[Mission to the Seafarers] Global maritime welfare charity, The Mission to Seafarers’ campaign Sea Sunday kicked off [yesterday] in hundreds of church congregations around the world, and this year highlights the work their teams do responding to emergencies at sea and their aftermath.

2015 started with a series of shipping tragedies which included the sinking of two vessels the MV Cemfjord off Wick in Scotland UK and the MS Bulk Jupiter close to Vietnam in east Asia – on both vessels nearly all on board were lost – all 8 crew were missing presumed dead on the Cemfjord and 18 seamen were lost on the Bulk Jupiter, with one survivor.

In Southampton Sound in the South of England UK, the giant car–carrier the Hoegh Osaka narrowly avoided a similar fate, when it listed severely on leaving port and was run aground to save it. 2 crewmen were injured but all the seafarers were rescued by the coastguard.

The Mission to Seafarers’ teams respond to those who face danger at sea, and support seafarers and their families in their hour of need in 71 countries and 260 ports worldwide. With fatalities at sea, it is the families of those lost that the Mission can help.

In Wick in Scotland Mission to Seafarers’ Port Chaplain helped to organise support for the families. The Revd Tim Tunley said: “When tragedy of this magnitude happens, we offer counselling and support to the families left behind. Of the 8 crew, 7 were Polish nationals, and 1 was from the Philippines.

 “We contacted our colleagues in Poland at the Apostleship of the Sea and liaised with them and local churches to bring support and pastoral care to those bereaved. We also contacted the family in the Philippines, and referred them on to our MtS colleagues in Manila.

 “I worked closely with the shipping company, our fantastic local volunteers and the community in Wick who were all effected by the sinking so close to their shores.” 

Last weekend Revd Tim attended a memorial service in Wick with the families from Poland who had been flown over to attend and he holds a Sea Sunday service in Wick today.

Off the coast of Vietnam on 2 January this year another vessel sank with one survivor. The Bulk Jupiter was a bauxite carrier that got into trouble in heavy weather. It is reported that she listed severely to starboard before sinking. All on board were lost except the Chief Cook who has since been repatriated home to the Philippines.

The Mission to Seafarers has recently set up a new initiative in Manila to support seafarers and their families. The Mission to Seafarers’ Families Support Network has been in contact with the relatives of the Bulk Jupiter crew who lost their loved ones, and who are still looking for answers as to why the ship sank.

In Southampton Port Chaplain John Attenborough was first on hand to respond to the coastguard’s emergency call for help for the crew of the stricken vessel the Hoegh Osaka.

The Mission has issued an interview with John on their YouTube channel describing the events of that fateful night.

Mercifully no lives were lost and the crewmen received support and aid from The Mission to Seafarers on the night of the tragedy, and daily visits in the weeks afterwards as they recovered before being repatriated home.

Sea Sunday is held in 71 countries around the world by The Mission to Seafarers and which is marked with services of thanksgiving and prayer to remember the hard work that seafarers undertake by bringing 90% of all imported goods to shore by ship, night and day, 365 days a year.