VATICAN - Conclusions of Apostleship of the Sea Regional Coordinators Meeting: “although international bodies and some religious, governmental and non-governmental organisations are very active in this sector and that many positive developments have happened in some regions, overall the situation in the maritime world has not really improved”

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The goal of the Apostleship of the Sea goal is not to run profit making centres but to up hold the dignity of seafarers by caring for their spiritual, moral and physical well-being. This statement was part of a final message dated 13 February issued by the Apostleship of the Sea Regional Coordinators of the nine Regions of the world: Africa Atlantic; Africa-Indian Ocean; East /South East Asia; Europe; Gulf States; Latin America; North America; Oceania; South Asia, who met at the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People office for an AOS-International Meeting from Jan 31st to Feb 1st 2006.
From various reports presented it emerged that “although international bodies and some religious, governmental and non-governmental organisations are very active in this sector and that many positive developments have happened in some regions, overall the situation in the maritime world has not really improved and that new dangers have emerged such as piracy, the criminalisation of seafarers, shore leave restriction, increased stress and fatigue, hence creating a deterioration of the human environment.”.
Participants agreed on the necessity of a concerted effort to work together with valued partners of ICMA, ICSW and ITF-ST to address relative pastoral and spiritual necessities, to produce a handbook for chaplains and to open an AOS international web site. Among areas, which need also pastoral attention and care are, the Yachting, fluvial( lakes) coastal and inter-island shipping. During the meeting participants also discussed the theme and programme of the 22nd World Apostleship of the Sea Congress in Gdynia, Poland, 24 to 29 June 2007.
One whole day was devoted to the International Committee of the Apostleship of the Sea for Fishing: over 200 million people, many are the poorest of the poor, depend on fishing for their livelihood. The tsunami made the world more aware of the situation of fisherfolk and the Apostleship of the Sea AOS from the first moment took care of people neglected by the principal plans of major funding agencies.
The East/South East Asia AOS Region in collaboration with the Africa-Indian Ocean Region is planning the setting up of a “ Centre for Fishers’ Rights”. This socio-pastoral project will be based in Manila in the new seafarers centre where space will be made available, it will be geared towards gathering data and information, handling cases, give legal assistance and will eventually produce formation material, in communion with AOS-International.
Participants at the meeting agreed to devote in depth study to the first encyclical by Pope Benedict XVI “Deus Caritas Est”, which they said can be of great help to clarify the motivations and spirituality of the Apostleship of the Sea. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 15/2/2006, righe 35, parole 448)