Monday 10 August 2009 leaders of The Evangelical Alliance of Malta (TEAM) announced the launch of Maritime Ministries of Malta (MMM).  As a special meeting held in Malta the Constitution was signed to signal the commencement of this new ministry to seafarers.  Said Pastor Edwin Caruana, acting President of MMM:

‘Valletta is a busy port and commercial shipping is important to this island of Malta.  But we also welcome approximately 300 cruise ships every year.  This means we are visited by thousands of seafarers, often without our realizing they are even here.’

MMM exists to help seafarers in practical ways, and this gives the churches in Malta an opportunity to demonstrate their care and concern.

This new initiative has been helped by the return to Malta, after an absence of 42 years, of the Seamen’s Christian Friend Society (SCFS).  It was the SCFS which built and administered the King George V Seamen’s Memorial from 1921 to 1967.

The SCFS is an international, non-denominational seamen’s mission, and they have been happy to return to Malta to lend their support and expertise to the new ministry of MMM.

Notes to Editors:

1. MMM has already appointed a number of volunteer ship visitors who will be spending time with ships’ crew and helping them in practical ways including the provision of general and spiritual welfare.
2. The SCFS was established in England in 1846 and has a solid reputation internationally in the care of seafarers – see www.scfs.org
3. The King George V Seamen’s Memorial Hospital was destroyed by a bomb in the last war and was rebuilt and reopened in 1948.  When Malta was granted independence and the British Navy left, the hospital was transferred to the Maltese government, and the SCFS finally handed over the hospital in 1967.
4. MMM is grateful for the assistance of Martin Otto, SCFS Director of training from Germany; and Michael Wilson, SCFS International Director form England, for the practical help and advice they are continuing to provide.
5. MMM plans to hold special training for its ship visitors in December.  This will be organized through the International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare (ICSW) – see www.seafarerswelfare.org.  The training course will be accredited by the Nautical Institute.  The course prepares ship visitors to go about their duties in a safe and considerate manner.