When seafarers need a Good Samaritan

When seafarers and fishers arrive in a port, they are strangers in a foreign land.

They do not know the locals and often don’t know who to turn to when they need help. Port chaplains and volunteer ship visitors from Stella Maris (the Catholic Church’s maritime agency and formerly known as Apostleship of the Sea) are there for them. They are concerned for the welfare of seafarers and fishers.

This year’s Gospel for Sea Sunday which falls on 13th July reminds us about the love and care that the Good Samaritan showed to the stranger that he found upon the road. For seafarers and fishers, Stella Maris is that Good Samaritan.

A friend when one is needed

When seafarers and fishers on ships visiting UK ports end up in hospital, often it’s only Stella Maris port chaplains who provide support and friendship.

“Whenever I visit a seafarer in hospital, we might never exchange a word, because of someone’s condition or language differences. The important thing for me is that I’m there,” said Wojciech Holub, Stella Maris Regional Port Chaplain to Tilbury and London Gateway.

Being in hospital for any length of time is not easy for any of us. When seafarers are admitted to hospital, they are likely to be thousands of miles away from home. Not having friends or family able to visit only adds to anxiety and isolation.

After a seafarer named Jurek was involved in an accident on his ship in Tilbury, Essex, and was admitted to the Royal London Hospital, Wojciech visited him the following day.

“I had known Jurek for seven years,” said Wojciech. “As a result of the accident on his ship, he suffered a damaged liver and 14 broken ribs. When he saw me entering the ward, he smiled and said, “I knew you would come to visit me.”

Jurek was eventually discharged and is recuperating at home in Poland. He is very thankful for Wojciech’s support, and the shipping company Jurek worked for presented Wojciech with a specially made plaque thanking him for the kindness and care provided to Jurek.

Hope to the ‘stranger’

When a fisher fled his boat after allegedly being abused by the captain, he ended up stranded at Buchanan Street bus station in Glasgow.

Robert King, Stella Maris Regional Port Chaplain to Greenock, Grangemouth, Glasgow, and Leith, was informed of his plight and went to find him.

“I quickly identified the fisher, who was from Ghana, sitting on a bench looking scared and lost. He had no money and was so grateful to see a friendly face,” said Robert.

“By now it was after 6 p.m. and a storm was raging. Stella Maris paid for a hotel room for the fisher to spend the night. He was glad to be away from the bus station and in the comfort of the hotel. I made sure he had a phone charger so he could keep in touch with his family and myself, and I gave him some money for essentials.”

“Because of the storm, he had to spend a second night in the hotel. Acting on advice from the International Transport Workers Federation, I persuaded the fisher to return to Campbeltown, where his boat was anchored, to report the alleged abuse by the captain to the local police station, which he did.”

A resolution was reached, and the fisher has now started working on a different vessel in Scotland. “He was very grateful for the assistance that I gave him,” said Robert.

Acts of kindness

Steve Willows, Stella Maris Regional Port Chaplain to Northumberland, North and South Tyneside was contacted by the captain of a vessel in Sunderland. One of their cooks, Carlo (name changed to protect his identity) had fallen seriously ill. He had been meant to fly home to the Philippines but instead was admitted to hospital. The ship had to leave, and Carlo faced being left completely alone in a foreign country.

During Carlo’s three weeks in hospital, he was visited by Steve and Stella Maris volunteer ship visitor Sister Scholastica.

“On the days I would visit Carlo, he would update me on any procedures or results he had received that day. His hearing had drastically worsened due to the infection he had. During early conversations, when Carlo would speak, I would reply via typing answers on my phone and show him as he struggled to hear my voice. Over time as his hearing slowly improved, the need to type out my side of our conversations lessened until we were able to chat normally which was a relief to Carlo,” said Steve.

Steve brought clean clothes, food and a mobile phone SIM card so that Carlo could contact his family back home.  After learning Carlo was a collector of FunkoPops, he bought him one for his birthday.

“When a seafarer like Carlo is in hospital in a country where he doesn’t know anyone, we will likely be the only ones to visit him with consistency. Then a seafarer will know who to contact if there is anything they need bringing in or want someone to talk to. We can be with them for the high and lows,” explained Steve.

After Carlo returned to the Philippines for treatment for a cancer that had been discovered, Steve kept in touch with him, checking in on how his treatments were going, and keeping him and his family in his prayers.

These simple acts of kindness by Stella Maris port chaplains and ship visitors mean so much to seafarers who are far from home and feeling isolated.

On Sea Sunday, which falls on 13th July this year, let us pray for seafarers, fishers, and the work of Stella Maris. Readers wishing to donate toward the work of Stella Maris can use this link https://stellamaris.org.uk/donate/