Day of the Seafarer

Courage, I am with you. Matthew 14: 27 

The International Day of the Seafarer is co-ordinated each year by the International Maritime Organisation. In 2021, the focus is again centred around encouraging governments to support seafarers amid the pandemic. The organisation is calling for a fair future for seafarers. Major issues include fair treatment, fair working conditions, fair training, and fair safety: ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention 

A new declaration calling for seafarers to be considered essential workers is gaining support across international boundaries, with almost 70 countries signing on. Catholic agency Stella Maris Australia supports this declaration; the Catholic agency provides spiritual and practical support to seafarers, while also engaging in international advocacy on their behalf. The agency also actively supports local efforts to approach the Australian Government in regard to the ongoing rights and wellbeing of seafarers. The Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change calls for better practices in facilitating changes of crew, and for early access for seafarers to COVID-19 vaccinations. Many seafarers are affected by expiration of contracts, the inability to disembark at some ports, and physical and mental health challenges. The Neptune Declaration states:  

 
              “This is not an acceptable way to treat seafarers, who are the frontline workers  
               of the maritime industry, carrying 90 per cent of global trade….Fatigue after
extended periods at sea has significant consequences on the physical and mental
wellbeing of seafarers.”  

Click here to access the Neptune Declaration. 

For resources from Stella Maris for Sea Sunday, July 11, 2021: stellamarisaustralia.org

Prayer:

A Prayer for Seafarers  

Be with Seafarers, Lord, on all their voyages,  
to cheer them and keep them safe in all dangers.  
Let nothing afloat or on shore cut them off from you.  
May they please you in everything they do.  
Bless all on board their ship, whatever their responsibility.  
Enable everyone to do their duty.  
Help them to be good shipmates and bring them back again safely to their homes and to those who long for their return,  
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  

Amen. 

From The National Liturgy Office of New Zealand. 

Photo:

International seafarers with staff of Stella Maris, Melbourne. 

Music:

Eternal Father, Strong to Save by John Bacchus Dykes.