Apostleship of the Sea - 'On the Yuletide' at North Tees
The petro-chemical terminals at Seal Sands on the north of the Tees may well appear to the lay man as daunting places of high technology, more reminiscent of a scene from ‘Blade Runner’ than a place of work for local people. However, beyond the tall fences, steel structures, massive tanks and miles of pipework are berths where tanker ships arrive to load and discharge all types of cargo which is crucial to industry and indeed the local economy.
The arrival of these ships means the arrival of crewmembers, and here too in this highly sensitive and safety driven environment, the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) provides an important outreach for the visitors, providing all of the pastoral and practical care which is seen in other ports.
At North Tees, the AOS has, over the years, been blessed in having a number of Volunteer Ship Visitors who have all worked in this environment at some stage, and as such, are familiar with the surroundings and all the safety and security constraints which go with it. Having said this, they have all had to undergo Induction Courses at each of the five separate terminals (all owned by different companies) and must comply with all procedures and regulations before they are allowed on site to visit the ships berthed there.
Jimmy Ross with crewmembers of the m/t Lady Eleanor
Jimmy Ross, who himself is a former Jetty man at one of the Terminals joined the AOS a couple of years ago and has been visiting ships on a regular basis providing for the seafarers. Jimmy was delighted to be able to distribute Christmas presents to many crewmembers over the festive period, all of which had been generously donated by parishioners at Holy Rosary, St John the Evangelist and St Joseph’s, in nearby Billingham. A significant number of presents were also received from the ladies of the Catholic Women’s League at St Robert’s parish in Harrogate who have consistently supported AOS in recent years.
Tony McAvoy
AOS Lay Chaplain, &
NE Regional Co-ordinator
e-mail: teesportnorth@aposmar.net
See also Diocesan Societies-Apostleship of the Sea