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Ken Hawkins, Executive Director of The Mission to Seafarers Seattle was our guest speaker today. Ken discussed how the international Mission supports seafarers as they come into the Seattle port. The Mission to Seafarers was founded in 1856 and is entirely funded by voluntary donations.

Piracy, shipwreck, abandonment and separation from loved ones are just a few of the problems merchant seafarers face. Around the world, The Mission to Seafarers provides help and support to the 1.5 million men and women who face danger every day to keep our global economy afloat.

The Seafarers Mission works in over 200 ports in 50 countries caring for seafarers of all ranks, nationalities and beliefs. Through their global network of chaplains, staff and volunteers they offer practical, emotional and spiritual support to seafarers through ship visits, drop-in centers and a range of welfare and emergency support services.

In over 100 ports our Flying Angel centers provide a ‘home away from home’ for seafarers who may have been at sea for up to two years. Here they can enjoy time away from their ship and use internet and phone facilities to get in touch with loved ones after months away.

In an emergency, the Mission is often the only help available. No matter what problem a seafarer is facing, be it injury, abandonment, non-payment of wages or personal difficulties, they know they can turn to the local Mission for help, advice and support. Mision chaplains and volunteers offer practical and financial support, advocacy services, family liaison or simply a space to talk in a time of crisis.

Locally, Seafarers play a vital role in our daily lives. We depend on them to bring us food, electronic items, raw materials, and other essential cargo. Raw materials supply our industries and finished goods fill our stores and homes. In addition, we depend on the seafarers to ship our exports overseas to help pay for the imports. Without ships and seafarers, trade would cease and our lives would be almost unrecognizable.

Seafarers need us. A job at sea can sound romantic and exciting. The reality is that it is the third most hazardous occupation, due to natural elements and piracy. The work takes seafarers away from their homes and families for months at a time. While at sea they are isolated and when in port, periods made ever briefer by more efficient cargo handling techniques, they often find themselves alienated by language and culture. Moreover, under the Homeland Security rules, shore leave in the United States is often difficult to obtain.

The crews on the commercial ships that call at the Port of Seattle come from many different countries, each with its own culture and religious beliefs. The average crew is made up of about 20-25 seafarers who often speak several different languages. This leads to isolation and loneliness.

It is our privilege to welcome all seafarers while they are in Seattle. Our chaplain and ship visitor visit ships and arrange transportation to the Center or for shopping in the city. The Center has phones and computers for the use of seafarers and is wired for Wifi so they can use their own laptops. When seafarers are not allowed to leave their ship, we bring cell phones and low cost phone cards to them so that they can call home while in port and we also offer to do any necessary shopping for them.

Learn more about The Mission to Seafarers Seattle.