Andrew Payne, The Mission to Seafarers’ first full-time chaplain in Colombo for a number of years, takes us through a typical working day
 Payne: ‘security in Sri Lanka is a concern at the moment’. |
Five years as the chaplain in Felixstowe did not prepare me for driving in Colombo, where I have to negotiate three-wheelers whizzing in all directions, horses and carts and lorries all doing unexpected things. By the time I have taken my nine-year-old son to school and get to the Mission at 08:30 hrs to open up, check the e-mails and find out what ships are in port, I feel ready for some quiet reflection and morning prayers with the staff, which we have every morning to set the scene for the day.
On a typical day, I head straight for the port to start visiting ships. At the moment I do most of the ship visiting but with two container terminals, a bulk terminal and a dry dock area, which between them can take up to 30 ships, there are too many to cover on my own, so I am looking at ways of extending the coverage.
The ships can be in for a few hours or a few days and I visit as many as I can. However, a chaplain in a hurry is not a good chaplain. If people want to talk, whether they have a problem or just want some company other than their shipmates, then I stay to listen. If they want a service or a blessing, then I will perform it there and then. It is no good saying I will be back tomorrow, as with most ships there isn’t a “tomorrow”.
Contacting home is a prime requirement of most seafarers. Many have their own mobile phones and for them I always carry top-up cards. For those that don’t, I have two mobile phones they can use if they don’t have time to come to our seafarers’ centre to telephone or e-mail from there.
A concern of seafarers at the moment is security in Sri Lanka with the present troubles. Some captains ban all shore leave so visits to these ships are especially important. But they are in the minority. Most of those with the time are glad to come ashore to the centre. This is open from 09:00 hrs to 22:00 hrs. Some use it during the day but the majority come in the evenings.
After lunch, I sometimes visit more ships, but at the moment I am trying to get things set up in the centre. Although the centre remained open while there was no full-time chaplain, it is badly in need of a face-lift. We have been working to brighten it up and provide more recreational facilities. For example, we have now got table tennis and pool and have installed more computers and webcams. The afternoon is also a good time to make contacts with shipping companies, agents and other members of the maritime community so that they know I am here and can call on me in event of a problem or emergency.
In the evenings I sometimes stay in the centre but with ships coming in and out all the time it is easy to work a 13 or 14-hour day. It is a question of finding a balance between being available when needed and being at home with my wife and son. Luckily my son loves being in the centre and seafarers enjoy it when he’s there as they miss their own children so much. Seafarers often send me text messages and emails, and a quiet evening at home can be a good time to read these and respond.
The big difference between Colombo and Felixstowe is that in Felixstowe we had a well-run operation with lots of staff and volunteers and there was nowhere else for seafarers to go. Here it will take time to build up a similar organisation especially as everything takes longer. The need is as great but different. When the Mission first opened centres, it was to protect seafarers from the crimps and the people who just wanted to part them from their money. There is a similarity here in Colombo as there are a great many people trying to take a cut from seafarers. The Mission is a place where they are welcome for themselves and can find whatever help they need.
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