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Stella Maris (the Apostleship of the Sea) is the Catholic Church's official seafarer-welfare ministry. Founded in Glasgow in 1920, Stella Maris operates in around 330 ports across 60+ countries and is the largest single seafarer-welfare network. Chaplains visit ships in port, run port-side centres, and provide 24-hour pastoral and practical support. Like the Mission to Seafarers, Stella Maris serves seafarers of every faith and none.
The pastoral and practical care of seafarers — Catholic-rooted but inclusive — through ship visits, centres, helplines, and advocacy.
A Stella Maris centre will offer free wifi, chapel/quiet space, basic shop, and almost always transport to and from the ship. Chaplains conduct ship visits in many languages and will help arrange hospital visits, family-emergency communication, and legal aid where appropriate. The centres are typically open daily, with a chaplain available for confidential conversations.
No paperwork is required for routine visits. Bring your seaman's book for advocacy or legal-aid cases.