Appeal for The Mission to Seafarers
By Brendan Mulvey

Following the Tsunami disaster in The Indian Ocean many charities have pulled together to raise massive amounts of money to help the victims of the disaster.

One charity, which has been close to my heart for many years, is in the forefront to help the victims and support seafarers from the affected regions and where ever they are in the world.

The charity I am referring to is The Mission to Seafarers. A young Clergyman Rev John Ashley established the mission in 1835. Rev John was on holidays near Bristol prior to taking up a new Parish appointment, he was walking along the cliff top overlooking The Bristol Channel, he noticed a fleet of sailing ships in the bay awaiting a favourable wind so they could set sail.

He was told no clergyman had ever visited the sailors, he hired a boat and sailed out to where the fleet was moored, he was welcomed with open arms by the sailors and they were uplifted by the visit. Rev John decided to turn down his new parish appointment and devote his life ministering to seafarers. By 1850 he had to retire from his life with the seafarers due to ill health. In 1855 he helped to form The Bristol Channel Missions to Seafarers. From a humble beginnings the mission now has both Spiritual and Financial help to seafarers at Three Hundred Ports all over the World.

I would like to set out a few facts hereunder on the work of Seafarers.

• 92% of the world’s trade is carried by sea, 80,000 ships operating around the world every year.
• 120 ships of over 500 tonnes lost each year, (an average of two a week)

The seafarers live constantly with the underlying fear of danger.

1. In many instances the crew spend up to 12 months on board without a break.
2. Due to poor working conditions many loose their lives.
3. Many are injured which will render them unemployable at sea.
4. Not getting paid when shipping companies go into liquidation.
5. Being stranded on the other side of the world.
6. Piracy- Attacks are on the increase. For instance in 2001 there were 238 attacks on ships crews.
7. There were 97 attempted attacks
8. Violence against crews. 210 were taken Hostage. 39 Injured and 21 Killed.

What does the mission do and why the need for fund raising?
Last year 71,400 ships were visited to assist, help and advise. 440 Justice cases involved 3,800 Seafarers. 2,400 Holy Communion and other services for over 10,000 seafarers. 602,000 Seafarers welcomed in Mission Centres all over the world. 222,900 provided with transport 114,200 international calls made from centres. 110,000 bibles and other Christian literature distributed as requested. 530 welfare cases dealt with. 900 Seafarers visited in Hospital. No matter the colour or creed all are assisted.

We had first hand experience a few years ago here in Sligo on the problems Seafarers have. A Ship came into Sligo Harbour, the vessel was in poor condition and was unable to go back to sea, the crew on board soon ran out of food and money, efforts were made to try and get in touch with the ships owners without success, without the help of The Mission and local people the crew would have no money or food. Eventually the crew left the ship and made their way back to their homes.

This year is going to put tremendous strain on the resources of the mission. When the tsunami struck there were Seafarers from the affected areas at sea or in ports all over the world. I will just highlight a few cases where they sought help.

Six Seafarers from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India and Bangladesh were on board ship in Dunkerque harbour, they called to the mission centre and were comforted by the Chaplain, they telephoned their homes and were delighted to hear their loved ones were safe and well.
In Hartlepool, North Tees on 3rd of January the Chaplain Rev Ken Cornforth welcomed Fifteen Indonesian to the mission centre, they were allowed free phone calls to their families back home, the men was from the Jakarta area and they discovered the tsunami did not hit that area and they were delighted to know all was well back home. Before leaving the Indonesian crew made a contribution to the appeal fund.

In the disaster area, The Mission to Seafarers Chaplain in the port of Tuticorin, South India comforted some of the victims left destitute by the tsunami. The Mission Centre escaped serious damage, as it was inland from the devastated shoreline. All the buildings on the shoreline were swept away and countless people were missing including 42 fishermen who lived in huts close to the ocean. Hundreds of displaced people came to the mission centre and were given food.

Thousands of Seafarers are depending on us and a gift however small will make all the difference to those in need.
£3,000 can provide transport for seafarers by keeping a bus on the road for a year. £1,000 can pay e-mail facilities at a centre. £500 can help pay for ships visits for a month £200 can help feed a stranded crew for a month £100 can help take seafarers for a rare outing from a ship. £50 can help pay for emergency calls for seafarers with a problem at home.
The President of the Birmingham Association is The Rt. Hon The Viscountess Cobham, (Lisa Clayton - the first woman to make an antipodal circumnavigation single handed non-stop)

The Chairman of The Birmingham Mission is Mrs Norma Rogers and her Husband John is Hon Treasurer, both Norma and John work very hard to promote the work of the mission, they devote a lot of time to raise funds to help the seafarers.

I am appealing on behalf of The Mission to the readers of The Harp to consider making a donation however small, you may be running a raffle at a function or an event for the tsunami disaster, I would ask for a donation for the mission to help them support their Trojan work.

Cheques can be made out to “The Mission to Seafarers” and forwarded to - The Mission to Sea-farers. St Michael Paternoster Royal. College Hill. London. EC4R 2RL. All donations will be acknowledged.

Until the next time its Good Bye and God Bless from the Hills of Sligo.