THE Mission to Seafarers in Port Vila, Vanuatu for the first time held a ‘Ship Visitation and Seafarer’s Welfare’ workshop at Tagabe Anglican Church on the 19th of September 2018.
The workshop was facilitated by the Port Chaplain of Honiara Port, Fr Hillary Anisi.
The purpose of this workshop is to encourage clergymen and lay people both men and women on the work of the Mission to Seafarers as ship visitors.
The ship visitation workshop is aimed at encouraging volunteers to offer friendly hospitality to seafarers and to understand the challenges seafarers, as human beings, face in their work environment.
As ship visitor, volunteers also learned that ship visitation is the core of God’s mission and ministry to the Seafarers. It is a Christian outreach to all, regardless of religion, race, culture and gender; with the view that all human beings are created equal.
The workshop was attended by members of the Anglican Region of Port Vila/Noumea, which included both Clergy and Laity.
Officers from the Vanuatu Maritime Regulatory and Department of Ports and Habours also participated and an awareness team from the Department of Tourism and Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) gave a talk on Cruise Ships in Vanuatu, noting the significance of seafarers to the Tourism Industry in Vanuatu.
Mission to Seafarers is a Charitable Organisation associated with the Anglican Communion which offers help and support to merchant seafarers.
The charity provides its services through Port Centres manned by Port Chaplains in over 50 countries.
Ship visitors supported by volunteers usually give free advice on employment issues or personal problems, as well as assistance during maritime emergencies.
Mission to Seafarers centres also provides communications, stores, land transportation, counseling and other services for seafarers. The Mission to Seafarers is looking forward to hold a similar kind of workshop in the near future.