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AOS USA Maritime Updates 

The Professional Association of Catholic Mariners, Cruise Ship Priests and Catholic Maritime Ministers.

 

May 2, 2016

In This Issue
E-Mail Recruitment Scam Targeted at Seafarers!
Important Message for Indian Seafarers!
Join AOS-USA in saying the AOS Prayer daily!
Upcoming Events
PrayingHands
    Prayer Requests:
 
For Capt. George P. McShea, Jr, AOS-USA President who has had some health issues lately. He appreciates your prayers that the doctors will locate the source of issues, and receive full healing.







For all seafarers who are just starting their careers, especially those who are struggling to find work in the current economic climate.



 
Prayer of St. Basil of
Caesarea (ca. 330-379)  


Steer the ship of my life, Lord, to your quiet harbor, where I can be safe from the storms of sin and conflict. Show me the course I should take. Renew in me the gift of discernment, so that I can see the right direction in which I should go. And give me the strength and the courage to choose the right course, even when the sea is rough and the waves are high, knowing that through enduring hardship and danger in your name we shall find comfort and peace.
  



A Seafarers' Prayer



O God, I ask you to take me into your care and protection along with all those who sail ships.
Make me alert and wise in my duties. Make me faithful in the time of routine, and prompt to decide and courageous to act in any time of crisis.
Protect me in the dangers and perils of the sea; and even in the storm, grant that there may be peace and calm within my heart.
When I am far from home and far from loved ones and far from the country that I know,
help me to be quite sure that, wherever I am, I can never drift beyond your love and care.
Take care of my loved ones in the days and weeks and months when I am separated from them, sometimes with half the world between them and me.
Keep me true to them and keep them true to me, and every time that we have to part, bring us together in safety and in loyalty again.
This I ask for your love's sake.
-Amen-
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


AOS PRAYER 
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy upon all Seafarers.    
(1 Our Father)
(Hail Mary)
  
Our Lady, Star of the Sea, pray for us.
  
St. Peter, pray for us.
  
St. Andrew, pray for us.
  
Lord save us,  
or we perish.
 
 
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Some went down to the sea in ships,

doing business on the great waters; 

they saw the deeds of the Lord,

his wondrous works in the deep.

(Psalm 107:23-24)





E-Mail Recruitment Scam Targeted at Seafarers 
 
Dear Friends,



Today, we're sending out a short e-news with a special alert for seafarers. Please read and share!



Doreen





Greetings from Swire Pacific Offshore.



We have just encountered a recruitment scam targeted at seafarers, using the name of Swire Pacific Offshore. We have issued an advisory in the SPO website, as seen in the link http://www.swire.com.sg/Media/News-Archive/2016/Email-Recruitment-Scam-targeted-at-seafarers.aspx



I was wondering if you can alert the members in AOS, in particular, seafarers to alert them about this scam so that they are aware and will not fall prey into the scam. This will help to create more awareness in the industry and prevent other seafarers from fall prey to this email scam.



Thank you and I look forward to hear from you



Warmest regards,

Dorothy Ng

Manager, Corporate Communications

Swire Pacific Offshore
  

(See full alert below)



28 April 2016



Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) has been alerted to a scam which involves fraudulent emails, purportedly from our Human Resources Department.



 
These fraudulent emails target seafarers and allege that the recipients have been shortlisted or accepted for various job opportunities in SPO. The current scam alleges that the recipient has been headhunted to work in SPO and requests the recipient to sign a forged employment contract and to wire transfer a "visa processing fee" or similar to a bank account. These fraudulent emails have been sent with the subject, "Swire Pacific Offshore Contract Terms" from at least two email addresses, namely [email protected] and [email protected]. The mailing address stated in the email is SPO's actual Aberdeen address. 



These emails and email addresses are fake and are not associated with SPO in any way. SPO takes such scams very seriously and we have lodged an official report with the relevant authorities. 



Recipients are advised not to respond to such emails or to click on any hyperlinks embedded in such emails. Please also be aware that the fraudsters may be using email accounts and/or aliases other than those identified above.  Should you receive a suspicious-looking email or message similar to the above or purporting to be from SPO's Human   Resources or recruitment department, or from Swire Pacific Ship Management, please alert us at

 
   
For more information on job opportunities in SPO, please visit the corporate website, http://www.swire.com.sg/
 
  
 


Important Message for Indian Seafarers from the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India:

Unregistered Indian Manning Agents    
Courtesy: Directorate General of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, Government of India

22 April 2016 
  
 
Dear Seafarer,



          Directorate General of Shipping, Govt. of India has noted with concern, the rise in

number of complaints received from seafarers who are cheated/ fleeced by unauthorised

recruitment and placement agents under pretext of offering them placement on board foreign

flag ships. Common problems reported by the seafarers are;



1.  In an event of seafarers meeting with an accident, injury, stranding or any other mishap ,

      the unauthorized agencies do not provide any kind of assistance for repatriation/medical

      aid/compensation etc.



2.  Such unauthorised agencies do not provide assistance or make intervention in disputes

      regarding wages/compensation, arising between the seafarers and the foreign flag

      ship owners.



3.  In case of demise of the seafarer, unauthorised agencies avoid taking up  responsibility of

      bringing  mortal remains or arranging compensation.



      In all the above mentioned complaints, it becomes difficult for DGS, Gol to directly take up

the matter with the foreign flag ships, as they do not come under its jurisdictional control.

It is therefore, requested that placement through unauthorised agencies may strictly be

avoided, as it may lead to complications/problems for the seafarers. It may be noted that sea

service through an unregistered agency cannot be uploaded in the e-governance system of

DGS and therefore will not be considered by the DGS for examination/certification. It is

therefore advised that the seafarers may get their placement on foreign flag ships only

through registered placement and service agencies. List of such approved agencies is

available in the website www.dgshipping.gov.in. Before considering any offer of appointment

from placement agencies, you must check the website of DGS and ascertain whether such

agency is registered or not.



       There could also be a case of some fraud agency impersonating as a Registered RPSL.

As a measure of precaution, before considering an offer of appointment from any registered

RPSL, you may also contact the said RPSL on telephone or by an e-mail and ascertain its

genuineness. The contact details of all such registered RPSL are also displayed

in the website for information.



      The registered RPSL are required to upload the details of your sea service in the

e-governance system of the DGS. Such uploaded details are visible to the seafarer in the

master checker of the seafarers profile in the e- Governance system.You are advised to

regularly visit the master checker and check wheather the RPS has correctly uploaded

the dates of your sign on/ sign off in the system in the same month to ensure that

your sea-service records are up-to-date.



Wishing you all the best with your career.



With Best Regards,

Dr. Amol B. Kirtane

Deputy Director General of Shipping

Directorate General of Shipping

[email protected]   
 

    Star of the Sea Statue

 Join AOS-USA in saying the AOS Prayer each day!

  

Please take the time to say this pray with us each day:
 
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy upon all Seafarers
 

(1 Our Father)

(Hail Mary)

 

Our Lady, Star of the Sea, pray for us.

St. Peter, pray for us.

St. Andrew, pray for us.

Lord save us, or we perish!

Important Upcoming Events for

AOS-USA Members
 



National Day of Prayer & Remembrance for Mariners celebrated at USCCB May 20, 2016

1:00 PM



National Day of Prayer & Remembrance for Mariners celebrated at National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception: 
May 21, 2016

12:10 PM



Official Date of National Maritime Day & National Day of Prayer & Remembrance for Mariners 
May 22, 2016



National Celebration of National Maritime Day

May 23, 2016

10:00 AM - Noon

US Department of Transportation

Washington, DC



Sea Sunday

July 10, 2016



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


Apostleship of the Sea of the U.S.A. | 1500 Jefferson Drive | Port Arthur | TX | 77642