Sailors Society celebrates 200 years
The Sailors Society celebrated 200 years of helping seafarers and their families.
THE Durban branch of the Sailors Society SA joined other ports in the world to celebrate the milestone 200 years of existence of the Society on 18 March at the Durban Seafarers’ Centre, Bayhead.
A record number of 68 seafarers joined the celebrations and enjoyed a free drink, a meal and received a small gift. A great atmosphere prevailed among the international group representing Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, the Ukraine, Kenya, Japan and China.
Principal Chaplain Rev Boet van Schalkwyk opened the relaxed proceedings with a prayer, a reading and a short message. He drew attention to the role of the modern seafarer saying they worked under trying conditions which included piracy on the seas. Many could identify with these conditions. Rev Van Schalkwyk said: “Although there is loneliness and you are away from your loved ones, rest assured we at the Sailors’ Society and other missions care. The chaplains here tonight, those from the other missions and the staff working here are always ready to help and will give you a warm welcome. You are the VIPs of the seas and we are blessed to be a blessing to you.”
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The UK was the birthplace of the Sailors’ Society which was founded in 1818 by Sailor-turned-preacher George Charles Smith when he opened the world’s first seafarers’ church. His noble gesture was to help countless out of work seafarers in London’s docks which were thrown into decline after the Napoleonic Wars. This sanctuary for worship for seafarers was built on the Thames River, London in the sloop ‘Speedy’ later known as ‘The Ark”.
Sailors’ Society is an international Christian charity working in ports across the world. Chaplains help seafarers and their families, from all faiths and none, with welfare and practical support.
In 1877 the Sailors’ Society opened its doors in Durban, to serve ‘those who go down to the sea in ships”. The chaplains serve seafarers in all the major ports in South Africa and in 2012 extended services to counsel survivors of piracy in Somalia.
Today the Society co-ordinates the Sailors’ Society Sub-Saharan Africa Response network as trauma practitioners from Cape to Nigeria and up to Somalia.
The group aims to be good Samaritans to seafarers on the oceans on their vessels, when hospitalised, or in disaster situations.
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