St. Peter's Church in the Great Valley
visits the
Barbet Arrow
May 1, 2004

by Roger Thorne

The Seamen's Church Institute, under the current leadership of Executive Director the Rev. Jim Von Dreele, and Operations Director Jack Mudge, has been ministering to seafarers in the Philadelphia area since 1843. In all seasons and weather, throughout the year, an SCI staff member or volunteer associate makes every effort to visit each ship. Ship visitors bring with them pamphlets and maps of the area, reliable phone cards to sell to the seamen, as well as religious literature. They bring Christian solace, mediate conflicts, and listen to pastoral and work-related problems. They also arrange free SCI transportation for seamen from the many isolated docks to the warm hospitality and club-like atmosphere of SCI's new Seamen's Center, as well as to medical clinics, shopping areas, and historic sights.

On May 1st St. Peter's Church in the Great Valley conducted it's third SCI group participation of 2004. At 8:45 a.m. Saturday morning, outreach leader Lloyd Reynolds welcomed parishioners Dick Bordogna, Brian Curtis, Tom and Pam Nelson, and Roger Thorne as the five volunteers comprising the visitation team for the 40-minute drive to the Seamen's Center at 475 North 5th Street in Philadelphia.

Jack Mudge welcomed our group to the Center and provided an orientation to the critical role of the Institute in providing Christian comfort and advocacy to the hundreds of ship's crews that visit Philadelphia each year. Jack explained that 95% of all products involved in international commerce arrive by ship, and that the Port of Philadelphia is in fact 28 terminals spread over 100 miles of waterfront up and down the Delaware River. He told us, for example, that Philadelphia is the largest steel terminal in the United States, and also the largest fruit importing terminal in the country. Many ships and many crews.

After explaining the fundamental role of the Center as a place of comfort and diversion for seamen after long weeks at sea, our group boarded one of several 12-passenger Seamen's Church Institute vans for the drive over the Ben Franklin Bridge to the Camden dock area. According to the Maritime Exchange Ship Report, a cargo ship had just arrived at the Gloucester Terminal, and this would be our visitation site for the morning. However, when we arrived at the terminal's security checkpoint, we were informed that the crew of another ship had requested a visit by a Seamen's Church Institute representative and that they were quite eager to meet with us. Jack explained that this is a common occurrence, and that one must always remain flexible to pursue 'targets of opportunity'.

Arriving at the designated pier we found the Barbet Arrow, a 39,218 dwt general cargo carrier operating under a Bahamian registry by an international shipping company called Gearbulk, hauling plywood and other wood products from Argentina to a series of North American cities. Philadelphia was the ship's third port-of-call on this current voyage.

The ship had arrived early in the last week of April to off-load product before continuing on to New London, CT and St. John's, Newfoundland before returning back to Brazil to refill its holds and begin the circuit again. The Barbet Arrow has a 26-man crew, comprising16 Philippinos, 2 Croatians, 4 Indonesians, and 4 Poles. On Thursday, April 29, one of the Indonesian crew members deserted the ship and was unaccounted for. In the wake of "9-11" this becomes an incident. The Coast Guard immediately secured the ship from departure, and prohibited any crew member from going ashore pending the apprehension of the AWOL seafarer. Needless to say, this action presented a hardship for the innocent crew members who remained on duty.

As Jack and the St. Peter's team climbed to the top of the four-story boarding ladder, we were welcomed by a young Philippino engineering cadet named Julius. After briefly meeting the ship's captain, we followed Julius down to the crew galley for some refreshment before taking a tour of the ship - from the bridge high atop the vessel to the cavernous engine room.

Then Julius requested a favor on behalf of the crew. It seems that many of the crew of the Barbet Arrow are musicians who enjoy performing rock and roll music. They had been continuously practicing with the intention of hosting a "gig" on the ship that very evening, May 1st. The ship's drum set, however, required new heads, and it was Julius' responsibility to visit a music store in Philadelphia to pick up suitable replacements. The restriction now foiled that plan. Could SCI assist by providing a messenger to obtain the necessary drumheads and allow the concert to go on as scheduled? Jack immediately used his cellular phone to call a colleague who committed to obtain the needed replacements just in time. A simple request, but so important to that crew. As we were escorted off the ship at the end of our tour, we knew that we had participated in an unexpected kindness that had earned the deep gratitude of this crew in a strange port.

On Sunday, May 2nd , the day after the visit to the Barbet Arrow, Father Von Dreele visited St. Peter's Church in the Great Valley. He preached at all three services, and spoke at the Adult Forum. During the forum a parishioner asked him "What exactly is expected of a SCI volunteer? Fr. Jim responded that every volunteer works under the direct supervision of a staff member of the Seamen's Church Institute, and that no technical or legal training is required. The role of a volunteer is to offer friendship and Christian kindness to the seafarers with whom he/she meets, to be an attentive listener, and to share God's love in small ways. Truly a worthwhile ministry.

To get a glimpse of some of the people we met, and the opportunities for service that we witnessed, click on the thumbnails below:

Jack Mudge (in blue shirt) welcomes Dick Bordogna (hidden), Pam & Tom Nelson, Brian Curtis and Lloyd Reynolds in the lobby of the Seamen's Center.	Jack shares the history of SCI within the Port of Philadelphia, dating back to 1843.	The group reviews the formal SCI calendar for May 2004.
Because only authorized vehicles are permitted in terminal areas, the group will travel to the waterfront in one of the SCI vans.	The multiple gantry cranes loom over the hull of the Barbet Arrow.	The group is escorted aboard the ship, with the curious eyes of the crew following us.
After getting comfortably seated in the crew's galley, Engineering Cadet Julius provides an orientation to the group while Cook's Assistant Jeffrey sets out some light refreshments.	Roel, the Barbet Arrow's 2nd Mess Cook, and Lloyd share a joke	The massive holds of the Barbet Arrow give forth their cargo during the unloading process, as seen from the ship's bridge. The Walt Whitman Bridge is seen in the background.
Julius explains some of the features of the ship's engineering controls, accompanied by Ceasar, the 2nd Engineering Officer.	The massive expanse of the ship's engine room, proudly shown off by Caesar and Julius.	In the crew's recreation room, Julius shows off the drum set and explains the dilemma of the missing drum heads. A solution will follow.
Lloyd departs the ship down the four-story-tall stairway.	A last look at the Barbet Arrow before the group departs the Gloucester Terminal.	Father Von Dreele explains SCI's mission at the Adult Forum of SPC on May 2, 2004.
Fr. Von Dreele preaches from the pulpit of SPC at all three services, May 2, 2004.

Would you be willing to occasionally volunteer in this sharing ministry? The next SCI visit will occur on Saturday, June 19th. We will gather at St. Peter's parking lot at 8:45 a.m. and caravan to the SCI headquarters near Penns Landing, 475 N 5th Street, for a tour. Then off to the waterfront to visit and meet the crews of at least one visiting ship. We will return to St. Peter's by 2:30 p.m.  Volunteers must be at least 14 years old to visit aboard ships, and, for safety sake, all participants must wear sturdy shoes. Contact Lloyd Reynolds or at 610-889-0878 for information or to sign-up.