Remember hidden heroes of the sea who bring us 90% of everything

Stella Maris chaplain Steve Willows

Source: Stella Maris

Seafarers and fishers live and work at the periphery of society, spending days or months at sea.

Their lives are hidden and yet they play a crucial role in bringing us so much of the food, fuel and goods we consume. From clothing to digital devices, to bananas and tea, almost 90% of goods are transported on cargo ships crewed by thousands of seafarers from all over the world.

Seafarers and fishers make enormous sacrifices just to bring us the basic things in life that we enjoy. Their work is tough, and the shifts can be gruelling - six hours on, six hours off, day after day. They have to eat, sleep, wash and speak with loved ones in a six-hour window before they're back on shift.

Most shipping companies provide for crew welfare, but working at sea has its own unique challenges. Life on board can be lonely and isolating, shore leave is becoming less frequent, and sailing in dangerous shipping routes is part and parcel of the job.

Seafarers and fishers also miss their family back home. They miss out on important moments that many of us take for granted - births, graduations, celebrations, funerals…

Not forgotten

But their sacrifices and hardships don't go unrecognised, and seafarers and fishers are not forgotten. Stella Maris' chaplains and volunteer ship visitors are present in ports around the UK to provide friendship, care, practical and spiritual support.

Stella Maris regional port Chaplain Steve Willows recently visited a group of seafarers from Ethiopia whose ship was detained in port.

The men had not had shore leave for nine months and had been unable to leave the confines of the ship all that time. To make matters worse some of them had not received the wages they were owed.

Steve reached out to them and provided support. He took them into the city centre to give them some respite from the ship and their situation. They managed to do a bit of shopping, not for themselves but for their children and families.

The care shown by Steve may have only been small gestures, but they meant a lot to the seafarers. It helped them feel 'normal', reminded them they had a friend and showed them that their sacrifices are recognised. In a world where life at sea can be isolating and harsh, these moments of kindness make them feel visible and remembered.

As we celebrate the season of harvest, of abundance, please remember the hidden heroes of the sea and say a prayer for them. Your kindness and support mean a lot to them.

More information about Stella Maris' work can be found at: www.stellamaris.org.uk