AoS helps sailors stranded in Devon after ship is arrested
Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) chaplain and volunteers are supporting the crew of a ship arrested in Devon.
On Sunday the Admiralty Marshall arrested the Bahamian-registered cargo ship Oak, in Teignmouth. Its crew has not been paid for two months.
The crew, who come from Philippines, Indonesia and Russia, contacted Apostleship of the Sea for help.
AoS Port chaplain Ann Donelly and her team of volunteer ship visitors have been lending emotional support and providing warm clothing and mobile phone top-ups.
"Not being paid for two months has terrible consequences for the families of the crew. For example, one of the them has six children and a wife to support back home in Indonesia," said Ms Donnelly.
On the Oak's regular visits to Teignmouth the crew have used the facilities at the Stella Maris seafarers' centre in the port.
The AoS team provided the crew with food supplies over Christmas. They have also been praying with them and arranging transport to Mass at the local parish.