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Teri is checking the ship activity
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By Debra Glidden of the Daily Item Teri Motley, 61, who goes to work wearing a hard hat, steel toed-boots and industrial work gear, is a ship visitor for Seafarer's Friend, a non-profit organization based in Chelsea. Motley, who graduated from Divinity School a few years ago, has been working as a ship visitor for five months, and says she enjoys the job. "I've been looking for a pulpit since I finished school and someone told me about this job. I was always intrigued by the large ships anchored offshore and no one seemed to know much about them," Motley said. After hearing a speaker from Seafarer's Friend at the Nahant Village Church, Motley decided to get her feet wet. "After listening to the speaker I realized there are people out there. Many times the crewmembers are confined to the ship. It's almost like a prison ministry - they are isolated from society and have basic needs that have to be met - including a means to cal home," Motley said. Motley, who has lived in Nahant for sic years, said the work isn't easy but it is rewarding. "I'm no spring chicken. I think the hardest part is climbing the gangways - they are very steep, especially on tankers," she said. Motley said she visits the ships when they are docked in Chelsea Creek discharging cargo. "You have to be careful. There are a lot of security issues and hazardous cargo. The dock I find most challenging is the scrap dock - there are huge piles of scrap of various kinds and machines moving scrap. Walking among the huge pieces of machinery and scrap is like walking among dinosaurs," she said. Once aboard, Motley said communicating with the crew and officers is challenging. "Most of the crew are from the Philippines and the officers are from various countries - their English is pretty basic. It's a challenge to understand and make myself understood," she said. Once aboard, Motley starts introducing herself to crewmembers to find out what their needs are. "We find out who is allowed to come ashore and who isn't. We bring a cell phone onboard so crewmembers can call home. One of the many problems for these guys is they are away from home so much, it is hard to maintain family ties - their contracts vary from six-to-nine months. We bring them magazines, clothing, DVDs and other items," she said. Motley said the docks are in isolated areas so if any crewmembers are allowed to go ashore Seafarer's Friend, which was established in 1827, transport them to local shopping areas or the Seafarer's Friend headquarters in Chelsea. She said the work involves a lot of social issues. "On the ships the captains and officers have absolute authority and they are being directed by a company - sometimes a series of shell companies. Many times the crewmembers don't have proper food or clothing," she said. "People need to pay attention to justice issues here. When stuff arrives at Wal-Mart cheap is because a lot of people are getting overworked and underpaid. I hope people realize every time they get a delivery of heating oil or fill their gas tank it is because some seafarer made sure it got to them." Motley said Seafarer's Friend is operating by a handful of people including a chaplain, administrative director and several ship visitors. She said the organization, which has branches in Portland and Portsmouth, could use donations of magazines in all languages, work clothes and DVDs as well as financial donations. Donations can be mailed to or dropped off at Seafarer's Friend, 77 Broadway, Chelsea, MA 02150. The group also needs volunteers to help out in the office, and package items for distribution. Motley said anyone who is interested in volunteering or in having a representative from Seafarer's Friend speak to their organization should call 617-889-3615.
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