Mission to Seafarers

The Mission to Seafarers is a charity and part of the Anglican Church. It is a worldwide organisation, and offers help and support to seafarers.

The Mission to Seafarers asks us to remember and pray for the seafarers who bring so many essentials for our daily lives to our shores. Over 90 per cent of our imports are brought to this country by sea, including much of our food, clothes, oil, toys and electrical goods.

Sea Sunday - 11th July 2010

When a serious fire broke out on a cargo vessel in the port of Antwerp The Mission to Seafarers was on hand to arrange emergency accommodation and support for the sixteen-strong Syrian crew. The 1974-built City of Berytus was in port unloading its cargo when, in the middle of the night, a fire broke out. The men on board immediately had to evacuate the vessel whilst the port authorities attempted to contain the blaze. The fire was so severe that it was left to burn for three days in a controlled fire, leaving the ship was only suitable for scrap.

“Because of the seriousness of the fire the crew left the vessel with only the clothes they were wearing,” John says. “I took them to the Antwerp Seafarers’ Centre where a store of second-hand clothing is kept and each of the crew members got kitted out in clean clothes. We also provided them with a Mission to Seafarers’ telephone card so that each man could reassure his family at home that he was safe. Fortunately, none of the crew was injured in the fire.”

Whilst some of the crew went back to the ship to see if they could salvage some personal documents, Mr Attenborough took the rest of the crew to a local launderette to wash their smoky clothes and then to a nearby supermarket where the Mission purchased items such as toiletries for the men.

“All of the crew was very grateful for the help the Mission in Antwerp was able to provide,” said John. “It was clearly a horrifying ordeal for the men to endure, but we have been able to support them emotionally and physically through it. Many of the crew were concerned that they would not receive their wages or compensation for the loss of personal items and asked me to speak with the local branch of the International Transport Workers’ Federation. This I did and I was pleased to report back that they would be paid what was due to them and be repatriated home.”

The Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers, the Revd Tom Heffer, praised the work of the local Antwerp centre and commented that, whilst accidents at work happen, it is even more acute for seafarers. “I am full of admiration for the efforts of John Attenborough and his team, supporting the crew of the City of Berytus. The work of the society is often quietly performed, but when emergencies happen, our chaplains are ready to step up and meet the need as required. Seafarers do not carry many personal belongings with them and so those items that have been lost in this fire will cause anxiety and heartache.” The Mission to Seafarers kept daily contact with the crew of the vessel until they were able to be flown home.

Sea Sunday falls on 11th July when, with Christians worldwide, we think of seafarers wherever they may be – at sea, held hostage in Somalia, on ships under arrest in port and awaiting repatriation or spending a few hours recreation ashore at a Seafarers’ Centre whilst their ships unload and load. Whatever you’re doing on this day please remember in your prayers seafarers and those of all denominations who minister to their physical and spiritual needs, especially the Mission to Seafarers. If anyone has a collecting box ready for emptying please let me know and I’ll arrange for the money to be sent to Mission to Seafarers.

If you would like any further information about the Mission or wish to support its work either in prayer or financially please visit their website at www.missiontoseafarers.org or have a word with me.

Lawrence Dark