A place to anchor for Seafarers

Work of Seaman`s Mission greatly appreciated


The new Seafarers’ Lounge at the Cruise Terminal in HafenCity Hamburg is designed as a safe anchorage for seafarers, and a refuge for those seeking peace and contemplation. The aim of the seaman’s missions is give the port a human face and make the seafarer’s stay as meaningful and varied as possible. Supporting the seafarer’s dignity is the guiding principle and challenge of the German Seaman’s Mission operated by the Protestant Church. After all, the oldest seaman’s mission was established in Bremen over 150 years ago. The Catholic counterpart is the “Stella Maris” organisation which also has an international network of missions.

More than one million mariners live and work on the number 1 means of transportation, the ship. They live in confined space in a working world characterised by technology. They work seven days a week and for months remain far away from their home and family, without their habitual cultural environment and language. They are constantly among strangers and always on the move to foreign parts. Thankfully, the work of volunteer workers of the seaman’s missions is very much appreciated by merchant mariners who welcome the workers on board during the often short lay times in port. They bring newspapers giving the mariners a chance to find out all the latest news including the all important sports results and exchange rates. They also spend time chatting about their home and culture and about their everyday life on a ship.

The crews especially appreciate the onboard visits during the Christmas season because the staff at the seaman’s mission seldom come empty-handed. Small gift packages including telephone cards and other sweet treats are a source of great pleasure. Telephone cards are particularly popular especially at Christmas time when crews are able to call home. This way they can at least stay in contact, which makes them feel a bit closer to their loved ones during this special time. If they can’t celebrate Christmas together, they at least want to hear from each other.

If there is an opportunity for shore leave, the seaman’s clubs and homes near the port are also popular places to visit. The new Seafarers’ Lounge has computers with internet capability and docking stations for laptops, it can be used to make inexpensive phone calls, and offers overnight accommodations as well as recreational and shopping facilities.

Walter Köhler, seaman’s pastor, chatting about the feeling of isolation seafarers suffer, said: “Due to the ISPS security provisions, it is unfortunately no longer possible to move around in the port as freely as in the past. For crew members it has become more difficult to leave the vessel. By the same token, visitors can’t come on board so easily any more. Today the ships are docked behind a high fence. No wonder seafarers sometimes feel isolated. This makes it even more important as a ship’s pastor to go on board and see how the people are doing.” The feeling of isolation, says Köhler, is reinforced by the fact that lay times get shorter and shorter and cargo handling terminals are located far outside the city centre.

The German Seaman’s Mission operates 17 stations in Germany and another 20 in Europe with around 700 permanent employees and volunteer workers. Its headquarters are in Bremen. It is affiliated to the International Christian Maritime Association and has existed since 1898. In Germany the missions are set up as non-profit organisations, but are maintained in the end by Protestant state churches that are increasingly in financial straits. Whereas 130,000 euros in federal funds were provided in 2008, this amount has been substantially cut to 35,000 euros for this year. In 2011 government funding is to end entirely. The industry, shipping companies as well as local political agencies support the work of the seaman’s missions. The traditional collection on Captain’s Day in Bremen, on 3rd September this year, brought in the record amount of 18,650 euros for the Bremen Seaman’s Mission. Anyone interested in helping to forge a link between land and sea will receive not only more information on the work of the German Seaman’s Mission but also ways of supporting its efforts. www.seemannsmission.org

 

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