NAMMA Seafarers’ Welfare Parallel Sessions at CMA Shipping 2018 – “Collaboration for Seafarers’ Welfare”

The CMA is the largest commercial shipping association in the United States, which means that leaders of industry and government enthusiastically attend to share their ideas, voice concerns and explore answers to today’s new issues.
Though the CMA has activities year-round, their main meeting is the SHIPPING conference held every Spring in Stamford, CT.  With 130 exhibitors and 2,500 attendees, this conference helps to keep up-to-date with the latest trends in the shipping world. For the last several years, NAMMA has held special sessions on seafarers’ welfare parallel to the CMA Shipping conference.

Program: 

Monday, Mar. 12
– 1:30 p.m. – Session 1
“Advocacy for Seafarers’ Welfare: Resources and Challenges”
Chair: Jason Zuidema, NAMMA
– “Seafarers’ Advocacy and the SCI Center for Seafarers’ Rights,” Douglas B. Stevenson, Center for Seafarers’ Rights, SCI NY & NJ
– “Suicide prevention programs of the Seamen’s Church Institute,” Rev. David Rider, Seamen’s Church Institute of New York & New Jersey
Discussion

– 3:15 p.m. – Session 2
“Seafarers’ Welfare in Canada: Experience and Future Developments”
Chair: Rev. Judith Alltree
– “Seafarers’ Welfare in Canada: A Survey,” Dr. Jason Zuidema, NAMMA
– “Work-Related Mobility and Fatigue: Canadian Seafarers’ Experiences,” Dr. Desai Shan, University of Ottawa and On the Move Partnership
– “The Mission to Seafarers in Canada: challenges and successes in building a region,” Rev. Maggie Whittingham-Lamont, Mission to Seafarers, Halifax

Tuesday, Mar. 13
– 9:30 a.m. – Session 3
“Seafarers Welfare Role in Port Community Initiatives”
Welcome and Chair: Jason Zuidema
– Stephen Lyman, SCI – Newark, “Seafarers’ Welfare Provider perspective on Port-Community initiatives”
– Adam Stacy, Sailors’ Society, “Coffee and Charity Shops: Social Enterprise Opportunities to benefit seafarers’ welfare”

– 11:15 a.m. – Session 4
“Collaboration, New Technology and Seafarers’ Welfare”
Chair: Dr. Michael Skaggs
– Roger Harris, “Teamwork and digital tools: the experience of SeafarerHelp”
– Phil Parry, “Connecting people in the maritime industry”
– Lyn Harris, NAMEPA

– 1:30 p.m. – Session 5
Port-Congregation Partnership
Introduction: Rev. Marsh Drege
– “Port-Congregation Partnership Project: Research and Preliminary Results” Dr. Michael Skaggs, NAMMA
– “Advocacy in the Mission to Seafarers,” Ben Bailey,
Mission to Seafarers

​Wednesday, Mar. 14
– 9:30 a.m – Regular CMA Sessions 
“Mental Health: A Vital Frontier”
At its best the shipping industry and its seafarers contribute enormously to the welfare of the world, in ways fundamental to the day to day carriage of goods and industry profits. The work exacts a toll on those at sea, perhaps more so today when technology, regulations, the size and scale of ships and operations place heavy demands upon a crew. This session seeks to acknowledge those efforts, understand the challenges of life at sea, and the more basic questions of safeguarding our seafarers, who manage our assets in an increasingly complex work environment.
Moderator: Douglas B. Stevenson
– Carl Martin Faannaseen, AboJeb
– David Rider, Executive Director, Seamen’s Church Institute
– Dr. Conor Seyle, One Earth Future
– Christina DeSimone, President & CEO Future Care, Inc.

– 10:45 a.m. – Regular CMA Sessions 
“Humanitarian Aid”
Is shipping ready for the storm? The most valuable part of the shipping industry is its people. But what happens when catastrophic weather, world political, and environmental incidents hit us? Unprecedented storms, civil unrest and wars, and environmental crises have huge financial and legal impacts on our work, and affect us all to a greater or lesser extent. What can we do to learn from these crises for best practice, so our industry’s people can weather the next storm?
Moderator: Jason Zuidema
– Niels A. Aalund, Senior Vice President, Maritime Affairs, WGMA
– Jeff Woods, Cleancore Energy Solutions
– Lindsay Malen-Habib, Resolve Maritime Group
– Leanne O’Loughlin, Charles Taylor, P&I Management (Americas), Inc.