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Volunteer ship visitors
What do ship visitors do?
Every year around 150,000 ships enter British ports. Economic pressures mean tight turnaround times which, for many seafarers, leaves little opportunity for coming ashore. Therefore AOS GB deploys volunteer ship visitors who help to bring pastoral care to the seafarers.
AOS currently has an active presence in 57 ports and berthing facilities. Volunteer ship visitors go onboard to visit seafarers, approaching them as friends, listening to their concerns and, where possible, offerring practical help. Typical services include:
news from seafarers' home countries
local information
transport to shops and amenities
arranging for Mass or liturgy onboard
An AOS vehicle parked on the docks, ship visitors bring pastoral care to seafarers in their place of work. |
Which ships need visiting?
In some instances port chaplains specify which ships should be visited. At other times, ship visitors can choose when and where they visit. However, ship visiting is always co-ordinated by the local port pastoral team to avoid ommission or duplication.
Training
There is a comprehensive training programme for all our ship visitors, see the panel on the right. All training is provided free of charge by AOS GB. Ship visitors’ expenses are re-imbursed.
Ports that urgently need new volunteer ship visitors
Interested?
click here for information about applying
click here to read an evocative account of ship visiting in the Thames ports
Teesport volunteer
Dr Sara Baxter is a volunteer ship visitor for AOS in Teesport.
Requirements
Ship visitors normally work for a day or half a day a week. Acceptance as a volunteer ship visitor depends on availability to meet local requirements.
Due to the nature of the work, we can only accept volunteers aged between 18 and 75. Volunteers must be physically able to board a ship and in general good health.
Training
Initially, prospective volunteers spend a day accompanying a port chaplain or experienced ship visitor. If both the prospective volunteers and the port chaplains feel that they are suited to the work, the volunteers are invited to make further accompanied visits with the local pastoral team. At this point volunteers also discuss their availability with the chaplains and together they decide on an appropriate commitment.
In due course, subject to availability, volunteers are encouraged to take the Ship Welfare Visitors Training Course which is run by the Merchant Navy Welfare Board and accredited by the Nautical Institute. The course is run in ports around the country and offers expert tuition on issues of seafarers and world shipping today. A Diploma is awarded upon successful completion of the course together with official Merchant Navy Welfare Board photo ID accrediting trained ship visitors belonging to recognised welfare societies.