Port of Tyne

If there is a request from the crew, and the captain consents, AOS can arrange for the celebration of Mass onboard ship.

The ship m/v Hual Asia was built in 2000 in Korea as a “car carrier”. At 656 feet long, 106 feet wide with four adjustable decks, she is capable of carrying up to 6,250 cars at a time. This huge ship is managed by a crew of 22 men. The majority of these men come from the Philippines and are Catholics.

When the Hual Asia arrived at the Port of Tyne, in the north of England, in July 2005, the crew had not been able to attend Mass for several months. Paul Atkinson, AOS lay chaplain in Port of Tyne, arranged for parish priest Fr James Angus to celebrate Mass onboard. Some fifteen members of the crew attended Mass which was celebrated in the messroom.

Paul said “The master and crew were delighted to have Mass onboard and we were made to feel very welcome. I talked with the cook as we looked out of a small window in the galley. I said to him, “you must see the world through that window”. He replied that is true but very rarely have they the chance to go ashore to see it for real.

Fr James with the Captain and members of the crew