- Stella Maris to ensure that seafarers’ concerns are not left undetected.
- The fear of infection has reduced Stella Maris’s ability to enter and visit ships.
- Recently, requests for charity’s assistance have increased.
- Stella Maris calls for support and trust for seafarers.
According to a recent article published in Splash 247, Ian Stokes, Stella Maris’ head of corporate partnerships writes that as we emerge out of lockdown, a return to the simple acts of kindness delivered through routine ship visits is vital to ensure that seafarers’ concerns are not left undetected.
Concerns for seafarers’ welfare
Its global network of ship-visiting volunteers and chaplains, who provide welfare, support and advice to seafarers and fishers around the world every day, found their activities shifting dramatically to cater for the changing needs of those for whom they care throughout the year.
Fear of Covid-19
It is fair to reflect that the fear held by those ashore of seafarers bringing the disease into their countries was matched by the fear of the seafarers themselves of catching it when they came into a port. This led to a significant reduction in Stella Maris’ ability to enter and visit ships and to provide assistance to those who required it, and to a cessation of shore leave for crews in most ports across the world.
Requests for charity’s assistance increases
But very quickly, the charity’s chaplains saw a huge increase in calls for assistance from seafarers with requests for help – and ship managers and insurers approaching us to help when bigger issues arose, such as to support crew following deaths, suicides or to help stranded crews.
Confidence and trust to seafarers
So what was the cause of this sudden increase in demand for our services? Well, very quickly a pattern emerged: all those seafarers who contacted Stella Maris’ chaplains did so because they had experienced small acts of kindness and hospitality before the pandemic – and those acts of kindness gave seafarers the confidence and trust to contact them when the difficult times arose.
Charity’s services worldwide
One Stella Maris volunteer in Northeast England helped seafarers purchase over 1,000 phone top-ups in just six months, while a chaplain in Scotland responded to a desperate plea for toothpaste after the whole crew were down to sharing one tube between them all. The request of a captain of a vessel that regularly visited Felixstowe for a Big Mac Meal for each of his crew to help cheer them up was one of the most popular stories last year.
Training chaplains to support
But they also help trained chaplains and volunteers to recognise and support those suffering from stress, loneliness or grief, to give them the opportunity to experience that kindness and reassure them that reliable help is available – over time and distance.
Seafarer Issues demanding attention
A year later with still only limited access to vessels, Stella Maris is asking questions again: what is the impact on seafarers of the loss of such simple human interaction? What is happening that we are now unable to see?
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Source: Splash247
