Ahoy there!

Nilma DOLE

"Avast thar, matey, as we raise the anchor and set sail for the seven seas", goes many a scurvy pirate.

Sailing the seven seas can be a turbulent task and for a seafarer, it can be a daunting mission. While we might suffer a little sea sickness, seafarers live in a place where there is 'water, water everywhere'.

Even though many sea people might be lonely and psychologically unstable, there are friendly faces at 300 ports around the world.

"It's difficult to live on a vessel for nine months at a time with just a few people on board and absolutely the same activities to do day-in and day-out", said Captain Andrew Payne, the chaplain of the Sri Lanka Mission to Seafarer's, a charity part of the Anglican Church, to help seafarers in their times of need.

During the 80s, there were plenty of struggles in Sri Lanka with regard to the conflict but now, the times are changing.

Speaking to the Daily News was General Manager of the Seafarer's Club Tony who said, "We visit the seafarers of Merchant Shipping vessels just to talk to them but it doesn't give them much time to see the country because a container unloading and loading takes about 10 hours and they might go on the same day. However, if they were to stay longer, the center offers recreational and communication facilities and we even organize trips to Kandy".

Speaking about the situation in Sri Lanka now, the Captain said, "Sri Lanka is a safe place now after the peace and many seafarers are very happy to visit here again with their family." Some seafarers ask him how he lived here with the club being in a high security zone and he said, "I've lived here for years with my family and it's a beautiful and safe country with hospitable people".

Together with the Ministry of Shipping, Ceylon Association of Ship Agents, members from the British High Commission, respective Government representatives, the Navy Commander, the Harbour Master and the Ports Authority Managing Director Capt. Nihal Kepetipola, the mission to the Seafarers has a strong presence in Sri Lanka. Having ties with the global charity National Seafarers' Welfare Board (NSWB) that provides compensation to seafarers should anything go wrong, it hopes to have a Welfare Fund for Sri Lankan Seafarers too.

About 500 seafarers visit our center every month and we attend to their personal and spiritual needs," Capt Payne said. Moreover, seafarers look to obtain help from the Seafarers Mission because it is their 'reliable friend' to ask them to post letters, send emails or chat on-line with their family, send parcels and even send money.

They even have a Galle Chaplain Patrick Perera who helps seafarers especially for yachts and does special services. "We have a team of four people and we visit ships and talk with the seafarers asking about their needs and problems. Our staff is a dedicated team and it takes real understanding and patience to learn about a seafarer to provide them with emotional and spiritual support" said Capt. Payne.

Like their sign suggests, they are open from 9 in the morning to 10 in the night beckoning seafarers from Philippines, Iran, China, Pakistan and even Africa. "All we ask is a donation to maintain the place" said the Captain. They plan to refurbish the center, that even has its own rooftop balcony, in order to make it more sea-friendly in the months to come. "Once it's built, the Hambantota port will be a hub and we hope to extend our services there as well" said Capt. Payne.

According to the UN Maritime Labour Convention 2006, seafarers are humans and their needs have to be addressed and the Mission to the Seafarers is in place in lieu of this. Highlighting about the notable changes in the ship sector, the Captain said that even women are joining as seafarers but only the tough ones who can handle men. "The CINEC (Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College) even had women cadets which proves that it's not only a man's world" he said.

In February 2008, Rev Canon Bill Christianson, the Secretary General of Mission to Seafarers Globally paid a visit to the Mission to Seafarers Center in Colombo commending their efforts for doing a brilliant job.

"The sea is our nation's lifeline. Much of our food, our fuel and nearly all the every day items we use will have been transported thousands of miles across seas and oceans to our local supermarket shelves by seafarers working on vast ships.

A seafarer's life is a hard and lonely existence, this makes the work of The Mission to Seafarers even more important and, in some cases, vital in replacing the loneliness and isolation a seafarer can face with love and witness" said the Rev Canon Bill Christianson.

The Annual National Sea Sunday Service held in the Anglican Cathedral will be held on July 12 where people are invited to pray and hope a better sailing journey for seafarers around the world.

The highly acclaimed Chairman of the Mission to Seafarers is Wg. Cmdr. Noel Fernando who has held that position for the last 20 years and continues to oversee that seafarers are kept happy.