THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 1996 TAG: 9603200535
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHRISTOPHER DINSMORE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
The Christian outreach ship Caribbean Mercy, which sailed today, ultimately headed for Nicaragua, received a tremendous outpouring of support during its three-week goodwill visit in Hampton Roads.
Not only did local churches and philanthropies give generously to support the ship's mission, but the local maritime community and other companies donated services and products.
The Caribbean Mercy got so many donations that it spent Monday at Lambert's Point Docks Inc. in Norfolk's West Ghent section loading about 50 tons of food, medical supplies and building materials.
``We've really been blessed in the Norfolk area with a lot of different churches and organizations coming forward with donations,'' said Kim Ondracek of Seattle, who has been aboard the ship for two years as assistant to its vice president of operations.
The vessel, a former Norwegian coastal passenger ferry, will stop first in Wilmington, N.C., for another goodwill visit and to load more supplies before sailing to Nicaragua for a five-week visit.
The crew will provide the people there with free medical and dental care, well-digging and some construction services as well as Christian evangelism.
Operation Blessing, which is affiliated with the Christian Broadcast Network in Virginia Beach, provided much of the food and medical supplies, said Capt. Jon Fadley, the ship's master.
``When we connected with Operation Blessing at CBN, we started dealing with truckloads rather than some boxes,'' Fadley said.
Roanoke Cement Co. provided about 20 tons of ready-mix cement to be used building wells, homes and handicapped access for buildings in Nicaragua.
All the donations prompted the ship to load cargo in Norfolk, where it got free wharfage from Lambert's Point Docks, free ship-loading services from Ceres Marine Terminals Inc. and free labor from the International Longshoremen's Association.
The Caribbean Mercy, which was invited here by the city of Norfolk, has been berthed at Waterside since Feb. 29. The city provided the prominent berth free of charge.
``It all goes hand-in-hand,'' Fadley said. ``If it weren't for the prominent location, we wouldn't have had the recognition, which led to all the donations.''
Others that donated goods and services include:
Virginia Pilot Association, which guided the ship in and out of the port;
Moran Towing Corp., which provided tugboats when needed;
Nauticus, which provided free tickets to the crew, many of whom couldn't afford to go otherwise, Fadley said.
A local shipyard provided welding services to help in the construction of an eye surgery clinic aboard the ship. The clinic will provide help for people with cataracts or glaucoma or who are cross-eyed.
``Everything in this port is measured by tons loaded and dollars earned,'' said Tom Host, vice president of T. Parker Host Inc., which was the ship's agent in the port, arranging many of the services it received. ``What these people are doing, going to Third World countries and helping the people, is something that just can't be measured.''
Founded in 1978, Mercy Ships operates four vessels worldwide. Based in Lindale, Texas, it is the maritime arm of Youth With A Mission, an international Christian group. Its largest ship, the Anastasis, serves Africa and Europe. The Anastasis visited Norfolk in 1988 and 1994. Its Pacific Ruby and Island Mercy serve nations in the Pacific and Indian oceans.
The Caribbean Mercy, which serves Caribbean islands and Central and South America, can sleep 160 people, but only sails with 87 because of its lifeboats. The crew comes from about 20 nations and is entirely volunteer. Indeed, they pay to serve aboard the vessel.
Doctors and other professional help typically meet the ship at its port-of-call.
Host said the Caribbean Mercy will likely return next fall to visit a local shipyard for drydock work and a goodwill visit to Richmond. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
JIM WALKER/The Virginian-Pilot
The Caribbean Mercy spent Monday at Lambert's Point Docks loading
tons of food, medical supplies and building materials.
by CNB