The Revd. John Attenborough reflects on his 30 year career with The Mission to Seafarers

John Attenborough reflects on a 30-year career that has taken him from a windswept port in northeast England to sunny Cyprus where he is now Regional Director for the Middle East and South Asia. 

It was 1995, and I started in Immingham on the northeast coast of England, fresh from the hotel and catering industry.  It turned out to be the perfect foundation—because really, this work is all about hospitality. A warm smile, a kind word, a sense of welcome. That’s what matters most. 

After six freezing months in Immingham—where the wind cut through you like a knife—the Mission said, “We’ll send you somewhere a bit warmer.” So off I went to Mombasa, Kenya. Just a bit warmer, indeed! I stayed there for nine years. 

Since then, I’ve served in Antwerp, Southampton, and now Cyprus, where I’m Regional Director for the Middle East and South Asia. Each place has taught me something new, but the heart of the work remains the same: walking up the gangway with no agenda—just being present. 

Constant Change 

Over the years, so much has changed. The biggest shift? The internet. When I started, my job included licking stamps and sending letters for seafarers–I can still taste the glue! Now, with instant communication, the world is at their fingertips.  

But perhaps the biggest change I’ve seen has been the pace of the industry – from communication to turn around times everything is faster. And it’s seafarers who are dealing with the consequences.  

With smaller crews, quicker turnaround times, and limited shore leave they’re often out of sight and out of mind, more lonely and isolated than ever. As exhausted seafarers retreat to snatch rest where they can or catch up with loved ones, gone are the communal games, movie nights, and camaraderie. My experience is that today’s ships are quieter – and lonelier. 

Access has also become harder. After 9/11 and through COVID, port security increased dramatically. Getting onto a ship now involves negotiations and permissions – a far cry from the days when you could just walk up the gangway with a smile and a hello.  

Looking Ahead  

Now, as Regional Director for the MESA region—covering Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, the UAE, India, and Sri Lanka—I face new challenges. The region is diverse and complex.  

We’re often working in countries where Christians are a minority or where religious restrictions make operations difficult. Access is limited. Geopolitics doesn’t help.  

The Houthis’ attacks on ships in the Red Sea, for example, deeply affected seafarers, and our teams were among the first to visit traumatised crews and support their families. The relatives of one vessel told us, ‘The world seems to have forgotten us. But the Mission hasn’t.’ 

My vision for the MESA region is indeed to grow into new places and to work together with new and existing partners – for the benefit of all seafarers. There are particular opportunities in India where there’s real momentum and potential for growth. We’re currently partnering with the Maritime University in Chennai and exploring new ways of working together to support seafarers. 

It’s uncharted territory, but we must be bold. The Mission has been on the front lines of caring for Seafarers for 168 years, and as the maritime world changes so must we. But one thing remains constant: our care for the shipping industry’s most important asset– the seafarers!