Portrætter af stolte søfolk – og en enkelt Tørfisk 4 12 4 12
WAVES
No. 3 • 2025 • Vol. 12
Published by:
The Danish Mission to Seafares Havnegade 41A, 7100 Vejle, Denmark Tlf. +45 3393 2543 www.somandsmissionen.dk
Executive Editor: General secretary, Nicolaj Wibe
Editor:
Hanne Baltzer, tlf. +45 - 2288 4496
Mail: hab@somandsmissionen.dk
Print run: 4000
Waves is printed on eco-friendly paper.
Yearly subscription: 200 Dkr.
Layout and print:
Jørn Thomsen Elbo A/S
Cover:
Alfredo Cordova is a proud captain.
The Danish Mission to Seafarers seeks to create relationships, services, and security in the maritime world through social work, personal encounters and a high degree of professionalism.
Relation worker/ Relationsmedarbejder for maritime studerende
Phone: +45 2897 1460 hp@somandsmissionen.dk
Sømandsmissionen i Kalundborg
The Mission to Seafarers in Kalundborg
Editha og Jens Chr. Seeberg
phone: +45 5950 1332
GREENLAND/GRØNLAND
Karsten Hald Jacobsen
Phone: +299 27 60 10
khj@hotelsoma.gl
Harbor/havn: Aasiaat
Henriette Killerich Mikkelsen
Phone: +299 25 22 94 henriette@hotelsoma.gl
Harbor/havn: Sisimiut
Niels Chemnitz
Phone: +299 28 40 83 niels@hotelsoma.gl
Harbor/havn: Nuuk
Day of the Seafarers
Missionary to Seafarers Niels Chemnitz, Nuuk: “We celebrate seafarers all over the world. In 2025, the focus is on working environment and diversity. On the ship Malik, I spoke with three young seafarers. They all believed that diversity is a strength. On one of the large cruise ships that docked at Sikuki Port in Nuuk, there were around 900 crew members from 65 different nations. That’s diversity! Combining cultures comes with a great need for tolerance and respect.
Thank you for your effort. You bring people together, help create safe and thriving communities, promote welfare and health, and ensure the distribution of food and material goods.”
Markus and Inutsiaq on Tilioq believe that a positive working environment is an important issue.
“The days feel long when the atmosphere on board is bad,” says Markus (left). Inutsiaq agrees:
“The crew shares a small space and can’t just go home to recharge.”
Markus og Inutsiaq på skibet Tilioq mener, at et godt arbejdsmiljø er en god dagsorden. "Det kan blive en lang udmønstring, hvis stemningen er dårlig på et skib," siger Markus (tv). Inutsiaq bekræfter. "Besætningen er samlet på lille plads og kan ikke lige tage hjem for at få afveksling."
Fejring af Søfarendes Dag
Sømandsmissionær Niels Chemnitz, Nuuk: ”Vi fejrer sømænd over hele verden. Arbejdsmiljø og mangfoldighed er fokus i 2025. På skibet Malik talte jeg med tre unge søfolk. En kvinde og to mænd. De synes, forskellighed er en styrke. På et af de store krydstogtskibe, der anløb Sikuki Havn, Nuuk, var der omkring 900 besætningsmedlemmer fra 65 forskellige nationer. Det er mangfoldighed! Mange kulturer betyder også behov for stor tolerance og respekt for forskellighed. Tak til for jeres arbejde. I bringer mennesker sammen, skaber gode og sikre samfund, skaber velfærd og sundhed og fordeler mad og materielle goder.”
Proud – no matter what the sea brings
The theme of this WAVES is pride. The word refers to a feeling of satisfaction and joy.
1. Taking pride in the profession: Seafarers are proud of their trade and skills, their courage and endurance.
2. Taking pride in the community: Seafarers value camaraderie on board. They can feel proud to belong to a unique culture and tradition.
3. Personal pride: When you feel like you’ve performed and grown mentally stronger – for example, completing a task, overcoming a challenge, or acting in line with your values.
4. Pride in others: When you see someone you care about succeed.
5. Cultural or collective pride: When you feel proud to belong to a particular group, profession, nation, culture, or movement.
Stolt uanset, hvad havet bringer
Tema i dette WAVES er stolthed. Ordet refererer til en følelse af tilfredshed og glæde.
1. Stolthed over professionen: Søfolk er stolte af deres fag og kunnen, mod og udholdenhed.
2. Stolthed over fællesskabet: Søfolk vil gerne have kammeratskab ombord. De kan være stolte over at høre til i en særlig kultur og tradition.
3. Personlig stolthed: Når man føler, at man har gjort noget godt og er blevet mentalt stærkere, fx klaret en opgave, overvundet en udfordring eller handlet i overensstemmelse med sine værdier.
4. Stolthed over andre: Når man ser nogen, man holder af, lykkes med noget vigtigt for dem.
5. Kulturel eller kollektiv stolthed: Når man føler sig stolt over at tilhøre en bestemt gruppe, fag, nation, kultur eller bevægelse.
By Hanne Baltzer
Life Experience
from a Proud Captain - Alfredo Cordova
The captain of the cargo ship PANOPI, Alfredo Cordova, is from the Philippines. He is 46 years old and an experienced seafarer who has been sailing since 1998. Back then, he sailed to Canada, Europe, and, during the summer, to the Arctic regions. From 2000 to 2003, he served in the Philippine Navy as a lieutenant where he passed several maritime exams.
He has also worked as an instructor at a maritime training center in the Philippines, teaching both simulator-based training and various other maritime instruments and disciplines. Additionally, he spent three years in the Netherlands as a navigation advisor for vessels entering Dutch ports. In 2016, he was offered an attractive job in Dubai as an
offshore manager, with plans for his family to move with him. He accepted the offer, but suddenly the opportunity fell through. He spent a few months in uncertainty without pay before being offered his first job as captain.
“I’ve been sailing ever since. I didn’t feel I had a choice, because several people depend on my income, and there’s no immediate prospect of a land-based job. Back then, I prayed to God to give me bread — something to live on. Instead, He gave me a whole cake when I got the job as captain. It was unheard of, given my experience at the time. I had only sailed the ship for 23 days when the shipowner said, ‘Now you’re the captain.’ It’s God’s blessing—that I asked for
bread and received so much more,” says Alfredo, who is Catholic.
On Board
The ship counts 24 crew members on board – all from the Philippines. The captain cares deeply about the well-being of his crew. Every Saturday, they have a social event on board with barbecue and karaoke.
“Participation is mandatory. These days, most people spend a lot of time on their phones and stay in their cabins, and of course this reduces the time spent socializing with other crew members. But spending time together is important when building a healthy working environment. It reduces loneliness, isolation, and stress, and it helps maintain good mental health on board. I also encourage the crew to talk to me when they face personal challenges. It could even be something at home that’s challenging. I want to practice an open leadership style so the crew feels at home on board and dares to come to me if something is troubling them. That way, we can face challenges together and, if possible, overcome them— like mental stress. We are like a family here. I don’t want to isolate myself as a leader. I’m
Panopi: A 225 meters long cargo ship that transports various soy products for animal feed. The latest load was picked up in Brazil. The ship carries 66,000 tons of cargo and has seven cargo holds.
Panopi: Cargoskib, der er 225 meter langt. Det sejler med forskellige sojaprodukter til dyrefoder. Sidst lastede de i Brasilien. De kan have 66.000 ton i lasten. Der er syv lastrum ombord.
a poor captain without my crew. Together with my crew, I can be a good captain,” Alfredo Cordova reflects.
Sunday is usually a day off on board, and the captain’s only break from administrative duties. This past Sunday, the crew enjoyed going ashore to visit Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city. They visited churches, en-
joyed the local street food, and stopped by the Seafarers’ Club, where they met missionary to seafarers Jørgen Knudsen.
The Job
The captain works on a 10-month contract. He holds leadership responsibility from the moment he boards the ship until he returns
home. Naturally, he is responsible for the ship and crew 24/7.
“It has always been my dream to become a captain because I enjoy the challenge of managing both the ship and the crew so that everything runs smoothly. I’m a proud captain. I’m proud that I achieved my goal of becoming a captain already in 2016 at the age of 38. If the crew is happy then I’m happy.”
Alfredo has a wife and three sons to support. His sons are still in school, and their education needs to be financed: “As you get older, you realize that time becomes an increasingly important factor in life. But I have to keep sailing for a while longer, as long as my family needs support. First, it was my five siblings, since I’m the eldest. Then I had to pay for treatment and medicine while my parents were ill, and now it’s my children’s education that requires me to work and earn a living. I have to be able to support my family. That’s something I can’t change.” •
“Yes, I pray to God. I’m grateful that God cares for me. That He blesses me,” says Alfredo Cordova.
”Jo, jeg beder til Gud. Jeg er taknemlig for, at Gud har omsorg for mig. At han velsigner,” siger Alfredo Cordova.
Livserfaring fra stolt kaptajn - Alfredo Cordova
Kaptajnen på cargoskibet PANOPI - Alfredo Cordova - er fra Filippinerne. Han er 46 år og en erfaren sømand, som har sejlet siden 1998. Dengang sejlede han Canada, Europa og om sommeren til de arktiske egne.
Fra 2000 til 2003 tjente han i den filippinske flåde som løjtnant og bestod flere eksamener indenfor søfart.
Han har også tidligere arbejdet på et maritimt træningscenter i Filippinerne som instruktør og underviser i dels simulator dels forskellige andre maritime instrumenter og discipliner. Og så har han arbejdet tre år i Holland som rådgiver indenfor navigation af fartøjer, der anløb nederlandske havne. Da
han i 2016 blev tilbudt et attraktivt job i Dubai som offshore manager, hvor det så var meningen, at familien skulle flytte med, sagde han ja. Pludselig blev det ikke til noget alligevel. Han gik i uvished et par måneder uden løn, inden han fik tilbudt det første job som kaptajn ombord på et skib.
”Siden har jeg sejlet. Jeg synes ikke, jeg har haft noget valg, fordi flere er afhængige af min indtjening, og der er ikke lige udsigt til et job i land. Dengang bad jeg til Gud, om han ville give mig brød. Noget at leve af. I stedet for gav han mig en hel kage, da jeg fik jobbet som kaptajn. Det var helt uhørt med min erfaring på det tidspunkt. Jeg
havde kun sejlet skibet i 23 dage, da redderen sagde, at nu er du kaptajnen. Det er Guds velsignelse, at jeg beder om brød og får så meget mere,” siger Alfredo, der er katolik.
Ombord
De er 24 ombord – alle fra Filippinerne. Kaptajnen går op i sin besætnings velbefindende. Hver lørdag har de fx et socialt arrangement ombord med grill og karaoke.
”Det er obligatorisk at deltage. I dag bruger de fleste meget tid med mobiltelefonen og er på kamrene. Det reducerer tiden til at socialisere med de andre besætningsmed-
lemmer. Men det er vigtigt for det gode arbejdsmiljø at bruge tid sammen. Det reducerer ensomhed, isolation og stress og er med til at holde en god mental sundhed ombord. Jeg opfordrer også mandskabet til at tale med mig, hvis noget er svært. Det kan også være derhjemme, at noget kan udfordre. Jeg vil gerne have en åben ledelsesstil, så mandskabet føler sig hjemme ombord og tør komme til mig, hvis noget udfordrer. Så vi kan løse det sammen og om muligt gøre noget ved det. Det kan fx være mentalt stress. Vi er som en familie her. Jeg vil ikke isolere mig som leder. Jeg er en dårlig kaptajn uden mit mandskab. Sammen med mit mandskab kan jeg være en god kaptajn,” vurderer Alfredo Cordova. Søndag er fridag ombord og kaptajnens eneste fridag fra alt det administrative. I søndags nød søfolkene at gå fra borde og på besøg i Aarhus, der er Danmarks næststørste by. De fik både set kirker og nydt noget streetfood, og de var også forbi Seafares Club, hvor de mødte sømandsmissionær Jørgen Knudsen.
Jobbet
Kaptajnen arbejder på en 10-måneders kontrakt. Ledelsesansvaret har Alfredo, fra han går ombord, til han tager hjem. 24/7 er han ansvarlig for skib og besætning.
”Det har altid været min drøm at blive kaptajn, fordi jeg kan lide udfordringen ved både at skulle håndtere skibet og mandskabet, så alt spiller. Jeg er en stolt kaptajn. Jeg er stolt over, at jeg har nået mit mål med at være kaptajn allerede i 2016 som 38-årig. Er mandskabet glade, er alle glade.”
Alfredo har hustru og tre sønner, som han forsørger. Sønnerne er stadig under uddannelse, og studierne skal finansieres: ”Når man bliver ældre, finder man ud af, at tid er en mere og mere vigtig faktor i livet. Men jeg må blive ved med at sejle et stykke tid endnu, så længe min familie skal forsørges. Først var det mine fem søskende, da jeg er ældst. Dernæst skulle jeg betale behandling og medicin, mens mine forældre var syge, og nu er det så mine børns uddannelse, som kræver, at jeg arbejder og tjener en hyre hjem. Jeg må kunne finansiere min familie. Det kan jeg ikke lave om på.” •
Captain Alfredo Cordova shows missionary to seafarers Jørgen Knudsen around the Panopi.
Kaptajn Alfredo Cordova viser sømandsmissionær Jørgen Knudsen rundt på Panopi.
By Hanne Baltzer
Proud mother at sea: I enjoy the professional
Luise Friborg Lebech has passed the shipmaster's exam and is proud to work at sea. She is also the mother of two sons aged 6 and 10, but that hasn't stopped her from exploring several exciting job opportunities, as she enjoys her profession. She holds a first-class officer's certificate and is qualified to work as chief officer on ships of all sizes and as captain on ships up to 3,000 GT.
“I like the enclosed world that a ship offers. Signing on is like stepping into a bubble. Life is quite simple when your world is a ship. It’s a defined space, and that’s where my world is while I’m working. I also enjoy being on the water. I like the fact that we solve tasks together, especially on smaller ships where the work can be quite varied. For example, on a tugboat with four crew members, where the hierarchy isn’t so rigid. In one day, you can be captain, cook, dishwasher, crane operator, and deckhand. I also enjoy the professional challenge of sailing different types of ships. Maneuvering a ship to reach a specific goal can be a big challenge and it requires a calm mind and a lot of practice. It’s difficult, but when it works, it’s awesome!”
Maritime career
As a child, Luise’s father told her bedtime stories that often involved sea battles and seafaring heroes, including Rudyard Kipling’s famous 1897 novel where the millionaire’s son, Harvey, is washed overboard from a luxury liner and rescued by fisherman Disko Troop: “My father read the wrong bedtime stories —in the sense that if he had
challenge
known they would inspire me to pick a career at sea, he would have reconsidered, Luise says.
In the 10th grade, she gained inspiration for a maritime career at Hou Maritime Sports Boarding School, where she earned a boating license and radio certificate.
Luise graduated from high school and went on to sail with the training ship Danmark before taking a supplementary course to qualify for admission to the University of Copenhagen to study geography.
On the training ship Danmark, a three-masted full-rigged ship, she truly fell in love with life at sea: “In the hammock on the training ship there was no privacy. I was lucky to get a hammock next to the bulkhead, so I only had one colleague beside me. That allowed me a bit of space. On board, you shared everything with everyone. You got used to it. It was intense. We were pushed hard and learned to sleep during the few breaks we had. We could easily sleep on the wooden deck for seven min-
utes if there was a ten-minute break,” she smiles.
Mother for the first time
After graduating university, she applied for a position at Maersk, who were looking for cadets/trainees for their ships. She was accepted. With only six months left of her training, she had her first child. After her maternity leave, she returned to sea. At that time, it was three months at a time, which was tough for a new mother. Shortly after, she got a job on the Fejø Ferry, where she worked for four years.
Luise had strong professional ambitions, and even though selling ferry tickets to tourists could be fun, the job eventually became too monotonous. Instead, she moved on to a land-based job as a VTS operator at the Øresund VTS (Vessel Traffic Services), monitoring ship traffic.
VTS monitors ship traffic: what is being transported, how many are onboard, draft, and intended route. As an operator, the role is advisory only. It’s a job that requires great
patience, such as explaining to captains why a ballast tanker can sail through the Øresund one way but not back when loaded, because the Øresund is only eight meters deep. For particularly large ships, it may require a call to Copenhagen Airport in Kastrup, as air traffic must pay attention to maritime traffic. Sometimes, the airspace must be temporarily closed while a large ship passes.
Different jobs
One day, a skipper from her network offered her a job on a tugboat. They were going to work on the construction of the new Storstrøm Bridge. The shifts were three weeks long, working 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and she could go home every weekend, which suited her family life. By then, Luise was the mother of two sons.
“We worked there for about a year. We were the only Danish ship and believed we were obliged to comply with work and rest time regulations. The tugboat LN Admiral had its contract with the Storstrøm Bridge terminated in December 2023, and the ship-
ping company sold the tugboat in May 2024.”
Luise got a new job as an officer in the North Sea on one of the Danish Fisheries Inspection vessels where the working conditions suited her perfectly—10 days at sea, 20 days at home. However, it was only a one-year contract due to announced organizational changes. As the changes came about, one of the ships was decommissioned, and 12 people lost their jobs.
“It was really unfortunate that my contract wasn’t extended, because I enjoyed working there.”
The most important career choice
In 2024, figures from the Danish Maritime Officers’ Association showed that the proportion of certified female seafarers was estimated at 1.28 percent of the global maritime workforce. A significant reason is probably that many female seafarers stop sailing when they have children. Luise wants to be a role model and show that it is possible: “I have no doubt that the most im-
Luise Friborg Lebech har bestået skibsførereksamenen og er stolt af at arbejde til søs. Hun er også mor til to sønner på 6 og 10 år, men det har ikke stoppet hende i at afprøve flere spændende jobmuligheder, for hun kan lide sit fag. Hun har sønæringsbevis som styrmand af 1. grad og må arbejde som overstyrmand på alle størrelser skibe og må være kaptajn på skibe op til 3.000 GT.
”Jeg kan godt lide den lukkede verden, som et skib er. At gå ombord er som at gå ind i boble. Verden er ret simpel, når verden er et skib. Desuden kan jeg lide at være på vandet. Jeg kan lide, at vi løser opgaver sammen, som vi især gør på de mindre skibe, hvor arbejdet kan være ret varierende. Fx
ombord på slæbebåden med fire ansatte, hvor der ikke er et så markeret hierarki. Der kan man fint på en dag både være kaptajn, kok, opvasker, kranfører og skibsassistent. Jeg kan også lide den faglige udfordring, det er at sejle forskellige skibe. At manøvrere et skib, der skal sejle sidelæns eller på anden måde, for at målet nås. Det kan være en stor udfordring og kræver meget øvelse. Det er svært, men når det lykkes, er det fedt!”
Da det "gik galt"
Som barn fik Luise læst godnathistorier højt af sin far. De handlede ofte om søslag og om havets helte, blandt andet Rudyard Kiplings berømte roman fra 1897, hvor millionærsøn-
portant career choice you make is your choice of partner, because it affects how work and family life can be balanced.” Luise has a husband who supports her and encourages her to pursue exciting career opportunities. In addition, Luise’s mother-inlaw, who just retired, is on hold and always willing to help the family.
“When the children were very young, I remember that when I was home, the youngest clung to me. I couldn’t even take out the trash without him wanting to come along. He wanted to hold on to me so I wouldn’t leave again. Now the boys are 6 and 10. It’s easier now. Ideally, I’d have a work schedule of 14 days at sea, 14 days at home, but there aren’t many jobs like that. I’m proud to work at sea and proud that it’s possible –that we can organize it in a way that works. When I’m home, I’m 100 percent home. And when I’m sailing, I’m 100 percent there.”
nen Harvey bliver skyllet over bord fra en luksusdamper, men bliver reddet af fiskeren Disko Troop: ”Min far læste de forkerte godnathistorier for mig forstået på den måde, at havde han vidst, at de var med til at give mig lysten til at sejle professionelt, så havde han valgt nogle andre,” fortæller Luise.
Skoleskibet
Inspiration til søfartskarrieren fik hun i 10. klasse på Hou Maritime Idrætsefterskole, hvor hun tog duelighedsbevis og radiocertifikat.
Luise blev student, og efter gymnasiet var hun ude med Skoleskibet Danmark, før hun tog et gymnasialt suppleringskursus, så hun kunne komme ind på Københavns Universitet for at læse geografi.
På Skoleskibet Danmark blev hun for alvor bidt af at sejle og opleve: ” I hængekøjen ombord på skoleskibet var der intet privatliv. Jeg var så heldig at få en køje ud mod skottet, så jeg kun havde en kollega liggende på den ene side. Det gav lidt plads. Ombord delte man alt med alle. Det vænnede man sig til. Det var intenst. Vi blev kørt hårdt og lærte at sove i de få pauser, der var. Vi kunne let sove på det renskurede trædæk i syv minutter, hvis der var en 10-minutters-pause,” smiler hun.
Mor med muligheder
Efter universitetsuddannelsen i geografi sendte hun en ansøgning til Maersk, der søgte kadetter/aspiranter til at uddanne sig på deres skibe. Hun blev antaget. Undervejs i uddannelsen fik hun sit første barn, da hun manglede et halvt års sejltid. Efter barsel sejlede hun igen. Dengang var det tre måneder ad gangen, og det var hårdt for en nybagt mor. Så relativ kort tid efter fik hun job på Fejøfærgen, hvor hun var i fire år. Luise havde stærke faglige ambitioner. På et tidspunkt blev færgesejladsen for kedelig, selvom det kunne være hyggeligt nok at sælge færgebilletter til turister. Hun tog videre til et job i land som VTS-operatør på VTS’en Øresund. (Vessel Traffic Services), hvor man overvåger skibstrafikken.
Vejledende
VTS tjekker skibstrafikken: Om hvad der sejles med, hvor mange de er ombord, dybgang, og hvilken rute, de agter at sejle efter. Som operatør har man alene en vejledende funktion. Det er et job, der kræver stor tålmodighed, når
man fx skal forklare kaptajner, hvorfor et tankskib i ballast kan sejle gennem Øresund den ene vej, men ikke tilbage, når man har lastet, fordi Øresund kun er otte meter dyb. Er der særligt store skibe, kan det kræve en opringning til Københavns Lufthavn i Kastrup, fordi flyene skal tage hensyn til skibstrafikken. Måske skal luftrummet lukkes ned i kort tid, mens et stort skib passerer forbi.
Mere erfaring
En dag blev hun kontaktet af en skipper fra hendes netværk og fik job på en slæbebåd. De skulle arbejde ved byggeriet af en ny Storstrømsbro. Der var tre uges skift, man arbejdede 7-19 på hverdage, og man kunne tage hjem hver weekend, hvilket passede godt med børnene. Nu var Luise nemlig mor til to sønner.
”Vi byggede der et års tid. Vi var det eneste danske skib og mente, at vi skulle overholde arbejds- og hviletidsbestemmelser. Slæbebåden LN Admiral fik opsagt sin kontrakt med Storstrømsbroen i december 2023 og så solgte rederiet slæbebåden i maj 2024.”
Hun fik et nyt arbejde som styrmand på Nordsøen på et af Fiskerikontrollens skibe med perfekte arbejdsvilkår – 10 dage ude, 20 dage hjemme. Det var kun en kontrakt på et år, da der var varslet organisationsændringer. De kom også. Et af skibene blev nedlagt, og 12 personer mistede deres job.
”Det var superærgerligt, at jeg ikke fik
min kontrakt forlænget, for jeg var glad for at være der.”
Det vigtigste karrierevalg
I 2024 viste tal fra Søfartens ledere, at andelen af kvindelige certificerede søfolk anslået udgjorde 1,28 procent af den globale søfartsarbejdsstyrke. Måske fordi mange kvindelige søfolk stopper med at sejle, når de får børn. Luise vil gerne være rollemodel og vise, at det kan lade sig gøre: ”Jeg er ikke i tvivl om, at det vigtigste karrierevalg, man træffer, er valget af partner, fordi det har indflydelse på, hvordan arbejdsliv og privatliv kan matches.” Hun har en mand, som bakker hende op, og som opfordrer hende til at træffe jobvalg, der også er fagligt spændende. Luises svigermor, der lige er gået på pension, har meldt sig klar til at træde til.
”Da børnene var helt små, kan jeg huske, at når jeg kom hjem, hang den mindste på mig. Jeg kunne ikke gå ud med skraldespanden uden, at han skulle med. Han ville holde fast i mig, så jeg ikke smuttede igen. Det er nemmere nu. Bedst ville det være med et arbejdsrul på 14 dage ude, 14 dage hjemme, men de jobs er der ikke mange af. Jeg er stolt af at arbejde til søs og stolt af, at det kan lade sig gøre. At vi kan organisere det på en sådan måde, at det går. Når jeg er hjemme, er jeg 100 procent hjemme. Og når jeg sejler, er jeg 100 procent der.” •
Luise with her youngest son, Erik, on the Fejø Ferr.. Luise med sønnen Erik på Fejø færgen.
By General Secretary
Proud to Be Loved
You can almost picture it. The proud sailor standing on his magnificent ship, gazing out toward the horizon. Seagulls in the sky and waves on the sea. All is well.
I’ve personally met many proud sailors, but their pride was often more about earning money for their families than crossing the great oceans. Their pride could also stem from being with good colleagues, being skilled at their trade, or simply having a job.
Pride is a wonderful feeling. It is often accompanied by gratitude and joy over all that we have and experience. When our children achieve something great, we feel proud of them. Pride is about something we deeply cherish.
"It’s strange that powerlessness can feel liberating – until you understand what it’s really about."
Therefore, it’s interesting that Paul, who has written several of the letters found in the New Testament, at one point writes the following: “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Paul turns pride completely upside down. To Paul, pride isn’t about impressive achievements. It’s about having reached a point in life where we understand that what we take pride in can quickly come to an end. Apparently, he had
also learned that pride can have a negative side — namely, becoming self-centered.
Powerless
Just because Paul sees it that way doesn’t mean that pride is something we must avoid. But he’s absolutely right that what I’m proud of today could be shattered tomorrow – simply because I’m just an ordinary, vulnerable human being. I know, all too well, that when push comes to shove I’m powerless. It’s what makes me feel insecure and anxious. Anything can happen, at any time.
Nonetheless, Paul claims to be proud of his powerlessness. Not because he loves being weak, but because in Jesus Christ he encountered something that had a groundbreaking impact on his life. Something so powerful that it surpasses all achievements and experiences in his own life. He encountered something certain. Something that won’t suddenly disappear.
Turning Pride on Its Head
It’s always striking when celebrities — people who are famous and popular — “come
out” as Christians. Their stories are often similar. Life in the spotlight, the money, the fine wines, and the constant attention — they realized that none of it truly fulfilled them. They had much to be proud of, but they discovered their vulnerability. They were on a path that wouldn’t lead them anywhere.
Then, in one way or another, they had an encounter with Jesus Christ, and this meeting changed their lives in a way similar to Paul’s. Their pride shifted away from themselves and unto Jesus – his forgiveness, his overflowing acceptance and love.
It’s strange that powerlessness can feel liberating – until you understand what it’s really about. Namely, that I don’t truly have control over anything in my life. Power is an illusion.
But powerlessness only feels liberating the moment you’ve met the one who truly holds the power: Jesus Christ. When you’ve met him, given your life to him, and entrusted him with your entire life, you can be filled with a new kind of pride – the pride of being fully loved.
”Det er underligt, at magtesløshed kan opleves befriende, lige indtil man forstår, hvad det handler om.”
Stolt over at være elsket
Man kan næsten se billedet for sig. Den stolte sømand, der står på sit flotte skib og skuer ud mod horisonten. Måger på himlen og bølger på havet. Alt er godt.
Den stolte sømand har jeg personligt mødt mange af, men stoltheden handlede ofte mere om at tjene penge til familien end at krydse de store verdenshave. Stoltheden kunne også handle om at være sammen med gode kolleger, være dygtig i sit fag eller bare stolt over at have et arbejde.
Stolthed er en vidunderlig følelse. Den er parret med taknemlighed og glæde over alt det, man har og oplever. Hvis vores børn præsterer noget flot, bliver vi stolte af dem. Stolthed handler om noget, vi er rigtig glade for.
Derfor er det interessant, at Paulus, den flittige brevskriver i Det Nye Testamente, skriver et sted: "Jeg vil helst være stolt af min magtesløshed, for at Kristi magt kan være over mig."
Paulus vender stoltheden helt på hovedet. For ham er stolthed ikke den flotte præstation, men han er stolt af at være kommet dertil i sin livserfaring, at han ved, at det, man er stolt af, snart kan være slut. Angive-
ligt har han også erfaret, at stolthed kan have en negativ betydning, nemlig at man er blevet et selvoptaget menneske.
Magtesløst menneske
Bare fordi Paulus har det sådan, behøver stolthed ikke være noget, man skal være forsigtig med. Men hvor har han dog ret, at det, jeg er stolt af i dag, kan være smadret i morgen. Af den simple årsag, at jeg bare er et almindeligt sårbart menneske. Min magtesløshed kender jeg alt for godt. Det er jo den, der kan gøre mig utryg og ængstelig. Hvad som helst kan jo ske, hvornår som helst. Paulus er ligefrem stolt af sin magtesløshed. Ikke fordi han elsker at være svag, men fordi han hos Jesus Kristus har mødt noget, som har haft banebrydende indflydelse på hans liv. Noget, som er så stærkt, at det overgår alle præstationer og oplevelser i hans eget liv. Han har mødt det sikre. Det som ikke pludselig er væk i morgen.
Vender stoltheden på hovedet
Det er altid specielt, når kendisser, mennesker der er meget kendte og populære,
”springer ud” som kristne. Deres historier er ofte ens. Livet i rampelyset, de mange tjente penge, de lækre rødvine og det at blive tiljublet har de erkendt ikke mættede deres liv. De havde meget at være stolte af, men opdagede deres sårbarhed. De levede et liv, de kunne se ikke ville ende godt.
Så fik de et møde med Jesus Kristus, og hvordan, det skete, kan være meget forskelligt. Dette møde forandrede deres liv på en måde, der ligner Paulus'. Stoltheden blev flyttet væk fra dem selv og hen på Jesus, hans tilgivelse og strømmende accept og kærlighed.
Det er underligt, at magtesløshed kan opleves befriende, lige indtil man forstår, hvad det handler om. Nemlig at intet i mit liv har jeg i virkeligheden magten over. Magt er en illusion.
Men magtesløsheden opleves kun befriende i det øjeblik, man har mødt den, der i virkeligheden har magten: Jesus Kristus. Når man har mødt ham, givet sit liv til ham og betroet ham hele sin livsbagage, kan man blive ramt af en helt ny stolthed. Stolt over at være så uendelig elsket. •
By Hanne Baltzer
The fisherman’s son proudly remembers his father
Bent Bro has led a busy life as member of the band TØRFISK, the Danish word for dried fish, and as a consultant in the fishing industry.
From his childhood home in Thyborøn, he brought with him a great sense of humor along with a Christian set of values.
The conversation at the table is a voyage down memory lane. As the details emerge from the fog, Bent Bro gazes out the window toward the sea and is clearly moved. It is as if he is once again with his father, Vilhelm Rønn Bro, who passed away at the age of 85 in 2023. He was a true fisherman with flowing hair, a twinkle in his eye, and an impressive beard.
“I’m incredibly proud of my father and saw a great light in him. He had a wonderfully positive view of others and a great sense of humor. My mother, Viola, was also very special, and she was almost always
around. If she wasn’t home when I came back from school, I almost got nervous,” says Bent.
Every morning, it was Viola who got the four sons out of bed and off to school, as well as Sunday school, FDF (a Danish Christian youth organization), and many other activities. FDF was especially important to Bent, and the Christian faith was always central in his childhood home. His mother always said the Bible shouldn’t be used to put people down — it was meant to be opened and read! This foundation shaped the family’s approach to others. Social en-
gagement, helping others, and hospitality were everyday values in Thyborøn, where his father co-owned a boat before eventually getting his own cutter. The workweek ran from Monday to Saturday—he never went fishing on Sundays.
“Dad came home Saturday afternoon and took a bath. We had a sit-down bathtub, which was good because he could sit there and fall asleep — he hadn’t slept much at sea, where they were always fishing around the clock. After dinner, we’d sit in front of the TV, and we four brothers would sit as close to Dad as possible. We wanted to be
Fiskersønnen mindes stolt sin far
Bent Bro har haft et travlt liv i bandet TØRFISK og som konsulent for fiskere. Med fra barndomshjemmet i Thyborøn har han masser af humor og et kristent værdisæt
Snakken ved bordet er som en sejltur med barndomsminder på stribe. Efterhånden som detaljerne dukker frem af hukommelsens havgus, ser Bent Bro ganske berørt ud ad vinduet mod havet. For det er som om, han igen er sammen med sin far, Vilhelm Rønn Bro, der som 85-årig døde tilbage i 2023. Han var en vejrbidt fisker med bølgende hår, glimt i øjet og skæg.
”Jeg er megastolt af min far og så et kæmpestort lys i ham, fordi han havde et fantastisk positivt syn på andre mennesker, og han havde stor humoristisk sans. Min
mor, Viola, var også ganske særlig, men hun var der jo næsten altid. Var hun ikke hjemme, når jeg kom fra skole, kunne jeg slet ikke forstå det,” siger Bent.
Det var Viola, der fik de fire sønner op og i skole, til søndagsskole, FDF og meget andet. FDF – Frivilligt Drenge Forbund – var det helt store for Bent. I hjemmet var kristendommen også i fokus. Hans mor sagde altid, at Bibelen ikke var til at slå andre i hovedet med. Den skulle man åbne! Det prægede hjemmet og forældrenes tilgang til andre mennesker og livet i det hele taget. Samfundsmæssigt
engagement, hjælpsomhed og gæstfrihed voksede Bent op med som nyttige ingredienser i det hverdagsliv, der udspandt sig i Thyborøn, hvor hans far havde halvpart i en båd, inden han senere fik egen kutter. Arbejdsugen hed mandag-lørdag, han fiskede aldrig om søndagen.
”Far kom hjem lørdag eftermiddag og gik i bad. Vi havde et siddebadekar, hvilket var godt. For han kunne sidde og falde i søvn, fordi han ikke havde sovet så meget på havet, hvor der skulle fiskes i døgndrift. Efter aftensmad satte vi os foran fjernsynet, og vi
fire brødre sad så tæt som muligt på vores far. Vi ville være mest muligt sammen med ham. Kl. 23.45 søndag aften kørte mor far ned til kutteren. Fem minutter efter midnat sejlede han ud sammen med mange af de andre fiskekuttere på det tidspunkt. Helligdagen blev holdt. Det var vigtigt for dem.”
Nedslag
Nogle episoder bliver man ved med at huske hele livet: ”Jeg kan huske, at far, mine brødre og jeg gik ned til havet en søndag eftermiddag, fordi der skulle hentes et lig i land fra et forlist skib. Jeg var nok en 7-8 år. Far fik et reb om livet, begyndte at gå ud i havet med den stærke strøm, mens 10 erfarne mænd holdt rebet, så far ikke blev der-
ude. Han fik aldrig fat i liget, da det drev længere ud, men han kom selv sikkert ind igen. Vi børn sad i klitterne og fulgte sceneriet. Jeg har det stadig på nethinden og kan ikke forstå, at vi børn ikke blev sendt hjem. Men sådan var det.”
Bents far var et engageret menneske. Han var blandt andet formand for sømandshjemmet i Thyborøn, og hans mor var frivillig, ligesom hans morfar, Peder Toft, var afløser der. Stedet var en hjertesag for familien, som voksede op med Sømandsmissionen som en del af det, man var engageret i. Sømandshjemmet blev også brugt som et mødested for unge. Bent og hans brødre kiggede ofte forbi - ikke mindst fordi der arbejdede unge piger! Brødrene kunne dog også findes på kroen af og til.
with him as much as we could. At 11:45 p.m. Sunday night, Mom would drive him to the cutter. Five minutes after midnight, he’d sail out along with many of the other cutters. The holy day was observed. That was important to them.”
Strong memories
Some memories stay with you for life: “I remember one Sunday afternoon when Dad, my brothers, and I went to the shore to retrieve a body from a shipwreck. I was about 7 or 8. Dad tied a rope around his waist and walked into the strong current while ten experienced men held the rope so he wouldn’t be swept away. He never reached the body — it drifted further out — but he made it back safely. We kids sat in the dunes watching. I still see it clearly. I can’t understand why we weren’t sent home. But that’s how it was.”
Bent’s father was deeply involved in the local community. He chaired the local seamen’s
“I worked full-time at the Thyborøn Harbor Fishermen’s Association. In addition, I had over 100 concerts a year with my band, so my children also experienced having a father who was often away,” says Bent Bro.
”Jeg arbejdede fuldtids i Thyborøn Havns Fiskeriforening. Ved siden af havde jeg flere end 100 koncerter årligt med Tørfisk, så mine børn har også oplevet at have en far, der tit var væk,” siger Bent Bro.
Savn
Fiskesæsonen var ofte fra 1. april til 1. november. Når skibet skulle kølhales, lavede Bents far alt det, han kunne selv. Da så børnene mere til ham. Var børnene fx på søndagsskolelejr, så spiste og sov han på lejren, inden han dagen efter tog tilbage for at arbejde på skibet igen. Da sønnerne blev ældre, tog de selv til Hellebjerg Bibelcamping, hvor der også var masser af mulighed for sport. Det var et godt sted, hvor deres far deltog i den udstrækning, han havde mulighed for det.
”Efter vi var konfirmeret og så længe vi boede hjemme, skulle vi med i kirke, uanset om vi var kommet sent hjem lørdag aften. Søndag morgen kom far syngende ind og
home in Thyborøn, where his mother volunteered, and his grandfather Peder Toft also helped out. The family was closely connected to the Danish Mission to Seafarers, and being engaged in the organization was a natural part of life. The home was also a meeting place for young people. Bent and his brothers often stopped by – especially because some of the young women from the town worked there. But the brothers could also be found at the local inn from time to time.
Longing
Back then, the fishing season often ran from April through November. When the boat needed maintenance, Bent’s father did as much as he could himself, and the children would see more of him during those months. If the kids were at Sunday school camp, he’d eat and sleep there before returning to work the next day. As the boys got older, they went to Hellebjerg Bible Camp, which also offered plenty of sports. Here, their father also joined them whenever he could.
“After our confirmation and as long as we lived at home, we had to go to church—no matter how late we got home Saturday night. Sunday morning, Dad would come in singing to wake us: ‘Awake, awake, Danish heroes, rise and buckle your belts’ — a line from an old Danish hymn by Grundtvig. We
vækkede os brødre: ”Vågner, vågner danske helte, springer op og spænder bælte”en del af et omkvæd fra "Sol er oppe" - en gammel dansk sang skrevet af Grundtvig. Vi stod op. Selvfølgelig skulle vi med i kirke. Det blev der ikke stillet spørgsmål ved.”
”Om jeg savnede min far, når han ikke var der? Jeg har nok helt ubevidst savnet ham. Jeg kan tydelig huske, at jeg var frygtelig bange, hvis det stormede, og far var på havet. Jeg spurgte mor, om far var i fare. Hun svarede: Tænk på, hvad far ville sige. At det ikke blæser på samme måde på havet som her hjemme hos os. Det beroligede, og først da jeg blev lidt ældre, blev jeg opmærksom på, at det jo kunne blæse meget mere på havet end på land. Det kunne jeg blive helt angst over. Eller når den store redningshelikopter fløj hen over skolen, så gik
vi børn hen til vinduet for at se, hvor den måske stoppede, for med det samme tænkte vi på vores fædre, der fiskede på havet. Var det min far, den skulle redde? Det lå nok i os altid. Nu er angst jo et stort ord, men jeg var bange af og til. Det kunne jo gå galt,” siger Bent uddybende.
Inspiration
Bents far fortalte om fiskerlivet i forskellige sammenhænge under overskriften ”Træk fra havet”.
”Engang spurgte min farmor ham, om der var sket noget særligt i den seneste uge på havet. Det svarede han nej til, hvorefter hun fortalte, at hun var vågnet en bestemt nat i den uge og havde følt sig tilskyndet til at bede en bøn for søn og medhjælp ombord. Da kom min far til at tænke på, at netop den bestemte nat havde det været så tåget, og de havde været få cm fra at støde ind i et fragtskib. Det var stærkt at høre om.”
Da Bents far blev ældre, var fiskeriet ikke længere så rentabelt, og hans helbred var hel-
got up. Of course we went to church. That wasn’t up for debate.”
“Did I miss my dad when he wasn’t around? I probably missed him without being aware of it. I clearly remember being terribly afraid when it stormed and Dad was at sea. I asked Mom if he was in danger. She said: Think about what Dad would say— that it doesn’t blow the same way at sea as it does here at home. That calmed me. Only later did I realize it was often much worse at sea. That scared me. Or when the big rescue helicopter flew over the school – we’d all run to the window to see where it might land. We immediately thought of our fathers out at sea. Was it my dad they were rescuing? That fear was always there. ‘Fear’ is a big word, but yes, I was scared sometimes. Things could go wrong,” Bent explains.
Inspiration
Bent’s father often spoke about life at sea at various gatherings. He used the title “Tales from the Sea.” “One time, my grandmother asked him if anything special had happened during his latest trip. He said no. Then she told him she had woken up one night that week and felt compelled to pray for him and his crew. That made him remember that on that very night, it had been extremely foggy, and they had come within centimeters of
colliding with a cargo ship. That was powerful to hear.”
As Bent’s father got older, fishing became less profitable, and at the same time his health declined. He took a job at the Fishermen’s Supply Association at the harbor. But he remained deeply involved in the fishing industry in Thyborøn throughout his life.
Life as a dried fish
Bent himself has always lived in Thyborøn, except for nine months in the Navy. He tried fishing with his father a few times, but it wasn’t for him: “I was quickly cured – I get seasick easily.”
“Our kids didn’t know my father as an active fisherman, but as a grandfather. They much preferred visiting my parents to going to after-school care. I worked full-time as a consultant at the Thyborøn Harbor Fishermen’s Association. On top of that, I had over 100 concerts a year with my band Tørfisk, so my kids also experienced having a dad who was often away. We almost always drove straight home after gigs – unless we had back-to-back shows on the other side of the country. Everyone in the band had day jobs.”
Tørfisk is known across generations for songs like “Smells a bit like fish” and “VLTJ”—about a legendary local railway. Their humor stays above the belt, which
Bent attributes to their upbringing. But they master the art of suggestion, as singer Lars Lilholt once said.
Life hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Bent has faced his share of challenges, but a tone of gratitude runs through his reflections – gratitude for the foundation laid in his childhood home. •
Bro
• Married to Marianne, father of 3, grandfather of 5
• Worked 35 years as a consultant for the Thyborøn Harbor Fishermen’s Association
• Musician for 42 years in the band Tørfisk. The band has released 17 albums. He retired in 2023 and now performs with his son Anders Bro in churches and other venues. He also performs solo, sharing stories and anecdotes from life in West Jutland
Bent and Anders Bro
ler ikke så godt. Han blev derfor ansat i Fiskernes Indkøbsforening på havnen. Hele livet interesserede han sig for fiskeriet i Thyborøn.
Travl Tørfisk
Bent selv har også altid boet i Thyborøn bortset fra de ni måneder, han var i Søværnet. Han har prøvet at fiske et par gange med sin far, men det var slet ikke noget for Bent: ”Jeg blev hurtig kureret, for jeg bliver nemt søsyg.”
”Vores børn har ikke kendt min far som aktiv fisker, men som bedstefar. De ville langt hellere besøge mine forældre end fx at blive passet i SFO’en. Jeg arbejdede jo fuldtids som konsulent i Thyborøn Havns Fiskeriforening. Ved siden af havde jeg flere end 100 koncerter årligt med bandet Tørfisk, så mine børn har også oplevet at have en
far, der tit var væk. Vi kørte næsten altid lige hjem til familien bag efter, medmindre vi skulle spille to dage i træk fx på Sjælland. Alle i bandet havde job ved siden af.”
Tørfisk er blandt andet kendt af flere generationer for sangen "Lugter lidt af fisk" samt "VLTJ" - om den legendariske jernbanestrækning Vemb-Lemvig-Thyborøn Jernbane. Deres humor befinder sig over bæltestedet, hvilket Bent forklarer med den opdragelse, de har fået. Men de kan antydningens kunst, som sangeren Lars Lilholt engang beskrev det.
Livet har ikke kun budt på blå himmel og havblik. Bent har haft sine udfordringer undervejs, men der flyder en undertone af taknemlighed gennem det meste for den ballast, han blandt andet har hentet i sit barndomshjem. •
Bro
• Gift med Marianne, far til 3 børn, bedstefar til 5.
• Arbejdede i 35 år for Thyborøn Havns Fiskeriforening som konsulent og rådgiver.
• Musiker i 42 år i Tørfisk, som har udgivet 17 album. Han stoppede i 2023 og tager nu rundt og synger og spiller med sønnen Anders Bro. Både i kirker og andre steder. Han optræder også solo med historier og anekdoter fra livet i Vestjylland.
Bent
Bent
Maritime students are wonderful, fun, and curious
Missionary to seafares Hanna Pedersen meets them at the maritime studies, in the city, and on the Bethel ship: 'From the Seamen's Mission, we are a kind of bonus! We are there, talking and listening. Even when something is
pressing. And then we go out of their lives again. We are neither study advisors nor psychologists, but something extra. And we have a language for both faith and to articulate that each individual has value,' she says.
Maritime studerende er skønne, sjove og nysgerrige
Sømandsmissionær Hanna Pedersen møder dem på søfarts-studiet, i byen og på Bethel-skibet: ”Fra Sømandsmissionen er vi en slags bonus! Vi er der, snakker og lytter. Også når noget presser sig på. Og så går vi
igen ud af deres liv. Vi er hverken studievejledere eller psykologer, men noget ekstra. Og vi har et sprog for både tro og for at italesætte, at den enkelte har værdi,” siger hun.
The Award Goes to Jessica - Congratulations
Jessica Damsgaard Staberg has just completed her training as OS at Svendborg Maritime College. Following her graduation, she received an award from the Danish Mission to Seafarers for demonstrating outstanding social competence. Presenting the award, general secretary Nicolaj Wibe made the following statement: “You possess a high level of social competence, and on a ship, this particular skill is greatly needed. It means you’re
Prisen går til Jessica - Tillykke
Jessica Damsgaard Staberg er netop færdig som ubefaren skibsassistent på Svendborg Søfartsskole. Af Sømandsmissionen fik hun prisen for at have høj social kompetence, og ved overrækkelsen af prisen sagde generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe blandt andet: ”Ombord på et skib er der rigtig meget brug for den særlige kompetence, du møder op med. Den betyder, at du ikke er bange for at spørge til de andres
not afraid to ask how others are doing, and you can — and dare to — be present. Loneliness is one of the biggest challenges for many seafarers. With people like you on board, life becomes much easier, because you help lift the spirits of those around you. Hold on to this competence. Let it grow!”
ve og vel, og du kan og du tør være nærværende. Ensomhed er en af de helt store udfordringer for mange søfarende. Med folk som dig ombord kan livet blive langt lettere, fordi du kan være med til at holde modet oppe hos de andre. Hold fast på denne kompetence. Lad den udvikle sig!”
