The Nelson Diocese has a long-standing partnership with Port Nelson Mission to Seafarers. I caught up with Mission to Seafarers staff member Amba Bloomaart-Klay to find out more about what Mission to Seafarers is, what they do, and how people could support them.
Amba: The Mission to Seafarers began in 1835 when Anglican priest Reverend John Ashley observed a lack of spiritual care for sailors on ships in the Bristol Channel. He established the Bristol Channel Mission in 1836, using a dedicated boat to visit vessels. Over the last 190 years, and now known as Mission to Seafarers, it has spread across the world, providing help and support to the two million merchant seafarers who face danger every day to keep our global economy afloat. The global Mission to Seafarers network reaches over 200 ports in 50 countries.
Our mission is to provide compassion, care and support to Seafarers around the world when they need it most.
Amba: 17 years ago, I was a lab technician who got a bit restless and was looking for a change. Through a friend of a friend, I landed a job as a fisheries observer on a mix of boats. I fell in love with the marine environment and community, and have been involved ever since, including the last six years being involved in seafarer welfare.
Amba: Seafarers sacrifice a lot. It’s a tough gig. They spend a long time away from their loved ones. It’s hard work in a small space – sometimes the working or pay conditions are not good. They often feel isolated and vulnerable when they come to shore. They usually don’t know where shops and services are. They might be missing family. They might just need a listening ear.
We simply want the seafarers to know that there are people here who see them, who appreciate the fact that they are keeping the world economy afloat (a fact most people take for granted), and that we genuinely care for them. It’s what I would want if I were in their shoes.
Amba: I began my role as ship visitor for Mission to Seafarers Port Nelson (MtSPN) in 2024. This role involves boarding large ships as they come into port, introducing myself and the MtSPN service to the seafarers and seeing if there’s anyone needing support. We aim to be the friendly faces in port. The MtSPN team provide pastoral care, welfare support, and practical services like money exchange, transport for groceries and money exchange, free wifi, and a place to chill and hang out, which they can do at the Mission to Seafarers Centre – a portacom set up at the port as a chill out and connect space for seafarers.
I’m employed for 20 hours a week, and I’m supported by a small but amazing team of passionate volunteers.
Amba: I introduce myself to crew members and ask questions: While in port, what do you need? How can we help? Do you want the chaplaincy service? To visit a church? To buy groceries? Do you just need a place to hang out that’s off-ship? Do you want some wifi so you can get in touch with family?
We then provide whatever help we can. It might be transport into town. It might be helping them find a place for currency exchange. It might be providing a map for those who want to walk into town – taking advantage of not being in a small space. When we can, we have volunteers at The MtS Centre, inviting seafarers in as they walk by, providing a cuppa, a listening ear, or simply giving the wifi password so they can get in touch with family.
Amba: We’d love to be able to do that, but we simply don’t have capacity in terms of my hours and volunteer numbers. We’d also like to have the MtS Centre at Port Nelson rostered with volunteers when we know a ship is in, but unfortunately, we are not always able to do this.
Amba: There are four ways you could support us and we deeply appreciate any support we get.
First, follow us on Facebook. You’ll be able to find out more about what me and the team have been up to lately, sharing stories of supporting seafarers, and events that we are involved in, and opportunities to support us.
Second, enquire about volunteering. We need volunteers for driving the van that transports seafarers into the city to access amenities and services. We need volunteers to go on The MtS Centre roster – to be around to chat to seafarers as they come into port. Occasionally we need volunteers to help with special occasions, like organising fundraising events or putting together gift baskets to give to seafarers at Christmas time.
Third, donate goods and products for quiz evening prizes or gift baskets.
Fourth, donate money to help support the work we do.
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series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
The Nelson Diocese has a long-standing partnership with Port Nelson Mission to Seafarers. I caught up with Mission to Seafarers staff member Amba Bloomaart-Klay to find out more about what Mission to Seafarers is, what they do, and how people could support them.
Amba: The Mission to Seafarers began in 1835 when Anglican priest Reverend John Ashley observed a lack of spiritual care for sailors on ships in the Bristol Channel. He established the Bristol Channel Mission in 1836, using a dedicated boat to visit vessels. Over the last 190 years, and now known as Mission to Seafarers, it has spread across the world, providing help and support to the two million merchant seafarers who face danger every day to keep our global economy afloat. The global Mission to Seafarers network reaches over 200 ports in 50 countries.
Our mission is to provide compassion, care and support to Seafarers around the world when they need it most.
Amba: 17 years ago, I was a lab technician who got a bit restless and was looking for a change. Through a friend of a friend, I landed a job as a fisheries observer on a mix of boats. I fell in love with the marine environment and community, and have been involved ever since, including the last six years being involved in seafarer welfare.
Amba: Seafarers sacrifice a lot. It’s a tough gig. They spend a long time away from their loved ones. It’s hard work in a small space – sometimes the working or pay conditions are not good. They often feel isolated and vulnerable when they come to shore. They usually don’t know where shops and services are. They might be missing family. They might just need a listening ear.
We simply want the seafarers to know that there are people here who see them, who appreciate the fact that they are keeping the world economy afloat (a fact most people take for granted), and that we genuinely care for them. It’s what I would want if I were in their shoes.
Amba: I began my role as ship visitor for Mission to Seafarers Port Nelson (MtSPN) in 2024. This role involves boarding large ships as they come into port, introducing myself and the MtSPN service to the seafarers and seeing if there’s anyone needing support. We aim to be the friendly faces in port. The MtSPN team provide pastoral care, welfare support, and practical services like money exchange, transport for groceries and money exchange, free wifi, and a place to chill and hang out, which they can do at the Mission to Seafarers Centre – a portacom set up at the port as a chill out and connect space for seafarers.
I’m employed for 20 hours a week, and I’m supported by a small but amazing team of passionate volunteers.
Amba: I introduce myself to crew members and ask questions: While in port, what do you need? How can we help? Do you want the chaplaincy service? To visit a church? To buy groceries? Do you just need a place to hang out that’s off-ship? Do you want some wifi so you can get in touch with family?
We then provide whatever help we can. It might be transport into town. It might be helping them find a place for currency exchange. It might be providing a map for those who want to walk into town – taking advantage of not being in a small space. When we can, we have volunteers at The MtS Centre, inviting seafarers in as they walk by, providing a cuppa, a listening ear, or simply giving the wifi password so they can get in touch with family.
Amba: We’d love to be able to do that, but we simply don’t have capacity in terms of my hours and volunteer numbers. We’d also like to have the MtS Centre at Port Nelson rostered with volunteers when we know a ship is in, but unfortunately, we are not always able to do this.
Amba: There are four ways you could support us and we deeply appreciate any support we get.
First, follow us on Facebook. You’ll be able to find out more about what me and the team have been up to lately, sharing stories of supporting seafarers, and events that we are involved in, and opportunities to support us.
Second, enquire about volunteering. We need volunteers for driving the van that transports seafarers into the city to access amenities and services. We need volunteers to go on The MtS Centre roster – to be around to chat to seafarers as they come into port. Occasionally we need volunteers to help with special occasions, like organising fundraising events or putting together gift baskets to give to seafarers at Christmas time.
Third, donate goods and products for quiz evening prizes or gift baskets.
Fourth, donate money to help support the work we do.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
