This year The Mission to Seafarers
celebrates 150 years. It is a charitable organisation
committed to the wellbeing of seafarers around the world.
Founded in England in 1856, the Mission is working to improve the
quality of seafarers' lives, irrespective of colour, race, faith or
belief, in over 300 ports around the world.
There are Chaplains and Seafarers' centres in several ports in the
Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf.
DUBAI
In Dubai, the Mission to Seafarers' Angel Appeal is marking the
150th anniversary by raising funds to build a Seafarers Support
Boat, to offer them a "home away from home". The Support boat
'"Angel" will go out to the
seafarers in the anchorage of the east coast of the UAE equipped
with:
Email and telephone facilities to enable them to call home.
Medical Clinic with paramedics on board
A Welfare Officer with a sympathetic ear and the ability to help
solve seafarers' problems.
Book and DVD libraries
A place to relax, chat and unwind.
The Rev'd Stephen Miller, The Mission Chaplain in Dubai, said: "Far
too many seafarers on board ships anchored offshore at any given
time, do not get the opportunity to come ashore. Many of these
vessels can be up to 18 miles out and it is too costly for the
seafarers or their companies to consider shore leave.
Seafarers are often unable to communicate with family and friends
for weeks, sometimes months, leading to isolation and loneliness,
which the "Angel" is designed to
alleviate". It is hoped that the
"Angel" will be launched and operational by the end of
2006.
BAHRAIN
The Rev'd Victor Salve has retired from the Seafarers' Centre in
Bahrain but is responsible for the pastoral care of seafarers and
ship visiting. More can be read of Victor's work under
"Profile".
A former chaplain of the Mission to Seafarers in the port in Bahrain
was Ray Trudgett. Ray has since been ordained and is now Port
Chaplain in Aqaba, which is in the Diocese of Jerusalem. Ray
and his wife Roz still keep links with the Diocese of Cyprus and the
Gulf, regularly attending Synod.
ADEN
Although the Mission to Seafarers has not developed in Aden, as had
been hoped, there is some shipping and Peter Crooks keeps an eye on
that as honorary chaplain. He recently looked down on the
shipping in the port and, as well as many dhows, watched
"The Spirit of the Red Sea" as
it slipped anchor for Malaysia. Peter had visited this bulk
carrier the previous day. He relates how friends told him they
were praying that his legs would be strong enough to take him up
gangplanks again. It's so good to know that Peter has made
such wonderful progress after his illness, though he says he can
only manage one or two visits at a time. In his newsletter he
tells us that, "On my first visit I was deeply touched to be greeted
in the galley by a young crew member who discovering my work, told
me eagerly he was my brother, a new Christian from Myanmar".
In Cyprus it is hoped that a part-time Chaplain will be appointed to
the Port of Limassol now that the parish needs a full time Chaplain.
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