The Executive Committee of the International Christian Maritime Association appreciates the great work being done by ICMA’s members to care for people affected by piracy.

The crew of the merchant vessel MV Faina stand on the deck after a U.S. Navy request to check on their health and welfare. November 2008. Source: Wikimedia commons.

At its meeting in London, the Executive Committee commended the ongoing development of piracy response initiatives by ICMA members.

ICMA encourages its members to join forces in caring for seafarers and their families affected by piracy.  To achieve this, ICMA members are set to support the training of ship visitors on how best to care for seafarers exposed to piracy.

The crew of the Chinese fishing vessel Tian Yu held at gunpoint by Somali pirates. Source: Wikimedia commons.

While the Deutsche Seemannsmission has launched a public awareness campaign, the Apostleship of the Sea in the Philippines has initiated care for the families of seafarers being held hostage.  The Mission to Seafarers has embarked upon training of their chaplains to ensure that their chaplains understand the effects of such traumatic events, and has  regularly invited other ICMA-members to participate.  ICMA’s Southern Africa Region, currently coordinated by the Sailors Society, devoted an entire conference to training for first responders to trauma.  The Seamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey is currently hosting the only known research on how to respond specifically to seafarers who have been exposed to piracy.

In 2008, ICMA passed a resolution pledging its support for the care of seafarers affected by piracy.  Click here to see the resolution.

August 9th, 2010 | Category: Advocacy, News | Comments Off

The ITF has announced that the number of signatures of the “End Piracy Now” -petition has reached 195,000.  With only eight weeks to go we have acquired just under 40% of our target of 500,000 signatures.   In the last week over 40,000 signatures were recruited.

Electronic signatures

The race at the top is getting exciting:  with another impressive week from the Philippines, they are hot on the tail of India’s fantastic tally total.  But who will be the first to hit 100,000 signatures for an individual country? Is it feasible that either could reach this staggering figure by next week’s round up?

Congratulations are in order for Singapore and Norway who have reached the lofty heights of the top ten electronic leader board.

Now let’s aim to double these figures for next week.  Sign the petition online by clicking on the button.

Hard copies

We are still receiving a huge number of signatures via hardcopy petition forms either through the post or attached as emails which is adding considerably to our signature total. Taking into account those that have been processed already and an approximate look at those waiting to be processed, we have over 21,000 extra signatures – a huge thanks goes to our friends in Ukraine and Iran for their support and efforts this week.

For a hard copy petition form click here

Why are we doing this?

More »

August 5th, 2010 | Category: News | Comments Off

Angel Zerpa, volunteer chaplain of the Apostleship of the Sea in Venezuela, sent us this note:

Angel Zerpa

Amir Zerpa

Dear Rev.Hennie from and all ICMA people,

I have to tell you my good news:  finally my baby is here!  His name is Amir and he was born on 24/07/2010 in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela.

As ICMA Sailing Chaplaing I say to everybody, and to all the seafarers, “this is a big gift of God”.

Here is a picture of Amir Zerpa in hospital on his first day.

I am sure that all of us praise God for this blessing of Angel by granting him a family.  We pray, Angel, that Amir will be a source of great joy.  If you would like to congratulate Angel personally, why not visit him on facebook?

Hennie la Grange, General Secretary

July 30th, 2010 | Category: News | Comments Off

The Flying Angel, Fujairah

On 24 July 2010 the BBC reported on the Mission to Seafarers’ launch, the Flying Angel.

Click here to see the report.

Inchcape Shipping Services writes on its website

http://www.iss-shipping.com/port_transit_flying.asp

The duty of the “Flying Angel” is to bring rest and recreation to seafarers at Fujairah anchorage

Some unique specifics
o The world’s first seafarers’ support boat.
o 27 meters long, offering R&R to the crew of vessels located in the Fujairah anchorage.
o Operates 5 days a week during daylight hours and will visit all ships requesting services. To request service contact ISS Fujairah via e-mail or phone.
o The operating area will be approximately 240 square miles around Fujairah anchorage.

“Flying Angel” Facilities include More »

July 27th, 2010 | Category: Ministry, News | Comments Off