Stella Maris Port Chaplain Directory 2020
Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) has launched a brand new version of its global port chaplains’ directory which helps seafarers get quick access to pastoral and practical support wherever they are in the world.
The Stella Maris Port Chaplain Directory 2020 lists phone numbers and email addresses of the charity’s 230 chaplains in over 300 ports and terminals across 41 countries.
It also highlights the ports in which Stella Maris Seafarers’ Centres are located; these centres provide a space where seafarers can go to relax, contact family, socialise, and speak to a chaplain away from the environment of their ships.
Stella Maris CEO Martin Foley said, “Stella Maris has the largest ship visiting network globally and our experience shows that face-to-face contact is unique and irreplaceable. This directory provides seafarers useful points of contact should they need urgent support and assistance.” Stella Maris Development Director John Green said, “We have chaplains in most of the world’s ports. The Directory is a handy source of information for seafarers to get quick and easy access to assistance and advice.
“Providing up to date and accurate details enables our network of chaplains to provide holistic care for seafarers in port after port worldwide and is a valuable resource both for seafarers and stakeholders in the maritime industry such as P&I clubs, shipping agents and port officials,” he added.
The support offered by Stella Maris – which celebrates its Centenary this year – includes counselling and befriending, hospital visits, transporation to local shops and facilities and providing WiFi connection and phone cards.
The Directory was sponsored by Tindall Riley, Managers of The Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited.
Copies of the Directory are being sent out to Stella Maris chaplains globally for distribution to seafarers and ships. The Directory can be downloaded by clicking here.
Day with a Deacon: Deacon Michael Ho featured on TV
Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) Canada was featured on Salt and Light TV which highlights the work of Deacon Michael, our Port Chaplain and Coordinator for Toronto and Ontario.
The interview shows how Deacon Michael’s ministry supporting seafarers arriving in port and ensuring their pastoral and practical needs are looked after.
The interview is conducted in Cantonese except some interviews and comments which are in English including an interview with Stella Maris Canada National Director Fr Andrew Thavam at sequence 20:42 to 22:25.
To watch the video click the red start button on the video at the top of the page or go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yi46bK8Bzc
Ship crew supported in Montreal
Fr Andrew Thavam, the Montreal chaplain from seafarers’ charity Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) has spoken about the grief felt by the family and crew mates of a Sri Lankan seafarer who fell overboard in the Saint Lawrence River.
Fr Andrew was one of the first people to meet the Maersk Patras crew when the containership berthed at the port the day after the incident on May 19.
Fr Andrew (pictured below) said the crew were still in a state of shock when he went on board, so he provided support and stayed with them while the authorities conducted enquiries. The ship’s agent and other officials were also present.
“On their second day in port, I took the crew to the seafarers centre as the men said they were tired from all the enquiries and wanted to get away from the ship. We spoke about the distressing situations they had been through, and I also offered counselling. They were visibly more relaxed and in better spirits when they returned to the vessel,” said Fr Andrew, who continued to support and visit the crew during their stay at port.
Sri Lankan-born Fr Andrew also spoke to the family of the missing seafarer in Sri Lanka. “Naturally they were devastated. I did my best to console them. They asked for my prayers in the slim chance he would still be alive.
“What was more heart-breaking is that the seafarer had boarded the ship only ten days before the incident and celebrated his 29th birthday just two days before the unfortunate event,”said Fr Andrew.
The shipping company and ship owner, Maersk, has confirmed that the search and rescue operation has been called off.
The shipping company and ship owner, Maersk, has confirmed that the search and rescue operation has been called off.
“It is with regret we have received the news that the search and rescue operation was unsuccessful, and we must conclude that we have lost our colleague. It is a tragic situation for the family and we have offered them our full support. My deepest condolences and thoughts go to them,” said Søren Toft, COO of A.P. Moller-Maersk.
Maersk says it is in contact with the seafarer’s relatives as well as the crew, who will receive crisis counselling.
Deacon Dileep interviewed
Apostleship of the Sea/Stella Maris Vancouver Port Chaplain Deacon Dileep Athaide is interviewed by BC Catholic about his unexpected path to becoming a chaplain.
Agnieszka Ruck writes that a few years ago, Deacon Dileep could never have guessed he’d become a frequent visitor on the immense coal and container ships dotting the horizon in Delta and Vancouver.
Yet nearly every day he finds himself donning a hard hat, reflective vest, and steel-toed boots, chatting with security guards who recognise his white collar; and climbing high ladders into cargo ships as a chaplain to seafarers.
We encourage you to read this excellent write up about Deacon Dileep’s own faith journey as he relates how AoS supports seafarers faith and practical needs. Go to this link to read the story.
Deacon Dileep Athaide is AoS/Stella Maris port chaplain in Vancouver
2019 Global Port Chaplains Directory launched
Stella Maris-Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) has launched a new version of its global port chaplains’ directory which helps seafarers get access to pastoral, practical and spiritual support wherever they are in the world.
The Port Chaplain Directory 2019 lists phone numbers and email addresses of the charity’s 227 chaplains in 334 ports across 59 countries. This includes 17 ports in Canada.
It also highlights the ports in which Stella Maris Seafarers’ Centres are located; these centres provide a space where seafarers can go to relax, pray, contact family, socialise, and speak to a chaplain away from the environment of their ships.
Stella Maris (AoS ) in South Africa and all over the world are able to provide pastoral, practical and spiritual care to seafarers when tragedy strikes, acting as a dependable, trusted friend in times of crisis.
The Directory enables our network of chaplains to provide holistic care for seafarers in port after port worldwide and gives seafarers a tool to get quick and easy access to assistance and advice.”
“Providing up to date and accurate details of all our chaplains is a valuable resource both for seafarers and stakeholders in the maritime industry such as P&I clubs, shipping agents and port officials,” he added.
The range of support offered by AoS includes counselling and befriending, taking seafarers to church, visiting them in hospital, transporting them to local shops and facilities and providing means of communicating with family and friends.
Copies of the Directory have been sent out to AoS chaplains globally for distribution to seafarers and ships. The Directory can be downloaded here Port chaplain Directory 2019.
Montreal Mass for seafarers
Fr Andrew Thavam, AoS Stella Maris Montreal Port Chaplain and AoS Canada National Director celebrated Sunday Mass at the Mariners House chapel.
Thirteen seafarers participated and Mass was offered for the seafarers who had died and went missing after two ships collided and also for their families.
Life At Sea Report
Stella Maris-Apostleship of Sea in Great Britain has produced a report titled Life At Sea: Working together in times of crisis.
The report looks at how ship visiting and pastoral care for crews continue to remain vital. It illustrates cases of seafarer abandonment, non-payment of wages, stress and mental health problems, bullying and harassment, medical emergencies, and refusal of shore leave.
Report highlights:
- Having a ‘friend in port’ is still vitally important for seafarers, even in our technological age. Face-to-face contact is unique and irreplaceable, and Stella Maris-Apostleship of the Sea’s commitment to routine ship visiting can help alleviate loneliness and mental health problems in seafarers.
- Stella Maris-Apostleship of the Sea can provide practical, emotional and pastoral care to seafarers when tragedy strikes, acting as a dependable, trusted friend in times of crisis.
- Mental health programmes have been developed to address loneliness and boredom. But often, simply talking to Stella Maris-Apostleship of the Sea’s chaplains can make all the difference, by letting seafarers know they are not forgotten.
- Assault and bullying at sea is a reality for many seafarers.
- Piracy, and the threat of piracy can have a lasting effect on seafarers’ wellbeing and mental health. Swift intervention is essential to minimise the impact of a pirate attach so seafarers can return to work with confidence.
- Every year, more than 1,000 of Stella Maris-Apostleship of the Sea’s chaplains and volunteers in 334 ports around the world visit over 70,000 ships.
Click the link to download the Life at Sea Report 2019
New vehicle for Port of Vancouver
Deacon Dileep Athaide, Stella Maris-AoS Chaplain in Port of Vancouver conducted a blessing of a new vehicle recently. The 7-seater hybrid vehicle is used primarily for chaplaincy/pastoral visits to cargo ships docked at various terminals in the Port of Vancouver, and for the transport of seafarers to various locations ashore.
AoS are grateful to the ITF Seafarers Trust for donating the vehicle to AoS. It is registered with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver.
Dileep says seafarers arriving at Vancouver from around the world will be well-served by this vehicle. He says, “My immense gratitude to ITF Trust Fund, as well as to the ITF and ILWU in Canada, and to AoS Great Britain and Canada, and to the Archdiocese of Vancouver – all of whom played a significant role in the gift of this vehicle.”
The sacrifices of a seafaring mother
Our National Director Fr Andrew Thavam was on night duty at the seafarers’ centre recently and recalls a heart-warming encounter with a second engineer who is also a mother from the Philippines.
Fr Andrew says, “We very rarely get women seafarers coming in to our Mariners House. I spotted her walking in the hallway and she looked like she had a lot on her mind so I approached her and started a conversation as I felt that she wanted to talk to someone trustworthy.
“She is married to a seafarer and had her first child who is now two years old. She and her husband had to decide between themselves who would carry on going to sea and who would stay home to look after their child and family. They also had financial commitments such as their monthly house loan to pay off.
“Since her husband is an AB and she is an engineer, they decided that she should continue going to sea. But she said it was not that easy decision, particularly when her child cried aloud in the airport when she going off to join her ship. On board she is the only woman seafarer. She said that she is lucky to have all good officers and crew mates. The ship is not that big with only nine crew.
“She also spoke about here long voyage from Norway to Montreal. She said, ‘Lot of high waves and rolling. Because of that rolling lot of sleepless nights. I am making lot of sacrifices for the sake of a good future of my child and the family. It is not that easy to miss my family during Christmas season and to bear all the burdens on board as a woman seafarer.'”
Fr Andrew could see the relief on her face after their conversation. He promised the seafarer his prayers for her family. Later that evening she joined in night prayer at the Mariners House chapel.