South Africa National Director Seafarers’ charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) has appointed Nicholas 'Nicky' Barends as its new National Director for South Africa.
Barends was commissioned at the Cape Town Seafarers Center chapel on May 5 by AoS Cape Town Port Chaplain Fr Gerardo Garcia.
Barends has worked as a professional printer and has been a ship visitor with AoS Cape Town for more than 10 years.
He takes the helm at a time when AoS South Africa is expanding to meet the practical, pastoral and emotional needs of seafarers arriving at its ports.
Apart from ensuring the smooth running of AoS in the country, his duties will also entail coordinating AoS centers within the Southern African region to a central point.
Archbishop of Cape Town Stephen Brislin confirmed Barends’s appointment as National Director of AoS South Africa.
Seafarers from Vietnam, Namibia and Kenya, as well as other AoS members were also present.
AoS South Africa currently has port chaplains in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Richards Bay, who offer spiritual, practical support and a listening ear to seafarers arriving at these ports.