A woman with one ear to the sea

By Jessica Dacey
BBC News South West

Louise says her role has brought her a couple of marriage proposals

Louise Carter is accustomed to hearing about the trials of life at sea.

As a lay chaplain of the Catholic Church's Apostleship of the Sea in Devon and Cornwall, she oversees visits to 50 UK and foreign ships a month.

Her teams watch for ships arriving at docks across the region and ask to go aboard to check crews are happy, healthy and safe.

"I hang around the docks administering to seafarers," Louise jokes of her job of the past three years.

As well as on-board counselling, the Apostleship staff provide drop-in seafarers' havens on shore, known worldwide as "Stella Maris" (star of the sea).

They help supply the crews with comfort items, from fresh fruit and chocolate to videos and phone cards.

But it is their counselling skills that can be most appreciated.

"You go on there to be a listening ear. It's about just being there, being available," said Louise.

"They don't have many visitors. People have said that it's a presence that counts."

Screaming stowaways

When a ship is having trouble, Louise and the other staff go on board and hear first-hand how the crew is coping. Stress is one of the most common complaints.

It is not a world where there are many women - I was very worried when I started Louise Carter

Stowaways are regularly discovered on the ships. Once found they are often kept locked in a room and shout and scream for hours on end, agitating the crew.

One ship was recently detained for several weeks off Cornwall for being unseaworthy and led to a build-up of tension and aggression among crew members.

On another, a captain refused to pay crew their wages. Louise organised for a union representative to hear their concerns and help them bargain for payment and a wage increase.

Louise Carter says a woman's nurturing qualities can help

She said: "When you go on a ship you can tell what the atmosphere is.

"There are times it is a challenge. We can help them feel they are valued and diffuse some of the tension and let them know they have choices.

"It is not a world where there are many women. I was very worried when I started.

"My husband was very anxious that I did not go on my own. But from the very first visit I have found respect from the crews.

"You have to be mature and sensitive at how you relate. It's best if you come over like a slightly bossy older sister. If they see you as a sister they treat you like a sister."

A woman's nurturing qualities are a help, she says.

Marriage proposals

"I was looking for a new challenge, but it is a different sort of challenge for a woman.

"I have had a couple offers of marriage. They do say 'come to my cabin', but not very often, and you just say 'forget it'."

She took up the job because she thought it would bring her closer to her husband, an ex-merchant marine.

"It is good for our marriage in that it is something we can share. I am just very happy doing it.

"We all need comfort and when you meet another person that moment you have with them is very holy."

Women and the Sea is a series of features by BBC News Interactive South West which will be appearing on the BBC news website all this week.