The Vatican has warned that migrant workers within the commercial fishing sector are in danger of being exploited as a result of globalisation and labour shortages.

It is renewing its appeal to governments to urgently ratify the Work in Fishing Convention 2007 (No. 188) to ensure the welfare of fishing crew are better protected.

"We are talking about the exploitation of migrant workers who, because of poverty and misery, easily fall prey to recruitment agencies that bind them to forms of forced labour, becoming at times victims of trafficking onboard fishing vessels," said the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

The call is made on the occasion of World Fisheries Day 2013 celebrated on 21st November.  

Enacting the 2007 Convention would ensure fishing crew had ongoing medical care, sufficient hours of rest, the protection of a contract of employment, and the same social benefits enjoyed by workers ashore.

The Pontifical Council coordinates the activities of Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) worldwide. It is putting together plans to provide long term support to Filipino fishing communities hit by Typhoon Haiyan.

The Council said fishers risked signing illegal or incomplete employment contracts, coupled with poor salaries and safety conditions onboard.  Coastal pollution and destruction along coasts were also forcing them to go further out to sea using substandard boats.

It said family relationships were put to the test by prolonged stays at sea. Often fishers became 'voiceless' in society, marginalised and isolated, and incapable of enforcing their rights.  

"As such the work of AoS in exposing the problems and difficult working and living conditions of fishers and their families was vital," it said, re-calling the words of Pope Benedict XVI at the XXIII World Congress in November 2012: "To you fishermen, who seek decent and safe working conditions, safeguarding the dignity of your families, the protection of the environment and the defense of every person's dignity, I would like to ensure the Church's closeness."

"Finally, making ours the words of Pope Francis, let us pray together with Mary, the "Star of the Sea", to support the chaplains and volunteers of AoS in their pastoral service to the people of the sea, and to protect fishers and their families from all danger."

   Courtesy: AOS Great Britain  

By: John Green

November 20, 2013 

Seafarers' charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) is assisting fishermen in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

It has emerged that fishermen and coastal communities make up more than half of the casualties in the Visayas, one of the main areas ravaged by the storm.

This startling statistic provided by Pamalakaya, a national fishers' group in the Philippines, comes as World Fisheries Day is celebrated tomorrow (Thursday, November 21).

Father Bruno Ciceri of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, which coordinates the activities of AoS worldwide, said AoS Manila is providing free accommodation to returning seafarers who need somewhere to stay while they trace their families.

"The AoS centre in Cebu has also been turned into a logistics hub for aid material and people involved in the relief operation."

It is estimated that as many as 160,000 Filipino seafarers are directly affected by the typhoon.

AoS Dublin port chaplain Rose Kearney said volunteers were collecting and packing baby clothing to give to seafarers onboard their ships.    

"While some may not have children they might like to donate the items to families they know."

AoS Barcelona port chaplain Deacon Ricardo Rodriguez-Marto said he and his colleagues had distributed a message and a prayer among Filipino seafarers. 

Across the globe AoS' port chaplains have come out in full force to support Filipino seafarers and fishing communities affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

The Pontifical Council is putting together plans to support those affected by the storm in the long term. 

   Courtesy: HandyShippingGuide.com 

20 November 2013 

PHILIPPINES - WORLDWIDE - A very useful Good Practice Guide has just been produced telling the best ways for shipping lines, crewing agencies and other related parties on how to support Filipino seafarers in the wake of the terrible toll inflicted on the archipelago by the passing of Typhoon Haiyan. The Guide, viewable HERE, has been produced by an industry group comprising shipowners, welfare organisations, and unions. Unions affiliated to the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) have been working tirelessly in an effort to replace local government services in the wake of the tragedy by distributing food, drink and other supplies whilst other freight interests are also helping out.

The Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) is using its training ship the Kapitan Felix Oca to get supplies to the worst affected area for the indefinite future, while the Philippines Seafarers Union (PSU) has been attempting to distribute food and drink in Cebu Province and the island of Leyte. The ITF is also working with ISWAN (the International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network) on practical measures to assist Filipino seafarers who are desperate to find out what has happened to their families. ITF president Paddy Crumlin, commented:

"Our sympathy is with all the victims of this awful event, and our thoughts are with them and all those in the country and around the world who are trying to help them. Unions have taken up the challenge of providing the emergency aid that is needed following this disaster. We in the wider ITF family are supporting them all the way. We commend their inspiring example, and that of all the organisations, agencies, individuals and governments who are working tirelessly to help those affected by this awful tragedy."

Another industry player is throwing its weight behind the relief effort with freight only airline Cargolux flying to Manila with two of the company's 747's carrying supplies from various humanitarian aid organisations on 16 and 19 November and additionally transporting tonnes of clothes, blankets, toys and other urgently needed items that were collected by Cargolux employees, relatives and friends, as well as by the local Philippine community and other groups and citizens of Luxembourg. On very short notice, they collected five tonnes of goods for the first flight and over 12 tonnes for the second.

Luxembourg recycling specialist Horsch Entsorgung S.à r.l. spontaneously offered their help and supplied trucks free-of-charge that ferried the pallets from Cargolux's collection centre to the CargoCenter for loading onto the airline's freighters. Richard Forson, Cargolux Interim President and CEO commented that the operation was a tribute to his company's human spirit with a response whose rapidity amazed him whilst the airline's Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, Robert van de Weg, commented:

"We all have been touched by the pain and suffering of the Philippine people, the devastation there is beyond imagination. I thank the people in our organisation, our handling partner Luxair and our General Sales Agent in the Philippines, Wallem Philippines Shipping Inc., who made these flights possible in the shortest possible time frame."

 A mission in Halifax is looking for donations to fund its Wi-Fi and buy phone cards so Filipino seafarers can contact family back home in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.

From the Vatican , November 13th, 2013

Prot. n. 7423/2013/AM

Re: AOS special Fund for the Philippines

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Once again, we have witnessed the catastrophic power of the nature that in less than one month hit the same area twice (Central - Southern Visayas) in the Philippines . On October 15th, a devastating earthquake and then on November 7th, the Typhoon Haiyan hit the Nation, sweeping away people and property in its course. The death toll is in the thousands, while the survivors struggle to put together what is left of their lives.

Our prayers and solidarity go to all the Filipino seafarers miles away from their loved ones, not knowing their fate. We praise many of our AOS Centers around the world that have provided free telephone cards and internet access to allow Filipino seafarers to contact their families. Many of our AOS chaplains have celebrated Masses for the deceased, and have helped the seafarers make sense of such devastation and turmoil.

We appreciate that Carnival Cruise has requested AOS deploy Catholic chaplains on board of several of their ships to support Filipino crews.  

The great family of AOS would like to show its closeness and manifest its solidarity to the Filipino people. Therefore, as it was done for the tsunami that struck the coast of Japan in 2011, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, which is responsible for the overall direction of the Apostleship of the Sea, has decided to set up a special fund with an initial contribution 10,000 (ten thousands) US dollars. The fund will support long-term reconstruction projects, to be realized in cooperation with AOS - Philippines , benefiting the people of the sea in the affected areas when, after the initial weeks of emergency, people will have to return to their "normal" life.

Attached, you will find the instructions for your donations in US$ or in Euros (enclosure).  

Bank Transfer Document 

Please be kind enough to inform our office (aosinternational@migrants.va) of any transfer of funds.

We would also be grateful if you could share this initiative, giving it all the exposure that you deem fits. In advance, we express our sincere thanks for your support and generosity, asking Mary, Star of the Sea, to bless this initiative.

 Antonio Maria Card. Vegliò

 President

                                                                                                            X Joseph Kalathiparambil

 Secretary