Just before Christmas, I had the privilege of giving a bulging hamper of Christmas treats to two stranded Filipino seafarers we had been helping for several months. They are still dealing with the physical mental and legal challenges of their situation and regularly thank us for our ongoing connection and care. I’m sharing this memory with you as just one example of what your kind donations in 2024 helped us to achieve.
As the new year begins, we’re delighted to share the news that in 2024 our Chaplains made over 650 ship, hospital and hotel visits – that’s an increase from 370 in 2023! We transported over 10,000 seafarers in our free mini-bus which was an increase from 8100 in 2023. We welcomed over 7,500 seafarers into our Centre in Sydney, which was an increase from 6300.
Thank you once again to everyone who supported our work in 2024 to help make this happen especially the companies who supported our Christmas Appeal including the $3500 donation from The CSL Group Inc. and Svitzer marine services for $1500.
We regularly share stories of how your funds help us to be here for seafarers seven days a week — helping them to know they are not alone when they are facing personal, workplace or health challenges or just need a safe, peaceful, fun place to relax away from what can feel like their “steel cage’’.
When something more was needed for these two Filipino men, we were also able to respond thanks to our supporters. Our Mission gave them someone to turn to after they escaped from a fishing vessel in Sydney Harbour where their only food was the fish they had caught. Our Chaplains visited to find the vessel had no water supply on board, no electricity, no washing machine – just power to run the engine. The pair said they had not been paid and had significantly lost weight in just a few months.
Image: After spending the night in pain and not being able to move half his body, the captain took the fisherman to RPA hospital. It took a 3 hour operation to remove the sting ray barb from his foot.
When the first fisherman was discharged from hospital alone and at night after an operation for an infected sting ray barb injury, our Chaplains came to the rescue. We provided transport, food, and emergency accommodation and began to collaborate with several agencies to make it possible for the fisherman and his crewmate to escape from their slavery-like conditions. The situation grew complicated as these men with little education realised they were under a contract demanding they pay a A$25,000 fine for leaving their jobs.
Legal action in Australia is their hope of avoiding this impossible burden, but this will take time. We applaud the ongoing work of a generous lawyer who has volunteered her time and other local agencies who are continuing to try to open a door to peace and security for the two men and their families.
Thank you also to AMSA for providing the Christmas hamper we were able to share with them that day. The men were deeply touched as they said they did not know how they could ever thank everyone who had been helping them.
So as we begin this new year, we wanted to express our appreciation to you for sharing your financial blessings in 2024 with our small team and the hardworking and often lonely seafarers we serve. May your 2025 be filled with the blessings that matter most to you.
Seafarers and their families yearn for care, connection, and compassion— during Christmas, the New Year and every day. We look forward to sharing more news in 2025 of seafarers lives transformed and how your ongoing support helps to make that possible. Thank you.
Warm regards,
Clayton Strong
On behalf of the MtS Sydney Team
Image above – Chaplain Retchie on a ship visit.
The story behind the smiles in this image: During Chaplain Retchie’s visit to distribute Christmas gift bags, a Captain shared his experiences of two narrow escapes from pirates. His crew had been dramatically rescued off the coast of Nigeria. The cargo crew had heard automatic assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) exploding. A Japanese warship, despite being many miles away, responded to their distress call by deploying attack helicopters and boats to chase the pirates. Many of the crew were traumatised by the encounter. The ship’s cook also shared his heartbreak that although his son was on a ship berthed only walking distance away, their differing schedules meant they could not meet yet again.
Image below: Seafarers taking a break at our Mission in December.
