M/v Hual Asia in Port of Tyne, England
 If
there is a request from the crew, and the captain consents,
AOS can arrange for the celebration of Mass onboard ship.
The ship M/v Hual Asia was built in 2000 in Korea as a
“car carrier”. At 656 feet long, 106 feet wide with four
adjustable decks, she is capable of carrying up to 6,250
cars at a time. This huge ship is managed by a crew of 22
men. The majority of these men come from the Philippines and
are Catholics.
When
the M/v Hual Asia arrived at the Port of Tyne, in the north
of England, in July 2005, the crew had not been able to
attend Mass for several months. Paul Atkinson, AOS lay
chaplain in Port of Tyne, arranged for parish priest Fr
James Angus to celebrate Mass onboard. Some fifteen members
of the crew attended Mass which was celebrated in the
messroom.
 Paul said “The master and crew were delighted to have
Mass onboard and we were made to feel very welcome. I talked
with the cook as we looked out of a small window in the
galley. I said to him, “you must see the world through that
window”. He replied that is true but very rarely have they
the chance to go ashore to see it for real. Photograph:
(1)
Paul Atkinson, crew member & Fr James Angus, M/v Hual Asia
(2)
Fr James with the Captain and members of the crew, M/v Hual
Asia |