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AOS USA Maritime Updates 

The Professional Association of Catholic Mariners and the Official Catholic Organization for Cruise Ship Priests and Catholic Maritime Ministers.

 

June 2, 2011
In This Issue
Vatican Releases a Statement on Piracy
PCPCM&R Full Piracy Statement
June 1, First Day of Hurricane Season
Prayers for Hurricane Season
AOS USA Member Featured in Professional Webinar
Instructions for AOS Donations
PrayingHands 

     Prayer Corner 
 
 

 

In thanksgiving for the lives of Deacon Glenn Teske and his wife Pat (AOS Green Bay). They were in a major auto accident last Friday and credit God and seat belts for their lives.

 

 

Pray for the cousin of Fr. Frederico D'Souza, AOS USA Cruise Ship Priest. His cousin has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease.

 

 

Fr. D'Souza thanks his AOS family for praying for his sister who is know recovered and doing well!

 

  

For our mariner member, Jon Furukawa, during his deployment in Iraq.

For those held hostage by pirates throughout the world.

 

For all those in pirate infested waters that God will protect them.

  

 For the people of Japan recovering from the effects of Earthquake and Tsunami, and Nuclear radiation.

 

 

For the people of Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast, who were affected by the tsunami, especially Fishermen, Mariners and Coastal families who rely on the sea for their livelihood.

 


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Buell

Keeping a Leg Up, and Kicking Off Hurricane Season!   


Well, this is not the bike I fell off of, and broke my leg. The Harley-Davidson FLHT that had that honor.

I am healing well. The home health nurse removed the staples on Tuesday, and each day the tenderness recedes.

Yesterday kicked off hurricane season. Our friends at the Confraternity of Our Lady Star of the Sea in Morgan City have already begun to pray to Our Lady to protect us from the dangers of hurricanes. After going through Hurricane Rita in 2005, and Hurricane Ike in 2008, I am personally keeping a watchful eye on the Gulf of Mexico.

With this broken leg, I certainly have become much more aware of the challenges that the poor, the ill, the elderly and those with special needs face when a community imposes a mandatory evacuation.

In this e-news, I have included stories on:
  1. The Pontifical Council's statement on  Piracy;
  2. Information and Prayers for Hurricane Season
  3. Congratulations on AOS USA members Capt. Joy Manthey's participation in a Workboat Magazine's webinar: Women on the Water

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Fr. Sinclair Oubre, J.C.L.

President   

Vatican calls for stronger assistance to victims of piracy


By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Shipbuilders and owners must adopt stronger security measures to prevent their vessels from falling prey to pirates, and international maritime organizations must be committed to helping the families of sailors held hostage, the Vatican said.

 

"The phenomenon is not decreasing, considering that already (in 2011) there have been 214 new episodes with 26 ships and 522 sailors still held hostage by pirates," said a statement May 26 from the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers.

 

The council, which discussed the piracy issue in February at a meeting of regional directors of the Apostleship of the Sea, said international organizations have focused on "safeguarding ships and their cargoes. Unfortunately, little attention is given to the sailors and, especially, to their families during and after their kidnapping, leaving shipping companies with the responsibility of assisting those involved."

 

The Vatican called on the international community to continue looking for ways to increase maritime safety, but also to make a greater commitment to fighting the root causes of piracy, which are poverty and social unrest, as seen in the concentration of piracy cases off the coast of Somalia.

 

Addressing the sailors held hostage, the Vatican urged them not to lose hope and to keep their faith strong.

 

Addressing the hostages' family members, the pontifical council said they should feel free to turn to the Apostleship of the Sea or any Stella Maris seafarers' center anywhere in the world for support and assistance.

 

The Vatican asked all Christians to pray that God would protect the people who work on the seas and it appealed to pirates to "stop their criminal activities" and recognize that their hostages deserve to be treated with respect.

 

The Apostleship of the Sea, it said, is ready to work with governments, international organizations, shipping lines and seafarers' unions "to alleviate the suffering of the sailors held hostage and to give spiritual and psychological support to their families."

 


Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants

Statement on

Piracy and seafarers: a human crisis

 

Recent reports in the media, about the plight of seafarers seized by pirates, has placed the tragic reality of piracy into the spotlight once more.

Already last February in the meeting of the Regional Coordinators of the Apostleship of the Sea - organized by this Pontifical Council - it was emphasized that piracy had reached its historical peak in 2010 with 445 attacks, 53 vessels seized and 1,181 seafarers captured. To date, this phenomenon doesn't show any signs of decreasing given that 214 new episodes have been reported, with 26 ships and 522 seafarers still held hostage by pirates (IMB Piracy Reporting Centre).

Even though the majority of attacks were recorded off the coast of Somalia, as a matter of fact, piracy remains a worldwide challenge that requires a global response, as the illusion of easy and immediate money has also attracted the interest of international criminal organizations.

The maritime world has responded by adopting several measures to protect vessels and their cargoes. Unfortunately, little attention is given to the seafarers and particularly to their families during and especially after the hijacking, leaving to the shipping company the responsibility to care for the people involved, according to the situations and their nationalities.

The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, which is responsible for the overall direction of the Work of the Maritime Apostolate, which "promotes the specific pastoral care to the people of the sea", expresses its concern and issues a heartfelt appeal:

 

To the Governments and international organizations, to promptly activate the appropriate channels to safely bring homes the sequestered seafarers and to find solutions to this problem, given that it is necessary to intervene on the real causes of the phenomenon, such as unfairness in the distribution of goods between countries and the exploitation of natural resources.

 

To the ship owners, to adopt preventive measures to ensure the safety not only of the vessels and their cargoes, but also of the seafarers. In the tragic case of a hijacking, to assume an attitude of attention and support for the families of seized people and offer immediate assistance in order to reduce the long-term traumatic effects.

To all the hijacked seafarers, not to lose the hope that they will be soon reunited with their loved ones and to remain strong in their faith. To them the Apostleship of the Sea would like to express its complete solidarity.

To the families of the hijacked seafarers, not to hesitate to contact the Stella Maris Centers for assistance and support. In these tragic circumstances, these Centers more than ever can be a safe port and a beacon of hope. The seafarers should know that the chaplains and volunteers of the Apostleship of the Sea are at their side to face these long days and months of uncertainty and fear.

To the Christian communities, to pray Mary, Star of the Sea, to protect the seafarers from all possible dangers and to support those who, because of piracy, are going through a dark and difficult period of their life.

To the pirates, to cease their criminal activities and recognize the deep pain they are causing to seafarers (and their families) and to treat them with respect and humanity.

 

Finally, the Apostleship of the Sea expresses its willingness to cooperate and collaborate with Governments, international organizations, shipping companies and unions, to alleviate the sufferings of the hijacked seafarers and provide psychological and spiritual support to their families.

 

 

From the Vatican, 26th  May 2011

 

NOAA hurricane outlook indicates an above-normal Atlantic season

May 19, 2011

Round Butte Dam. Hurricanes Karl, Igor and Julia (from left to right on Sept. 16) were part of the onslaught of Atlantic storms last hurricane season (2010).

Download here. (Credit: NOAA)

 

The Atlantic basin is expected to see an above-normal hurricane season this year, according to the seasonal outlook issued by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center - a division of the National Weather Service.

Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is predicting the following ranges this year:

  • 12 to 18 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which:   
  • 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including:   
  • 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher)

Each of these ranges has a 70 percent likelihood, and indicate that activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

"The United States was fortunate last year. Winds steered most of the season's tropical storms and all hurricanes away from our coastlines," said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "However we can't count on luck to get us through this season. We need to be prepared, especially with this above-normal outlook."

Climate factors considered for this outlook are:

  • The continuing high activity era. Since 1995, the tropical multi-decadal signal has brought ocean and atmospheric conditions conducive for development in sync, leading to more active Atlantic hurricane seasons.
  • Warm Atlantic Ocean water. Sea surface temperatures where storms often develop and move across the Atlantic are up to two degrees Fahrenheit warmer-than-average.
  • La Ni�a, which continues to weaken in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, is expected to dissipate later this month or in June, but its impacts such as reduced wind shear are expected to continue into the hurricane season.

"In addition to multiple climate factors, seasonal climate models also indicate an above-normal season is likely, and even suggest we could see activity comparable to some of the active seasons since 1995," said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

 

NOAA's seasonal hurricane outlook does not predict where and when any of these storms may hit. Landfall is dictated by weather patterns in place at the time the storm approaches. For each storm, NOAA's National Hurricane Center forecasts how these weather patterns affect the storm track, intensity and landfall potential.

 

"The tornadoes that devastated the South and the large amount of flooding we've seen this spring should serve as a reminder that disasters can happen anytime and anywhere. As we move into this hurricane season it's important to remember that FEMA is just part of an emergency management team that includes the entire federal family, state, local and tribal governments, the private sector and most importantly the public," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.

"Now is the time, if you haven't already, to get your plan together for what you and your family would do if disaster strikes. Visit ready.gov to learn more. And if you're a small business owner, visit www.ready.gov/business to ensure that your business is prepared for a disaster," added Fugate.

 

Hurricane impacts are not limited to the coastline; strong winds and flooding rainfall often pose a threat across inland areas along with the risk for tornadoes.

 

Next week, May 22-28, is national Hurricane Preparedness Week. To help prepare residents of hurricane-prone areas, NOAA is unveiling a new set of video and audio public service announcements featuring NOAA hurricane experts and the FEMA administrator that are available in both English and Spanish. These are available at http://www.hurricanes.gov/prepare.

 

The National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. It operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy. Visit us online at weather.gov and on Facebook.

NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. 


Prayer for Hurricane Season

 

O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children.  The Sea of Galilee obeyed your order and returned to its former quietude; you are still the Master of land and sea.  We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control.  The Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land and spread chaos and disaster.  During this hurricane season, we turn to You, O loving Father.  Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with the passing of time.  O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our Beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son in our behalf, so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem where a storm-less eternity awaits us.  Amen.

 

Source: Rosary Creations

 

PRAYER FOR HURRICANE SEASON

 

O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed your order and returned to its former quietude; You are still the Master of land and sea. We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control: the Gulf of Mexico, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its sleep, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land and spread chaos and disaster.

During this hurricane season we turn to You, O loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our Beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son on our behalf, so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem  

where a storm less eternity awaits us.  

Amen

Congratulations to
AOS USA Mariner Members Capt. Joy Manthey for being Part of Workboat Professional Series Webinar

Women on the Water: A look at how they are changing your boat, your company, your industry

Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 | 1-2PM EDT

 

Less than 20 years ago, it was hard for a woman to land a job on any kind of vessel, either bluewater or brownwater. But today, women can be found in just about every aspect of the industry. They are deckhands, pilots, shipyard workers, commercial fishermen, towboat captains and owners of companies. They serve in military and federal government positions, attend or teach at maritime academies, cook in the galley.  

 

They are breaking gender stereotypes and crashing the water ceiling. But just how are women changing the industry? Join our Webinar discussion on May 25 with your insights, observations and comments. What's it like to be a woman on a male-dominated vessel? What's it like as a man to have female crew? What are the rewards and the pitfalls? Are companies actively recruiting women?  How has the culture and atmosphere on boats been changed? What's the best advice you can give a woman considering a maritime job? 

 

This webinar topic will be explored further in the July cover of WorkBoat. 

Speaker(s)/Moderator(s):

  • David Krapf, Editor in Chief WorkBoat magazine (Co-Moderator)

  • Pamela Glass, WorkBoat magazine Washington Correspondent (Co-Moderator)

  • Captain Joy Manthey, Chaplain Kirby Inland Marine

  • Captain Elizabeth Christman, Association of Maryland Pilots

  • Captain Christine Cleary, Pilot Launch Operator on the Chesapeake Bay

  • Ericka Amon, Mate at Vane Brothers


Instruction to remit donations for the

AOS special Fund for the victims of tsunami in Japan

 

In USA dollars

 

BANK:           JP MORGAN CHASE BANK

ADDRESS:    4 CHASE METRO TECK

                        7th Floor 11245 Brooklyn

                        New York

 

COD. SWIFT:     CHASUS33XXX            

ABA ROUTING NR: 021000021

 

ACCOUNT NUMBER:  001 - 1 - 975 000

 

BENIFICIARY:

ISTITUTO PER LE OPERE DI RELIGIONE

(Cod. Swift: IOPRVAVXXXX)

00120 CITTA' DEL VATICANO

 

Details of payment: Pontificio Consiglio Migranti -  account no. 22 52 70  14

 

*******************

 

In Euros

 

BANK:           JP MORGAN  - CHASE BANK

ADDRESS:      14, JUNGHOFSTRASSE

60311 FRANKFURT AM MAIN

BLZ 50110800

 

IBAN:             DE81501108006231606168

CODICE SWIFT: CHASDEFXXXX

 

BENEFICIARY:

ISTITUTO PER LE OPERE DI RELIGIONE (IOR)

00120 Citt� del Vaticano

 

Details of payment: Pontificio Consiglio Migranti - account no. 22 52 70 13

 

Important Upcoming Events for
AOS USA Members

  

             

 

 National Maritime Day: May 22, 2011.

Sea Sunday: Jul 10, 2011

 

May God Bless you with Smooth Sailing throughout your day!

Contact Info
Doreen M. Badeaux
Secretary General
Apostleship of the Sea of the United States of America
1500 Jefferson Drive
Port Arthur, TX  77642-0646
PH:  409-985-4545
FAX:  409-985-5945