Taking the message of life to Seafarers in Australian Ports

SCFS has been in Australia for over 20 years, providing a lifeline to men and women, from all nations, who work at sea.

It’s lonely for seafarers, who are away from home and family for many months at a time. SCFS Representatives visit seafarers onboard their ships while they are in port. They aim to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to non-Christian seafarers and provide fellowship, resources and encouragement to Christian seafarers.

Around the world, there are 6,000 commercial ports and 75,000 merchant ships voyaging between them. In Australia we have 60 commercial ports, which are only 1% of the world’s total!

World mission on Australia’s doorstep

Virtually all seafarers come from overseas. A crew of 20 on a ship may have five or more nationalities and languages onboard. This means our ministry reaches into all corners of the world.

Representatives of SCFS minister in the following ports:

  • Port Botany

  • Port Kembla

  • Port Adelaide

  • Crew work 10 to 12 hours per day

  • They work 6.5 to 7 days per week

  • Their contracts last 7 to 9 months

  • Crew are unpaid while on vacation

  • Ships are at sea 85% of the time

  • Their times in port are normally less than 48 hours

There are approximately 800,000 seafarers working onboard merchant ships and life for them can be hard, lonely and dangerous.

Seafarers have very few chances to hear the Gospel

Seafarers need the Gospel, and they need people to bring it to them! This is why SCFS exists.