Nieuws

On 22 October, SPWO will once again host its annual conference. Please see the separate announcement on this website for further details.

The event will take place in the Asiazaal at Van Oord, Schaardijk 211, Rotterdam.

You can travel to Van Oord’s head office (3063 NH) as follows:

By car:

Route: From the A16 or A20 motorway, take the exit towards Rotterdam-Kralingen or IJsselmonde and follow the signs towards Schaardijk in Rotterdam-Kralingse Veer.

By public transport:

Bus: The nearest bus stop is Capelle a/d IJssel, Rivium 4e Straat. There are also bus stops near Schaardijk. From there, it is approximately a 12-minute walk.

Connections: The most convenient route will often take you via Kralingse Zoom or Capelsebrug metro station, from where you can take a local bus towards the Rivium area or Schaardijk.

Invitation SPWO Conference – October 22, 2026

Mental Health is hot. The maritime sector, too, is paying increasing attention to the mental wellbeing of employees and seafarers. Congresses and conferences are being devoted to the subject, while the range of professional support available continues to grow.

At the same time, research shows that our mental health is by no means always in good shape. All the more reason for the SPWO theme afternoon to dig a little deeper. Where does mental health begin and end? What can we measure – and what can’t we? What is the value of a good conversation? And what can an organisation contribute?

We will explore these questions from three different perspectives.

The conversation and the person
Jan-Jacques Suurmond – theologian, columnist and psychotherapist
On mental health, the value of conversation, and creating space for vulnerability, meaning and spirituality.

Between Body & Mind: what can we measure – and what can’t we?
Dr. Zineb Fumarola-el Hamidi – Travel Clinic
Drawing on her experience as a doctor and her work with seafarers, she will explore the relationship between physical and mental health, what can and cannot be measured, and the role of the medical examination.

A mentally healthy and resilient organization
Just in ’t Veld – Chief People Officer, Van Oord
What can an organisation do to promote the mental wellbeing and resilience of its employees?

During the afternoon there will also be a musical contribution by “Elvis pastor” and moderator Fred Omvlee
SPWO warmly invites its sponsors and others involved with the foundation to join us for an afternoon of reflection, listening, conversation and meeting one another.

Because perhaps that is where mental health begins: when people truly pay attention to one another.

Date: Thursday October 22, 2026

Time: 13:30 (door open at 13:00) – 16:00, followed by drinks
Location: Asiazaal, Van Oord, Schaardijk 211, 3063 NH, Rotterdam (tavel info available at www.spwo.nl)
Registration: please, contact Paulienke van Wijngaarden at Paulienke.vanWijngaarden@vanoord.com

Due to the upcoming departure of the current pastor, the Board of SPWO is looking for a:

Fulltime Pastor m/f – 40 hours per week

“Some conversations leave a lasting impression. Sometimes they take place on board a vessel, at a remote project site, or during a visit to an office on the other side of the world. Stichting Pastoraat Werkers Overzee (SPWO) is looking for a new pastor to be there for those encounters.”

The role
The dredging pastor is an independent and confidential conversation partner for people in a wide variety of situations, regardless of their faith, beliefs or worldview. Working from an ecumenical Christian inspiration, you contribute to the wellbeing of individual employees within their working environment.

The position involves approximately 75 to 100 days of international travel per year, visiting vessels, projects and offices abroad

Who we are looking for

We are looking for a strong and approachable personality with an open ecumenical attitude and the ability to connect with employees of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds. The dredging pastor must be able to build relationships of trust with both employees and their managers.

An affinity with the maritime sector and experience in workplace or industrial pastoral care are considered an advantage. A good command of Dutch and English is essential, as is the physical fitness required for international travel and boarding vessels.

A remuneration and benefits package appropriate to the position is available. The successful candidate will initially be offered a one-year contract, with the intention of converting this into a permanent contract after 12 months.

A detailed job description and information package are available from the SPWO secretariat. Please also visit www.spwo.nl.

If this position appeals to you, please send your application and CV before 1 October 2026 to the SPWO secretariat at Paulienke.vanWijngaarden@VanOord.com, for the attention of Lodewijk Wijngaard, Secretary of SPWO.

For further information about the position, please contact Lodewijk Wijngaard, Secretary of SPWO, at lodewijk.wijngaard@boskalis.com

The Stichting Pastoraat Werkers Overzee (SPWO) is looking for a new dredging pastor. The current ‘dredging pastor’, Stefan Francke, has announced that he intends to accept a call from two Protestant congregations in Zeeland.

As a result, his employment with SPWO will come to an end on 1 April 2027, after more than fourteen years. Stefan wants to bring his current work to a proper conclusion and ensure a smooth handover to his successor. He has therefore chosen to remain with the foundation until 1 April.

The SPWO Board hopes to have appointed a new dredging pastor by then, allowing sufficient time for a proper handover. A vacancy for the position of dredging pastor has therefore been published this week. Further information can be found in the vacancy announcement elsewhere on this website.

The SPWO Annual Report 2025 has been available for some time, but we inadvertently forgot to publish it on our website. We are pleased to make it available now, providing an overview of all the activities and developments of the past year.

This is the link to the Annual Report (in Dutch)

Make the Sea Great Again: de nieuwe Diepgang 2026-1 is uit! The printed edition will soon be distributed throughout the fleet.

Make the Sea Great Again: the new DeepEnd 2026-1 is out! The printed version will soon be delivered to the fleet.

Klik hier voor de nieuwe Diepgang

This is the link to the new DeepEnd