Your gift could help seafarers feel much closer to home this Christmas

At the Mission to Seafarers, we bring care, comfort and connection to those spending Christmas at sea. Whether it’s a small gift, a kind message, or standing beside someone through heartbreak, we are there, a constant reminder that they are not forgotten and are never alone.

This Christmas, we share the story of Robert, a seafarer who faced unimaginable loss last December — and how, in his darkest hour, he found comfort and hope through the care of our port chaplain, Ruth Campbell.

“As he walked down the gangway in Tilbury this July, our eyes filled with tears as Robert and I remembered the last time we had been together in December of the previous year, under very different circumstances.

Robert had just arrived in port on a bulk carrier when he received the devastating news that his youngest son, only five years old, had been involved in a serious accident. The ship’s Master contacted me immediately to ask for support.

Normally, I prefer to visit bulk carriers early, before unloading begins, while the gangway is still at a gentle incline – not the steep climb it becomes as cargo is discharged. But on that day, any personal fears were set aside.

From the moment we met, Robert was open and deeply grateful for the support of The Mission to Seafarers. He was in shock, struggling to process the news and desperate for updates from home. I stayed with him as he navigated a storm of emotions – fear, distress, disbelief. When news came that his son was on life support, we prayed together and held onto a glimmer of hope.

The next day, hope gave way to heartbreak. The decision was made to turn off life support. Robert’s deepest wish was to be with his family, to be present for his son in those final moments. Together, we arranged a video connection so he could see his son, speak to his wife, and offer love and reassurance even across the oceans that separated them.

I remained with him, offering presence when he needed company, and silence when he needed space. His crew were remarkable. The captain relieved him of all duties immediately, and his shipmates took turns during their rest hours to sit quietly outside his cabin, ready to support in any way they could.

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With the support of the shipping company, we secured a hotel room for Robert ashore and worked closely with port agents to fast-track his visa so he could return home as quickly as possible. During this time, I coordinated regular visits, ensuring he was never left alone in his grief. We stayed in constant contact, even after he left Tilbury.

Ahead of his arrival home, I reached out to colleagues in the Philippines to ensure pastoral care would be in place for him and his family. Holistic care is at the heart of our mission, and support doesn’t end when a seafarer leaves our port.

When Robert walked through the door of his home, he entered a space filled with sorrow. But he also returned to a family that had felt his presence, even from afar.

On the day of the funeral, we spoke again. In Tilbury, we lit a candle that burned all day, placed on a beautiful Christmas altar cloth. We spoke again on Christmas Eve, his first without his son, and later, on the anniversary of his son’s birth. We remain in contact to this day.

I have never met a more devoted father. Even in the midst of unimaginable loss, Robert gave strength and reassurance to his family while carrying his own grief. It was a privilege to walk alongside him during this time.

My experience with Robert reminded me of the power of human connection, in both life’s most painful and most joyful moments. Nothing can replace the comfort of physical presence: a listening ear, a shared prayer, or simply sitting in silence with someone who is suffering.

This is what The Mission to Seafarers offers, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year. I am deeply grateful to be part of this work and to have stood beside Robert in his darkest hour.”

Our port chaplains provide much-needed seasonal cheer to the thousands of seafarers around the world who spend this time of year isolated by oceans and missing their loved ones. But they also offer ongoing emotional and spiritual support, walking with seafarers through grief, trauma, and loss. Your gift this Christmas will ensure we can be there for more seafarers, however and whenever they need us.