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Prayer Corner
Fr. Richard Barclift, AOS USA Cruise Ship Priest member, thanks everyone for prayers answered during his Cardiac
surgical procedure earlier this month.
For Deacon Glenn & Pat Teske with AOS Green Bay. Pat is experiencing some memory problems since the car accident in May, and Deacon Glenn is still recovering from the Heart Cath. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.
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 those suffering from floods, droughts, tornados, and other harsh weather conditions. May the Peace of Christ sustain them, as they work to rebuild their homes and their lives.
We ask the intercessions of Our Lady Star of the Sea, for a calm, uneventful hurricane season.
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Join AOS USA Today!
To join AOS USA simply click on the following link:
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 Pontiff Praying for Pirates' Captives
Meets With Families of the Kidnapped
Courtesy Zenit News Agency
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, JULY 10, 2011 (Zenit.org).- As the Church today marks Sea Sunday, Benedict XVI assured his prayers for those who have been captured by pirates.
The celebration of Sea Sunday is an occasion to increase awareness in the Christian communities and society at large of the work of seafarers, and to present the maritime ministry carried out since 1920 by the chaplains and volunteers of the Apostleship of the Sea..
The Pope mentioned the celebration after praying the midday Angelus with pilgrims at Castel Gandolfo.
I have a special thought today for the chaplains who work in the pastoral care of sailors, fishermen and their families, he said in Italian. I assure my prayers for those sailors who unfortunately find themselves the captives of pirates. It is my wish that they be treated with respect and humanity, and I pray for their families that they be strong in faith and do not lose hope of being reunited soon with their loved ones.
After the public address, the Holy Father had a meeting with a group representing the families of some 800 seafarers from around the world who have been kidnapped and held by pirates.
Piracy reached a record high in 2010 with 445 attacks, according to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre. Though most of the occurrences are along the Somalian coast, piracy continues to be a global problem, affirmed the Italian bishops' Apostleship of the Sea.
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ZE11071007
2011-07-10
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Read the Latest from the AOS International Office at the Vatican
Dear Friends,
Please read the latest issue of the Apostolatus Maris Bulletin from the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People.
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ICSW Launches New Online Toolkit on Seafarers' Welfare
18 July 2011
The International Committee on Seafarers' Welfare today launches a new online toolkit on seafarers' welfare. The new toolkit is aimed at all organisations and individuals involved with seafarers' welfare around the world.
The toolkit comprises of a set of tools on National Welfare Boards, port welfare committees, and fundraising for seafarers welfare. Additional content on seafarers' welfare and cruise ships, running successful seafarer centres, and welfare on board will follow in the new few months.
The main aim of the toolkit is to promote good practice and to share knowledge, experiences, and skills.
The toolkit is designed to assist organisations and individuals in setting up and developing national welfare boards and port welfare committees, key features of the new Maritime Labour Convention 2006. The website also provides practical advice on fundraising for seafarers' welfare.
The toolkit contains a number of case studies that provide 'real life' examples. More case studies will be added as the site develops.
An important feature of the website is the translate function. All of the website can be translated in a wide range of different languages by selecting the drop down menu on the top right of the screen. The translation is instantaneous and this functionality opens up access to the website to a wide range of different nationalities involved in seafarers' welfare.
We hope that users will interact with the site and provide new case studies and fresh content. We welcome feedback about the site. Please link your website to the online toolkit and let your members, networks, and colleagues know about the site.
The web address is www.seafarerswelfaretoolkit.org
The ICSW deeply appreciates the support of The TK Foundation for the online toolkit.
Roger Harris
Executive Director
For further information email icsw@icsw.org.uk or call +44 (0)300 012 4279
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 Piracy Update
FV TAWARIQ-1
Dar es Salaam court of law has released 32 crew members of the FV TAWARQ 1.
The detained Fishermen in Tanzanian Prison were released on July 13, 2011. The court ruled that the Fishermen have no case to answer.
The court said that the captain of the Ship together with two engineers and two Agents who came from Mombasa have a case to answer.
The master of the vessel, two engineers and two Agents of the ship have not been released. They have been returned back to Prison.
Two Kenyans are spending a night the Missions to Seaman Dar es Salaam they are expected to travel back home on July 16.
Other crew members are spending a night at their respective diplomatic missions in Dar es Salaam before being flown back to their respective countries.
36 crew members of the Taiwanese fishing vessel TAWARIQ-1 were in March 2009 captured in Tanzania's EEZ for illegal fishing.
The crew members and the agents of the vessel were charged with fishing without license against section 18(1) of the Tanzania Deep Sea Fishing Authority Act. Cap.388 (R.E.2002) as amended by Act No.4 of 2007 read together with regulation 67 of the Deep Sea Fishing Authority (Regulations) 2009 G.N.48 of 2009.
The first count on the Statement of offence signed by the state Attorney on 4th May 2009 states that on or about March 8th 2009 they were found fishing 296, 32 tons of fishing valued at Tshs 2,074,240,000 without valid license within the EEZ of Tanzania.
The second count states that on or about 8th March 2009 within the EEZ of the United Republic of Tanzania they exploited the resources and captured fishing without there being agreement with the government of the Republic of Tanzania.
They are composed of 15 Chinese, 5 Vietnamese, 5 Indonesians, 2 Taiwanese, 8 Filipinos and 2 Kenyans.
A Kenyan crew member of the vessel died in prisons under mysterious circumstances.
They were intercepted by a South African patrol boat some 180 nautical miles off the Tanzanian coast with over 200 tons of Tuna fish.
The vessel was found to have both fresh and frozen tuna and tuna-like species as well as fresh offal and other remains cut from fish on board. The vessel has no flag hoisted; radar was switched off; she has no license or permit and port of registry.
Multiple names were found on the vessel; on the superstructure, lifesaving equipment, and the vessel monitoring system transponder and in documents found at various locations on the vessel.
The name No.68 BU YOUNG was found embossed on the port and starboard bows as well as on the stern of the vessel and at the upper part of the wheel house.
On the said locations the name TAWARIQ was painted over the name BUYOUNG to mask the embossed name. Information further indicates that the life-rings, the service record of one of the life-rafts and other documents found onboard bore the name of a Korean fishing vessel No.11 INSUNG.
The fishing vessel flies Oman flag and her previous name was ODINE MALAGASY her ex-flag state was Madagascar.
It is said that her last port of call was Mombasa port. Without a hoisted flag or port of registry and without any authentic certificate of registration found on board the vessel it is impossible to establish the true identity of the vessel and the owner of the vessel.
Illegal and unregulated fishing takes away huge earnings estimated at 20% of total catch for Kenya and 15% total catch for both Tanzania and Mozambique.
There was actually a fleet of 4 large fishing vessels operating illegally in Tanzanian territorial waters, when TAWARIQ-1 was impounded in March 2009.
Upon hearing that their sister ship had been arrested the other three fake named TAWARIQ 2, 3 and 4 immediately left and escaped the dragnet.
Andrew Mwangura
Seafarers' Assistance Network
Kenya
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 U.S. Coast Guard honours chaplain
( AOS USA congratulates Karen Parsons for this distinguished award! Thanks to our friends at the International Christian Maritime Association for the story!)
The United States of America's Coast Guard has awarded the Coast Guard's Public Service Commendation to Apostleship of the Sea Chaplain, Karen M. Parsons.
The Coast Guard highlights Karen Parsons'
selfless commitment to maritime stewardship, and moreover, the safety and welfare of the many seafarers that enter the Ports of Galveston and Texas City... Chaplain Parsons is a trusted advisor to the U.S. Coast Guard and staunch advocate for seafarers that find themselves far from home, with no support system and, in certain instances, suffering under substandard working conditions.
The U.S. Coast Guard's statement refers to Karen having used her personal leverage and influence to make timely humanitarian improvements to enhance shipboard safety and security, citing examples, and then concludes:
Because of these daily acts of benevolence and unsolicited support for seafarers from all parts of the world, Chaplain Karen Parsons is held in the very highest esteem and honor by the U.S. Coast Guard and the maritime community.
ICMA proudly congratulates Karen and ICMA member the Apostleship of the Sea / Stella Maris for consistent excellence in serving seafarers. The ICMA family rejoices with you in the public affirmation of port chaplaincy. |
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2011 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea to Go to Piracy Survivor
(Courtesy: The Maritime Executive)
The Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has unanimously endorsed the decision of a Panel of Judges that the 2011 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea should go to Captain Seog Hae-gyun of the Republic of Korea, Master of the chemical tanker Samho Jewelry. Captain Seog was nominated by the Government of the Republic of Korea for his heroic actions to keep his vessel and crew safe, while suffering vicious assaults, following a hijack by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
The Council agreed that Captain Seog displayed truly extraordinary bravery and concern for his crew after his ship was hijacked in the Indian Ocean in January 2011, going far beyond the call of duty, at great risk and danger to himself. With the pirates onboard, Captain Seog steered the vessel away from the Somali coast, watered down the fuel to prevent combustion, pretended the steering gear was not working properly and reduced the vessel's speed. He also managed, surreptitiously, to communicate information to naval forces, which facilitated a dramatic raid by commandos from the Republic of Korea's destroyer Choi Young. As a result, all 21 crew members were rescued.
During the hijack, Captain Seog was subject to a number of assaults, causing fractures to his legs and shoulders. He was later shot twice in the abdomen and once in the upper thigh, required several surgical operations and almost lost his life.
The Council also decided that, of the other nominees or groups of nominees, eight should receive Certificates of Commendation and eleven Letters of Commendation.
The Council further agreed that special certificates be awarded to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) Falmouth (United Kingdom) and Stavanger (Norway) for their contribution, on several occasions, to search and rescue operations unfolding in distant areas, far away from their respective countries' SAR regions, and for their dedicated performance over many years.
A total of 38 nominations from 14 Member States and one non-governmental organization in consultative status with IMO were received. They were first considered by an Assessment Panel, which was chaired by the IMO Secretary-General and consisted of experts nominated by various international non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO. A Panel of Judges then met, led by the Chairman of the IMO Council, with the participation of the Chairmen of IMO's Maritime Safety, Marine Environment Protection, Legal, Technical Co operation, and Facilitation Committees.
A ceremony for the winner to receive his award will be held on Monday 21 November, the first day of IMO's biennial Assembly meeting.
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Important Upcoming Events for
AOS USA Members
AOS Maritime Chaplaincy Training Program
Aug. 7-19, 2011
Montreal, Canada
http://www.aos-canada.org/AOS-CanadaTraining.pdf
IMO World Maritime Day
Celebrated the week of Sept 26-30, 2011
USA Celebration of World Maritime Day
September 29, 2011
@ Port Arthur International Seafarers' Center
Houston Maritime Chaplaincy Training Program
Feb. 5-16, 2012
@ Houston International Seafarers' Center
Houston School Application
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