A Christian mission agency has called for the welfare of nearly two million seafarers to be considered, as the worldwide shipping fleet cuts costs by adopting recent technologies.
The Mission to Seafarers (MtS) runs 121 centres in ports around the globe, and its people visit greater than 40,000 ships every year. Seafarers face dangerous oceans and seas to move greater than 90 per cent of the world’s goods and fuels – making them essential key staff who often go unrecognised by the final population.
MtS Secretary General Peter Rouch has expressed concern that usually ships’ crews are ignored when investment is being made in recent technology.
He said: “Conditions aboard ships shouldn’t focus solely on minimizing costs but in addition on ensuring the health and well-being of the crew. Humanly, in addition to operationally sustainable crew sizes, shift rotations, and shore leave are essential for maintaining the mental and physical health of seafarers.
“Overworked crew members usually tend to make costly mistakes, which may harm the shipping industry after all, however the more necessary aspect is to know seafarers as far more than an easy resource. Those who enable global trade to operate are human beings who will invariably flourish in an online of warm and healthy human relationships.”
Mr Rouch explained that while the shipping industry was embracing digital technology and low-carbon fuels, the needs of seafarers often remained secondary. He had heard a politician from a number one maritime nation name the foremost issues facing the industry over the following five to 10 years – but failing to deal with the human features of seafarers’ working lives.
Rouch, who was previously chief executive of the Church Army, added: “At its core, any human activity reminiscent of a business activity like shipping should serve the flourishing of humanity, and this includes the well-being of seafarers.
“The Mission to Seafarers, grounded in faith and a vision that values human dignity and human community in and of itself, continues to advocate for seafarers’ well-being and we’re glad to partner with others within the shipping industry who share these values.”
Improvements in digital technology have enabled seafarers to remain connected with their families, explained Mr Rouch, but they can even increase seafarers’ sense of isolation. While seafarers are aware of family events, each their joys and challenges, unless there may be a powerful human community aboard, they might lack a supportive community through which to share these experiences. Seafarers’ sense of isolation can actually be increased by this.
Collectively, there are greater than 1.89 million seafarers internationally made up of many nationalities. They often spend as much as nine months at a time distant from their family, friends and family members. This can result in loneliness and mental health issues.
The Mission to Seaman was created in 1856, bringing together several Anglican ministries in a single organisation, and was renamed the Mission to Seafarers in 2000.
Steve Morgan, European director of MtS, has described seafarers as “our forgotten servants.” He said: “We all depend on seafarers, as greater than 90 per cent of our trade comes via the ocean. That’s all our iPhones, fridges, olives, petrol and so forth. But nobody ever really sees this in motion because it is behind the wire in a port with security controls. The decline of the Merchant Navy implies that only a few people within the UK know much about shipping. Seafarers are our forgotten servants.
“I believe Jesus would have noticed them and as Christians we’re called to serve the marginalised and forgotten. I’d like to see churches pray for seafarers and support them.”
Rev Peter Crumpler is a Church of England minister in St Albans, Herts, UK, and a former communications director with the CofE.
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