Sailors’ Society’s Crisis Response Network (CRN) provided support to its 100th case this week, with piracy, death at sea and abandonment accounting for almost two-third, 59%, of those supported. The CRN also provides support to seafarers who have been imprisoned, often through no fault of their own.
Namely, the International Maritime Charity began its 24/7 fast response team in South Africa in 2015 to provide trauma care and counselling to survivors of piracy attacks, natural disasters and crises at sea.
From 2015, CRN has expanded to Europe and Asia and up to now has 52 chaplains trained to offer crisis support to seafarers around the world.
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According to the International Maritime Bureau, piracy attacks have increased at an unprecedented rate in the first six months of 2018. Specifically, 107 actual or attempted attacks were reported, in comparison to 87 in the same period in 2017, with Nigeria and Indonesia being the piracy hot spots.
Stuart Rivers, Sailors’ Society’s CEO, addressed that piracy attack is a crucial matter for seafarers since it could have a devastating impact on them and their families.
Among those helped by the CRN was Indonesian fisherman Adi Manurung who was held by Somali pirates for five years.
Finally, the CRN also provides support to seafarers who have been imprisoned, often through no fault of their own. These have included Ukrainian Captain Valentin Dudnik of the Seaman Guard Ohio jailed in India, and previously a victim of piracy himself.
