Plight of seafarers remembered on Sea Sunday

Publish Date: 15-Jul-2020

The Sea Sunday was celebrated on 12 July this year. The Rev Canon Stephen Miller, chaplain at the Mission to Seafarers, and Elder Dr Wong Fook-yee, Honorary Acting General Secretary of the Hong Kong Christian Council, released a joint letter to call on Christians in Hong Kong to pray for the sailors.

The letter said that seafarers have sailed through storms, bad weather, and some have risked their lives in the face of piracy. Even under the onslaught of COVID-19, many cargo ships were still arriving at harbours around the world, bringing people all their daily essentials. However, because some seafarers on shipping and fishing vessels were infected by COVID-19, many of them were not permitted to go ashore after they have unloaded their cargos. Tens of thousands of lonely and isolated seafarers, who were already away from home for most of the year, were not able to return home not only because of the actual pandemic, but also because of travel restrictions around the world, reduced flights, and the shipping companies’ legal considerations.

The seafarers were often a group neglected or invisible to the general public. The Missions of Seafarers from around the world have been helping seafarers by offering them basic amenities as well as encouragement. The Rev Canon Miller and Elder Wong invited Christians to care for and pray for seafarers and their families during this difficult time where people were isolated.