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Prayer Requests:
In Thanksgiving for the release of the crew of 6 (4 Philippines and 2 Danes) from the Danish coaster M/V Leopard after 838 days
For the continued healing and quick recovery of our AOS USA Administrative Board member, Will Watson, who underwent heart surgery last week.
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Join AOS USA Today!
To join AOS USA simply click on the following link:
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Please join in writing a card of prayer and support for Capt. Lyubomirov Sobadzhiev.
 | | M/V Mass Trader |
In Sunday's Gospel, Jesus reminds his disciples that people will know that they are his disciples because they love one another. (John 13: 34-35) Jesus also tells us in Matthew's Gospel, " Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was ... in prison and you visited me.'
Capt. Lyubomirov Sobadzhiev was the master of the M/V Maas Trader. The 54-year-old captain has been locked up in Panama's notorious La Joya prison since March 2011, when 160kg of cocaine was found aboard his vessel, M/V Maas Trader. Drugs were discovered on the containership in Cristobal after it called in Barranquilla, Colombia.
More than two years later, Sobadzhiev has yet to even be officially charged by Panama's prosecutor. But under Panama's legal system "there are no provisions for a bail bond, or for house arrest, or detention in a less harsh environment" prior to charging, Sobadzhiev's legal team - Panama's Francisco Carreira-Pitti, John Cartner of Washington, DC, and New York-based Peter Wolf - told SAS."
Apostleship of the Sea of the USA asked the delegates at our annual meeting to write a card of prayer and support to Capt. Sobadzhiev. We are also asking you to "visit" Capt. Sobadzhieve by writing a card or letter of support, and remind him that he has not been forgotten in his very difficult situation.
We would like all our members to do the following:
- Write a short letter or card to Capt. Sobadzhiev assuring him of your prayers.
- Mail all cards directly to the AOS USA National Office:
1500 Jefferson Dr., Port Arthur, Texas 77642, by May 10, 2013. We will collect them, and send them on to Capt. Sobadzhiev's U.S. attorney, Mr. John Cartner, who will then forward them to Panama. - If your letter or card misses the May 10 date, please mail them directly to Mr. Cartner at: Mr. John Cartner, 4103 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 101, Fairfax, VA 22030-4107.
In the next panel, I have included links to a number of articles and streaming videos that can give you more information on the plight and struggle that Capt. Sobadzhieve faces.
Blessings in this Easter Season,
Fr. Sinclair Oubre, J.C.L.
President - AOS USA
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Background information for Capt. Lyubomirov Sobadzhiev &
the M/V Maas Trader
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M/V Leopard on Somali Coast
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Seamen Released in Somalia After 838 Days
After more than 2 years of captivity, the six seamen, who were kidnapped by Somali pirates in connection with the seizure of the Danish coaster M/V Leopard in January 2011, have been released and lead to safety. The two Danish and the four Philippine seamen have very recently been released off the Somali coast and are now in safe surroundings.
"It is with very great happiness and relief we can inform that our colleagues finally have been released. The past more than two years have been extremely traumatic and inhuman for our crew and their families, and we very much look forward to having our colleagues back home", informs Claus Bech, Managing Director of Shipcraft.
"I have just talked to the families of the seamen. It was a very emotional moment, and it goes without saying that the happy news were received with great joy", informs Claus Bech, who now himself travels to meet the seamen at their resort.
In Safety with Qualified Team
The seamen are now in safety and are surrounded by a professional team consisting of both doctors and psychologists.
"The first evaluations are that our colleagues, considering the circumstances, are ok. However, it is important to us that they receive the best possible medical assistance now, and as soon as they have been thoroughly examined and have received the doctor's acceptance, they will be brought home to their families", informs Claus Bech.
Inhuman Situation
This long period of time in captivity has been inhuman and exhausting for the hostages. For now details of the captivity is limited. The seamen were kidnapped by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea in January 2011, when pirates captured the coaster M/V Leopard. However, the pirates damaged the ship and left it drifting. Instead the pirates kidnapped the crew and since took them ashore, where they were moved to different locations in Somalia. On a few occasions the hostages have been allowed to talk to their families.
For now Shipcraft's main focus is to help the seamen get back to a normal life. When they return home, they first and foremost need peace and quiet and undisturbed time with their families.
łThe traumatic and inhuman conditions our colleagues have experienced have of course affected them deeply. Now our main focus is to ensure they get a good reintegration", says Claus Bech.
Close Cooperation with Authorities and Kidnapping Experts
Since the kidnapping of the crew Shipcraft has worked closely with the Danish Authorities to ensure the best possible handling of the situation. During the entire period the company has been closely connected to well reputable foreign - and since the end of 2011 also Danish - kidnapping experts. The experts have throughout the duration of the kidnapping advised Shipcraft in these extremely difficult negotiations with the pirates.
"The kidnapping has been going on for more than two years. We are a very small company and the pirates' expectations to the ransom have been completely unrealistic", informs Claus Bech.
"We have together with our advisors been fighting hard every day to find a solution. We are happy that the hard work all involved parties have done in order to have the crew set free, now have been rewarded with their release. We wish to thank our extern experts and the Danish Authorities for their help and assistance during these hard times", says Claus Bech.
Considering possible future kidnapping situations Shipcraft cannot reveal the size of the ransom, but Shipcraft has paid considerable millions, substantially more than previous kidnappings where Danish citizens have been involved.
The Seamen needs peace and quiet
Shipcraft now ask media to accept that the seamen will need peace and privacy with their families.
"Of course we realize that the matter has great public interest, and we will keep the media informed about any news. This is now possible as publicity no longer can endanger the release of our crew. In return we hope that the media will respect that our colleagues now first and foremost need peace and privacy with their families", informs Claus Bech.
Inquiries from the press can be directed to Managing Director Claus Bech via communications advisor Mads Lindberg on mail: press@shipcraft.dk or phone: +45 2981 0290
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William Watson: President of Advanfort and Yachtsman & Recreational Boater Representative
 | | William Watson, President of Advanfort |
Excerpted from 2012 VI Maritime Professional edition:
William Hughes (Will) Watson advocates a comprehensive, but transparent international approach -calibrated to avoid risks - in the effort to rein the many emerging global maritime security threats. Those who know him best also know that he doesn't say or take any of that lightly. This former Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs and Special Agent with the Office of the Maritime Administrator of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) also served as that country's delegate to the UN Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS). Along the way, he also coordinated counter piracy and anti-terrorist activities as the maritime security liaison at International Registries, Inc. (IRI). Simply put, maritime security has become Watson's passion. His approach to maritime security is one borne of experience, considerable thought and, at the end of the day; excellence. Even after arriving at AdvanFort, Will continues his responsibilities as vice president of government affairs and as governor with the Maritime Security Council, where he represents the maritime industry on the National Council of ISACs (Information Sharing & Analysis Centers). From his early roots in journalism with considerable time spent at a well known maritime business journal, Watson has now be¬come one of the foremost experts on counter-piracy methods and maritime security. His outreach extends into every facet of this industry; from regulatory to commercial, law enforce¬ment and all the way down to the mariners his firm protects.
Maritime Roots, Commercially Focused
Watson's path to Advanfort was a logical one. Based largely on his work at the Marshall Islands flag, Advanfort was look¬ing for someone to take the firm to the next level. Of particular importance, and beyond Watson's obvious maritime security credentials, was the requirement for a chief executive with maritime industry background who also knew the commercial side of the business. Watson told MarPro in October, "It is important to understand an operator's business model in context with their security needs."
Watson's commercial IRI experience. Maritime Security Council oversight, and contact with many private maritime security companies (PMSC) will collectively serve him well at Advanfort. He adds, "During my time at Marshall Islands Registry, part of my job was to liaise with the various Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSC) that were serving aboard Marshall Islands flag vessels - including, by the way, Advanfort. Through that, I got to review the rules of Force and operating procedures of what are now, many of my competitors. So, arriving here, I'm able to - with the help of our advisors, in-house team and personnel - pick and choose from a variety of strategies. We kept the best and discarded the rest. Also, I spent last three years as the delegate from the Marshall Islands to the contact group on piracy off the coast of Somalia at the United Nations. That's enabled me to meet and work with not only many of the nation states that are involve in these issues, but also most of the NGO's in the industry - everyone from BIMCO, Intertanko, to Oceans Beyond Piracy - and a number of others." Watson's approach is a pragmatic one. He insists, "One of the things I learned at Marshall Is¬lands was how important it was for the flag states to interact with the various PMSC's - and visa-versa. So, we at Advanfort not only endeavor to make sure we meet the requirements of regulatory needs but also use 'best practices' at all time. The two go hand in hand and are not mutually exclusive...."
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International Committee for Seafarer Welfare and International Seafarer Assistance Network Murge on April 1.
 It's farewell to the ICSW and ISAN and welcome to ISWAN. On 1 April 2013 the International Committee on Seafarers' Welfare (ICSW) & the International Seafarers' Assistance Network (ISAN) formally merge to become the International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN).
ISWAN emerges as the outcome of two years' of collaboration between the two organisations, our members and our funders. The new organisation will harness the strength of both our parent organisations to provide a stronger, more unified and cohesive voice to speak up on the international stage whenever seafarers' welfare is tabled. ICSW brings to ISWAN the benefits of its membership structure involving employers, unions, and welfare providers while ISAN contributes its first-hand experience of day to day problems faced by seafarers.
ISWAN will provide direct welfare services to seafarers. The 24 hour multilingual helpline, SeafarerHelp, runs every day of the year and is free for seafarers to call from anywhere in the world. In 2012 SeafarerHelp helped over 4000 seafarers and their families. ISWAN also administrates an emergency welfare fund for seafarers in dire need, produces health information for seafarers, and provides information to seafarers on the 450 seafarer centres all over the world.
ISWAN will promote the welfare of seafarers worldwide. It will work in support of organisations and bodies that provide direct welfare services to seafarers. ISWAN will facilitate the maintenance and establishment of welfare facilities and services in ports and on ships. ISWAN will also bring together and support its members to share learning and experiences to improve seafarers' welfare. In particular, ISWAN will work for the implementation of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 in partnership with companies, unions, governments, welfare organisations (secular and faith based), and ports for the benefit of seafarers' welfare.
Roger Harris, Executive Director of ISWAN said, 'The new organisation will be able to serve both seafarers and welfare organisations a lot more effectively. ISWAN brings together practical experience of dealing with seafarers' welfare problems and the strategic issue of developing and sustaining welfare services, facilities, and structures. We aim to grown our influence by recruiting more members from the industry, particularly from shipping companies and ports.'
ISWAN is holding a reception to officially launch the organisation on 17 April in London. The guests of honour at the reception will be Ms Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, Director of the International Labour Standards Department of the International Labour Organisation, and Mr Jim Fitzpatrick MP, ex-UK Minister for Shipping.
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A Note from Kaija: 
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB), Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP), and the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP) are developing the third annual report on the human cost of piracy. They seek to identify the many ways in which piracy affects seafarers and their families in order to better understand the support needed to address these challenges. Previous reports concentrated on the physical and psychological abuse suffered by the seafarers. However, piracy has broader impacts and the next step is therefore to take into account seafarers' and families' combined fears, concerns, and emotions about piracy. The IMB, OBP, and MPHRP are asking seafarers to share their thoughts on these topics on a secured website: http://www.icc-ccs.org/seafarer-survey. This information can then be used to provide more comprehensive and relevant resources to seafarers and their families. Names and identifying information is not required.
The impact of piracy cannot be known unless seafarers share their thoughts and stories about how piracy affects their lives and work. Port chaplains provide an important link between the seafarer and the work of the IMB, OBP, and MPHRP. Port chaplains deliver a range of resources to seafarers at centers in ports across the globe (United States?). Their work, which includes efforts to ensure safe working environments, just contracts, and spiritual renewal for seafarers, places them in a unique position to also help address the impact of piracy on seafarers' lives and working environment. This can be a difficult topic, but Port Chaplains are well-placed to help seafarers facing these challenges and provide seafarers with a secure place to fill out the IMB's seafarer survey. Port chaplains are therefore an essential element in collecting the data when seafarers visit the centers.
Go to Survey by CLICKING HERE
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A Note From Dwayne Boudreaux
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Dwayne Boudreaux, ITF Inspector Regional Coordinator
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I need your help - CLICK HERE to download a Survey from the ITF, on Manning Agents. Could you please print them and have crew members fill them out for me - I have been trying on the ships, to get the crew to fill them out-their scared -If they come to your Center -please ask them to help us, and fill them out - Were only trying to help them and they don't have to put their name on it - Were trying to go after the bad Agents that cheat the seafarers - I'm in Tampa now and will be back Friday night. Stay in touch, and thanks, Dwayne
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Important Upcoming Events for
AOS USA Members
National Maritime Day
May 22, 2013
National Day Prayer and Remembrance
Sponsored by the Apostleship of the Sea
Saturday May 18, 2013
12:10 p.m.
Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Main Celebrant: Most Rev. J. Kevin Boland
Bishop Promoter of the Apostleship of the Sea
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