NAMMA launches renewed training platform for seafarers’ welfare providers
The North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA) has renewed its online training platform at namma.org/training.
For more than a decade via the online platform known as “MARETraining,” NAMMA has offered online training that has equipped chaplains, ship visitors, and volunteers with practical tools for ministry among seafarers. That training has become a trusted resource, hosting a wide range of courses designed to support both new and experienced workers in seafarers’ welfare.
We are now pleased to announce an important transition. While the courses themselves remain strong and relevant, “MARETraining” is being retired as a brand, and all courses will now be hosted directly on the NAMMA website at namma.org/training. This shift reflects a renewed commitment to integrating training more fully within NAMMA’s broader work and identity. Users will find the same trusted content, now more closely connected to NAMMA’s ongoing programs, with new courses planned for release in the months ahead. We invite all users to explore what is already available and to share suggestions for future offerings.
This transition also offers an opportunity to reflect on the significant impact of NAMMA’s online training efforts. The platform has welcomed 882 active users across nearly 50 courses. Together, learners have completed more than 2,190 courses, representing a remarkable total of 6 years and 9 months of cumulative engagement on the platform. These numbers point not only to strong participation, but to the real investment of time and attention by those committed to serving seafarers well.
Several courses have proven especially impactful. The Gangway Safety course has been completed 170 times, underscoring the importance of safe and informed ship access. The Vision and Mission of NAMMA course has been completed 134 times, helping ground participants in the purpose and direction of this work. Introductory courses connected to the Houston training program have together seen nearly 500 completions, demonstrating how online learning can effectively complement in-person training. In addition, the course on the ISPS Code and security standards has been completed more than 100 times, while ICMA’s Crisis Preparedness course has engaged over 120 assigned learners.
These achievements have been made possible through strong partnerships. NAMMA is deeply grateful for its ongoing collaboration with the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA), with whom it has maintained a memorandum of understanding since 2017. We also extend sincere thanks to the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, whose partnership has been instrumental in developing key courses, particularly in areas such as gangway safety and security standards. Many others have contributed to the development and delivery of courses that continue to serve the global maritime ministry community.
Dr. Christopher Graham, who led the transition to the new platform, reflected on the process, “These courses both manifest and reflect the commitment to high standards of professionalism throughout the seafarer welfare and maritime ministry community. This training also underscores the commitment to and importance of collaboration of those serving seafarers in a wide variety of locations and capacities around the world.”
Jason Zuidema, Executive Director of NAMMA, also noted the significance of this work: “Online training for those involved in seafarers’ welfare complements the training that is given locally and also in person at our annual Houston trainings and ICMA trainings around the world. These additional courses have filled important gaps and allow students to learn specific subjects in a way that they can access anywhere, at any time.”
As NAMMA looks ahead, this transition is not simply a change in platform, but a renewed investment in training as a core part of its mission. With a strong foundation already in place and new courses under development, NAMMA remains committed to equipping those who serve seafarers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed for this vital work.
View the training platform here: namma.org/training.