The intrigues of a ship's arrest are complex. The emotions tied in this knot ride see-saw. Feelings change from highly flammable to total despondency. The results are often more than mere destructive... 

It is 10 December 2017.  A disheartened crew sails into the Durban harbour. The men have not been paid in months. In the days following their arrival a fierce legal battle takes place, resulting in the ship's arrest. This implies, basically, that a ship is placed in jail. The collateral damage is that the crew members are also imprisoned. From the moored ship they can see the shining Durban night lights and dream about walking about freely in the city, no more than that. The ship becomes the capsule of their total existence, their prison.  Shortly after the ship's arrival in December, our Evangelist, Chris, visits them on board. His tasks are multiple. He must care about physical and spiritual needs. The reality is that the men have no water supply, food or any way to communicate with family that are scattered around the world. The men have nothing.  

As if the hopeless situation is not difficult enough, they find themselves captive in a traumatic legal nightmare. A maritime lawyer accepts the case. Eventually, much money and a long time later, he withdraws from the case. Chris and others try to find a new lawyer. It is complicated. The captain appoints a lawyer. It is expensive and he is paying from his own pocket. Eventually this lawyer disappears without making any difference to the depraved situation on board. Then, unexpectedly, a lawyer that Chris contacted returns his call. He is willing to help on a pro bono-basis. Chris does not fail to see the hand of God in this situation...Now it is four years and six months later. Chris visits to see the captain, now an old friend. He is on his way home! Eventually he could reach an agreement with the ship's owner to pay some of his wages and the legal battle has been resolved. His happy smile is real, but behind the happy mask the lesions caused by humiliation and sadness of the past four years remain. Then he was a captain with standing, to be reduced over four years to a person that had to survive from charity. Now he is en route, starting a new journey through life. 

The goodbyes between Chris and the captain are loaded with emotions created over four years and six months. Chris is the person that returned again and again after that first day in 2017, sometimes only to find out how they were, other times with water, food, a phone to call the family, to bring news about the progress with the legal battle, but now and then with a small heavenly surprise like chocolate. The captain's emotional gratitude is not only to say thank you, but also thank a friend for four years and six months of walking together, discussions, giving hope, crying together and praying...

At the CSO we walk with men working at sea with complete dedication. In walking with them, we try to live love, hope and mercy. We remind these men that God meets them, irrespective of where they are on their roads. 

You can join us in this walking together. Your donation helps to ensure that no man working at sea has to walk the road alone. Please consider this in your prayers and consider helping with this special task.