Letters from seafarers
The following three letters were sent by seafarers to chaplains of AOS in Cebu in the early part of 2006.
We have been confined inside the vessel for more than 5 months WITHOUT SHORE LEAVES. NO SHORE LEAVE is part of the contract with the company.
Hi, how are you nowadays? I hope and pray that you are in the best of health. It looks like Lenten season is fast approaching. Kindly send me the so-called official “Dos and Don’ts” to be observed by Catholics for the coming season. I am keeping in touch, too, with my former shipmates who are now onboard other Shell ships. I will forward to them your message / instructions with regards to fasting and abstinence.
My ship, VLCC Omala is back once again to Saudi Arabia from Durban, South Africa. We will be loading 2 million barrels of crude oil and sail to Singapore for unloading of the same cargo by the 27th or 28th of February, God-willing. My contract, together with 6 other persons onboard will end next month. Alleluia!!
Praise the Lord, the people onboard our vessel are always safe and in good health, and most importantly, have peace of mind, although we have been confined inside the vessel for more than 5 months WITHOUT SHORE LEAVES. NO SHORE LEAVE is part of the contract with the company.
I praise and thank the Lord for being with us always, inspiring the people here to be continuously active in our spiritual activities, most especially in the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word and Holy Communion Service on Sundays. Take care and God bless.
Ariel Amoncio
When we encounter bad weather at sea, we always think of our family, and simply shake our heads and say, “well, this is the life we chose”.
Hello there. Once again, I’m back onboard. October 2005 to April 2006 are months of Northeasterly monsoon in the East China Sea and in North Pacific Ocean. My Japanese master told me that the weather has changed considerably. Weather conditions are very different compared to 30 years ago. For example, once a tropical depression was spotted, strong winds stayed only for 1 day and forecast skies can only be hours. At present, these phenomena can stay up to 3 days and can generate strong gale/winds and very high seas.
This kind of weather phenomena scares seamen. My experiences can attest to this. In September 2005, while on the way from Osaka to Funabashi, our vessel encountered heavy swells with waves up to 4.5 meters. One most unforgettable experience was in November 1996, when I first joined my vessel. We were crossing the Atlantic from Sept-Iles, Canada on our way to Algiers, onboard a bulk carrier. We sailed on for two weeks in the middle of gale winds, high seas. Our ship rolled heavily. What registered in my mind ws that ships like ours are nothing compared to Mother Nature when she starts unleashing her wrath.
We seamen suffer all of the these adverse conditions at sea. During bad weather, my crewmates used to say, “hard time and hard money”. When we encounter bad weather at sea, we always think of our family, and simply shake our heads and say, “well, this is the life we chose”.
Amidst these adverse conditions, we still keep on working, and we keep on going even after strong winds and high waves have already passed. We cannot use high waves and stong winds as reason for not keeping on with our jobs onboard. I may not overcome the fears that I have because of my profession but I’m somehow able to cling to it not only because I need it, but because of the help of prayers – before I start my work during the day, and after I have finished it . Thanks for listening. Regards to all.
Andy Martinez
Life at sea is tough...but God has kept me going, and has even sent plenty of good Samaritans onboard or through AOS to help me along the way.
It was the 28th of January 2006 when I joined my vessel “Our Lady of Good Voyage”, with a gross tonnage of 5,463.24, engine BHP of 7,600 and with registry no. 051183. The original name was KIAI, and now under the management of Aboitiz Jebsen Bulk Transport Inc.
My first day was very relaxing, since I was being shown around and not really getting into all of my duties yet. The second day onboard, however, was an unforgttable one. I accidentally fell down stairs after finishing all of my chores. When I recall that very moment when I fell, it makes me smile. I couldn’t imagine how I could’ve made one small move and I missed all 12 steps going down. I was badly bruised from my fall, and heavily teased for a long time, but I felt so fortunate that it was not a serious accident.
I’ve got so much to tell you, but there is not enough time or paper. Also, the sea is still rough. What I want to say, though, is that I feel lucky and blessed. Life at sea is tough...but God has kept me going, and has even sent plenty of good Samaritans onboard or through AOS to help me along the way. Your prayers and letters give me comfort and strength. I started on January 28th as somebody who just wanted to work for my food and afford a comfortable lifestyle later on – now I no longer feel this way about my job, and no longer take anything or anybody for granted. Let’s continue praying for each other. God bless.
Vincent Alba
