WHAT WE DO

SHIP VISITING

Everyday about 80 ocean-going vessels dock in the port of Rotterdam. Due to the size of our port and the quick turnaround of the vessels, most seafarers have no chance to leave their ship. This can cause them to be isolated and quite lonely. As the team of SCFS Rotterdam, we have the privilege to be able to visit the seafarers onboard of their ships all year around. It is our priority to go to where they are. We do not have a seafarers’ center, but exclusively focus our efforts to meet the seafarers on board and to spend as much time with them as the situation allows.

SPIRITUAL HELP

Our priority is the spiritual health of the seafarers. We bring the good news of the Gospel to people from over 90 different nations and testify about our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. We also give away Bibles, Christian literature and digital media. We always have a listening ear for this isolated group of people. We seek to give counsel, appropriate advice and to encourage and challenge the seafarers to think about the meaning of their life. For seafarers who are already on their way with Jesus, we aim to help them to grow in their faith. Where we can, we offer to conduct Bible studies on board. We also offer to pray for the seafarers, their families and the ship.

PRACTICAL HELP

Most of the seafarers can rarely leave their vessel while in port and may need practical help. Where there is a real need, we seek to help in many practical ways. We provide free woollen hats and sometimes clothing. If some of the seafarers are free, we offer free transportation to a nearby town, shop, church or seafarers center in the area. We also assist them in sending money to their family. We cannot fulfil all wishes and requests, but we will do our best to help.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

From November to December, we bring more than 2500 Christmas gifts to some of the seafarers who will not be able to be at home for Christmas. Many parcels are gift-wrapped shoeboxes made by friends and churches from Germany and the Netherlands. The other part are giftbags, which are funded by friends and churches and packed by our team of volunteers. Seafarers can find sweets, USB-sticks with the Gospel, toiletries and a warm woollen bonnet inside. Each gift also includes an envelope with Christian literature.

FRIENDSHIP

We want to be the seafarer’s trustworthy and faithful friend. We try to stay in contact with many seafarers through email and social media and by visiting them regularly aboard their vessels as much as possible when they return to our port. While visiting, we are not in a hurry and take time for each individual seafarer. We offer counseling and provide a listening ear. The information shared by the seafarer is strictly confidential and will not be shared without his or her express permission. It is our aim to prove to the seafarers that they can trust us.

FOLLOW UP

We try to revisit the ships when they return to Rotterdam. If a seafarer has a practical or spiritual need, he or she can also inform us ahead of time through email or social media and we will provide help as soon as the ship arrives. Regular visits establish trust and real friendship with the seafarers.
We are glad to connect seafarers with port chaplains from other ports, if so desired. At the same time, we try to stay in contact with them personally through email or social media. A helping tool are the stickers and business cards we leave on the ships.
If a seafarer starts to study the bible correspondence courses (which are developed especially for them), we are glad to answer any questions.  

Stichting
Seamen's Christian Friend Society Rotterdam

EMAIL

[email protected]

ADDRESS

Dwarsweg 40B
3181 HG Rozenburg
THE NETHERLANDS

PHONE

+31 6 16077868

PRIVACY STATEMENT

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