Sailors Society - Becky Haldane
Wed, Jan 30th 2019 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
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Our speaker was Becky Haldane, who introduced herself as a chaplain in the Sailors’ Society, a Christian charity which looks after the physical, financial and social welfare of sailors worldwide.
In a truly excellent and amusing presentation without props Becky informed the club of the following:-
There are 1.6 million sailors worldwide a third of whom are Filipino.
2% are female.
26,000 are from the UK.
The average crew size of a big tanker is 13 people of 5 different nationalities. This can cause loneliness and isolation.
A third of ships now have the internet which has obvious advantages but also disadvantages as it can increase isolation and remind sailors of what they are missing at home eg loved ones’ birthdays.
Seafarers are second only to coal miners in their suicide rate.
9 ships are lost at sea per month.
Piracy, kidnapping and imprisonment are a real hazard.
Modern day slavery exists eg the ship’s captain may pick on a crew member and even withhold pay.
Becky went on to describe the Society’s work at home, in port and at sea.
Chaplains can visit sailors’ homes and there are crisis support centres. There are 122 port chaplains in 29 countries.
Until recently there was a limit to what the Society could do at sea, but they now use two apps that they have developed which allow chaplains to communicate with chaplains in other ports and in the sailor’s home port.
Lastly Becky reminded us that 90% of everything we get comes by sea. There was an oblique reference to Brexit.
After several questions the club’s VOT was given by Hendrik Nahler
In a truly excellent and amusing presentation without props Becky informed the club of the following:-
There are 1.6 million sailors worldwide a third of whom are Filipino.
2% are female.
26,000 are from the UK.
The average crew size of a big tanker is 13 people of 5 different nationalities. This can cause loneliness and isolation.
A third of ships now have the internet which has obvious advantages but also disadvantages as it can increase isolation and remind sailors of what they are missing at home eg loved ones’ birthdays.
Seafarers are second only to coal miners in their suicide rate.
9 ships are lost at sea per month.
Piracy, kidnapping and imprisonment are a real hazard.
Modern day slavery exists eg the ship’s captain may pick on a crew member and even withhold pay.
Becky went on to describe the Society’s work at home, in port and at sea.
Chaplains can visit sailors’ homes and there are crisis support centres. There are 122 port chaplains in 29 countries.
Until recently there was a limit to what the Society could do at sea, but they now use two apps that they have developed which allow chaplains to communicate with chaplains in other ports and in the sailor’s home port.
Lastly Becky reminded us that 90% of everything we get comes by sea. There was an oblique reference to Brexit.
After several questions the club’s VOT was given by Hendrik Nahler
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