Iain writes about his early days as Port Chaplain in Aberdeen...

When I arrived in Aberdeen the vendors of the house had not moved out, and we did not have access until late afternoon. I sat down that evening with a cup of tea and wondered where all the boxes were going to go and how we were going to unpack and store our belongings.

Three weeks later I was in the office of the port SHEQ officer being ushered through my port induction. I was introduced to the harbour master and one of the dock control officers and shown how to use the port website for information. I was driven around the port, introduced to some pilots, the linesmen, and some of the security personnel, often from the depths of the car. I could hear their voice but see no face. At the end of the day, I was wondering where do I go from here? It was as if an audible voice was saying 'Leave it to me, I am in charge'.

Driving into the north port the following week, happy to finally be on the road to ship visitation, I could see enormous vessels that engendered a sense of trepidation – supply vessels and standby vessels are big! But all the worry vanished as the car was parked on Regent Quay and I approached the first vessel. An invitation to come on board was issued from the top of the gangplank. Upon reaching the top of the gangplank the ship’s visitor book appeared and I was signed in and I was taken up several flights of steps to see the Captain who engaged me in a general conversation.

On the next vessel, the Captain was from Ukraine and the first officer was from Romania. They were happy that I had visited and first added to my limited Romanian vocabulary in return for teaching them an English phrase. As I descended the gangplank, I met a Filipino AB disposing of some rubbish – he was delighted to hear some words in Tagalog, “magandang umaga, kamustaka”. He engaged in conversation and accepted a Gospel of John. Imagine my surprise when he told me his name was Jesus.

When I visited the south port for the first time, there was a Maersk vessel in for a name change. Maersk have sold their vessels to Duff and all the vessels are now named Skandi…

This time the number of steps to the bridge was far greater and I had to catch my breath upon arriving at the bridge. The Captain was from the Faroe Islands. We had a brief general conversation, but he was delighted to accept the offer of twenty-five new woolly hats for his crew. I visited this vessel a few weeks later with a new Captain and upon the offer of Christmas gifts his words were, “We would be delighted to accept because it shows that someone cares.”

Since that first day prayers have been answered. I have met crews and their back- to-back replacement crews. I have ministered in mess rooms, engine rooms, crew sheds down on deck, smoke rooms and on the bridge. Seafarers are from the four corners of the globe and vessels are large and small. Supply vessels and standby vessels make up the greater number of ships in port but there are many other types of vessels: container ships, diving support vessels, huge vessels with helipads, coasters, fisheries inspection vessels, a ferry, bulk carriers.

The weather has been varied. We were not here that long before there was an extended period of snow and ice. But in all things God is to be praised, often at the end of the day I would wonder what next and something would happen to demonstrate that the work in Aberdeen is not my work, but God’s work. One morning an email winged its way to my phone, an invite to a monthly pastor’s prayer time. These prayer times are like an oasis amid a busy chaplaincy. One day I returned to my car to write up my log and the phone pinged with an email. The message was from a lady who said the CEO of Aberdeen port has instructed me to set up a meeting, he would like to meet you.

On several occasions seafarers after hearing the Bible read to them have said, “Thank you for reading God’s word to us” or “It is good to hear God’s word read”. Only last week a seafarer listened as Psalm 119:41-56 was read. The result? A discussion about personal Bible reading and prayer and a question: “When we arrive back in port will you take me to church?”

There are many other things I could share, one chef likes to challenge me to taste test sweets! In one of the mess rooms, four Filipinos listened attentively as I shared from Psalm 107 and Matthew 8:23-27. I heard several Amens and a Hallelujah. They invited me to share food with them. Then the Filipino galley steward appeared and engaged me in conversation. She was enthralled that as a missionary/chaplain I visit ships and engage seafarers on board vessels. She thanked me for coming and wants me to return.

Two upcoming events I would appreciate prayer for are an invitation to participate in the commissioning and dedication of a memorial stone to the trawlermen of Aberdeen on the 29th of March, something Sam Cowan has graciously given some pointers on. In May, the tall ships arrive in Aberdeen and the chaplaincies in Aberdeen have been asked to set up a stall sharing about the work of the chaplains.

We are excited by the developing work of SCFS in Scotland and are keen to expand our Scottish support network. Iain and Mike would love to share about SCFS with your churches and schools.

To hear fresh updates and about the ways in which you can support SCFS Scotland, contact:

• • iain.sanders@scfs.org
  • mike.burleigh@scfs.org