It is easy to believe that it is relatively simple to work on a ship, but once you start talking to the people of the seas, you soon realise the many unique challenges that have to be overcome every day. It is not easy and it is not simple.

A recent study by Swansea University found that men working at sea show the second highest suicide rate of all possible careers. The only career showing a higher rate, is that of coal mine workers. Being away from home and the stress factors on board seem to be heavy burdens to overcome at a high price.

It is easy to believe that it is relatively simple to work on a ship, but once you start talking to the people of the seas, you soon realise the many unique challenges that have to be overcome every day. It is not easy and it is not simple.

A recent study by Swansea University found that men working at sea show the second highest suicide rate of all possible careers. The only career showing a higher rate, is that of coal mine workers. Being away from home and the stress factors on board seem to be heavy burdens to overcome at a high price. In the Philippines one of the biggest job providers in the maritime industry recently found that 75% of all Philippines know a colleague that may suffer from depression.

In addition, the International Transport Federation (ITF) reports that migration workers (that include seamen)show the highest HIV/AIDS infection rate of any career in the labour market. In spite of all the work done in terms of HIV/AIDS information education, many myths about transfer remain unchallenged. A study conducted by the ITF, involving Indian seamen, showed that only 17 percent of respondents believe that condoms are effective in preventing HIV/AIDS. The same study showed that 46 percent of the men believed that HIV/AIDS may be spread through food and drink.

That study also showed that half of the seamen indicated that they are concerned about their bodies, while almost 60 percent indicated that they suffer from back problems because of the work that they do.

Another part of the daily challenge for those working at sea, is the ever-present fear of being captured by pirates. Although statistics suggest a reduced number of attacks along the African coast, the fear of an attack remain as vivid as ever. It has not changed since the realities of the heyday of pirate activities.

Then, when you are working within a multi-cultural environment, you have to cope with many different religions, rituals, languages and ethnicities. The mere preparation and availability of food, which seem so simple to most of us, are very complex matters for ships with multi-cultural crew members.

In our daily work at the CSO, we see very little evidence of communities that provide care within the communities on modern ships. It is very different from life in the past where captains acted as father figures that care for their work families. That aspect was broken down due to globalisation, capitalism and an ever-present urge by maritime companies to increase profit margins.

Someone like a chaplain, willing to listen and give, is a rare commodity of immense value within the maritime industry. The challenges to care for the men and give, are complex and multi-dimensional. It does not involve mere spiritual care, it has evolved into include physical and psychological care of the men too. 

At the CSO we are very proud to be involved in each of these ways of caring for the men working at sea. Often it requires our physical involvement, but also psychological care. Irrespective of the type of care, it is highlighted by the firm belief that it is what Jesus Christ would have done.