking Sky in Malaga next week.” I hadn’t considered a cruise liner, only cargo, so I was slightly shocked! Nevertheless, I signed up and off I went. The world cruise was starting!

RV Sky took me around the world four times, and it was known for docking in every place

a ship could. Usually a cruise lin-er docks around 8am and sails around 6pm, so I worked night shifts on the switchboard so that I could escort passenger tours during the day. I had some amaz-ing experiences! One I particu-larly remember was in Honolulu, where seven of us went island-hopping in a small plane. Flying back into Honolulu in the evening with all the beautiful lights was breathtaking. I had the pleasure of meeting many film stars too – Liz Taylor, Carrie Grant, Rock Hud-son... The downside was not getting much sleep! However, I was young and it was an amazing life, not to be missed.

Another memory is when we were in Recife, Brazil, and the RV Sky hit a barrier reef. I remember the terrible noise it made! I was on top deck and I recall the engine room guys shooting upstairs very frightened, not knowing what we had hit. It took four ships to free us, and we had to go into dry dock and fly everyone home.

When asked whether I preferred cargo or cruise, all I can say is I am so blessed to have experienced both. The cruise liner gave me travel with crews of different nationalities and cultures, but the car-go ship holds a very special place in my heart. It was a little family. When asked which country I love the best, every one was special.

The Mission to Seafarers were always there when we came into dock. They would bring newspapers from different countries, the church was there, and if you needed to make a phone call in a country where it wasn’t easy, they would help. One time I left the ship due to ill health, and the Mission sorted everything for me. They are a wonderful organisation.

I’ve experienced hard and sad times at sea, but that is no dif-ferent to the land. I lost two friends through suicide, but amongst it all I’ve also experienced wonderful sunsets and I’ve seen the romantic side of life at sea. I made loads of friends, had some good parties, and even the bad times taught me compassion and understanding. To me, the sea is awesome; it’s majestic, powerful and full of beauty.

The sea has been good to me. Yes there was sorrow and pain, death and life, hearts united and divided, joy and laughter, loneli-ness and friendship, good times and bad. The sea gave me all of these, but above all it gave me life, none of which would have happened without my best friend of all, Jesus, who without a doubt was and always will be my anchor.

After a chance meeting with a Norwegian seafarer, Mission supporter June Yates began a life at sea. She stayed 12 years.

Photos from top: going on vacation from the Royal Viking Sky; taking a break on MS Trolleggen; carnival time in Rio de Janeiro; sunset from MS Trolleggen.

Do you have a story to share about your time at sea? If so, we’d love to hear about it: [email protected]

Sponsor Bogna at: www.justgiving.com/runboogierun

Tell us about your time at sea. There were highlights, such as seeing the world, making friends from every corner of the globe and becoming a professional photographer, but I also experienced incredible loneliness, being separated from family and friends, including two Christmases in a row. I worked 12-14 hours a day, I never knew what day of a week it was! And I got physically very ill. In the end I was forced to resign from working on ships for medical reasons.Why did you decide to take on the Adidas Half Marathon?I originally wanted to run a full marathon but I submitted my application too late. I wanted to run for a cause, and I thought the Mission would be a great charity to run for, so when they offered me a place in the half marathon I decided “yeah, why not? I can do that instead if it’s for them.”Why did you decide to raise money for the Mission?While I was a cruise ship photographer, visiting all those beautiful ports of call and being away from my loved ones, I found MtS centres where I could use cheap phone cards to call family on the other side of the world, or update my travel blog. Now, I have plenty of friends who are still working on ships. By running for the Mission I will be helping them out.How are you finding the training? I’ve been working all the time so I’ve been training in the morning or at weekends. I have been trying to run 2-3 times a week and so far I’m doing alright! I can tell my condition is improving. When you get up in the morning at 6am to go for a run it feels great just to get out in the fresh air.What are you most excited/nervous about? It’s quite a challenging distance. In the past and I had a bad health condition, so for me to actually finish a half marathon is challenging enough – I don’t care about my time. I also really want to raise as much money as possible for the MtS.What advice would you give someone planning to run a half marathon? Train for it for a good few months. Don’t just up and do it. If you do it for a cause it will give you more motivation.

Interview with...

Bogna TeuchmanPhotographer Bogna Teuchman spent two years working on a cruise ship, using MtS centres around the world to call home. She will take on the Adidas Half Marathon in March to raise money for the Mission.

www.missiontoseafarers.org 0300 555 1505

Many of us have begun 2012 with resolutions to get into shape, but it can be tough to keep up the good

work without a clear personal goal.

Why not set yourself a target and get into training for one of our brilliant challenge events?

From the British 10k London Run and the Adidas Half Marathon to cycle rides to Brighton, the New Forest and Paris, we have activities to suit all abilities. Or if you’re looking for something more intrepid, why not unleash your inner adventurer and travel to Africa or

South America for a once in a lifetime trek?

Whatever your target for 2012 we’ll be there to support you the whole way. Who needs a personal trainer when

your target is an amazing personal achievement?

Get fit for 2012...The sky’s the limit!

For more info about our 2012 events programme contact Katherine Wylie on 020 7246 2939.

A lifeline for seafarersIncreased piracy, longer voyages and less time ashore have made life harder and more isolating for seafarerseverywhere, yet it is easy to forget the men and women working at sea. Thankfully our supporters rallied round, and the generous responses to our Christmas appeal enabled us to offer hope and help where it was most needed.

Our work at Christmas forms only a small part of the year-round struggle to find and help those seafarers who need us most. Your support enables the Mission to provide desperately needed practical and emotional assistance where otherwise there would be none.

One recentcase concerns George and Florin,two young seafarers employed to work on areefer ship in lay-upon the River Fal inCornwall. During thefour months they spentaboard, they were forcedto live in unsanitaryconditions, had to fishfor food and were not paid the wages owed by their employer. Thank-fully the men were dis-covered late last year by the Mission to Seafarers’port chaplain during a routine ship visit.

We will soon be launchingan appeal to help otherseafarers like Georgeand Florin get back on their feet.

How you can support us

Make a donation If you would like to make a donation, please fill out the form below, and complete your contact details at the bottom of the page.

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There are many ways in which you can support our work with seafarers around the world.

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Find out more about getting involvedPlease tick the box below and fill out the contact details panel at the bottom of the page to find out more about:

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