From Charleston to Jacksonville: A Network of Care for Seafarers
by Dr. Christopher Graham (NAMMA)
Among the many thank you notes hanging in the North Charleston Terminal Seafarers’ Center, one stands out to Deacon Paul Rosenblum. It says: “Thx for a shelter. A place where we can find peace in our minds!” Recalling the incident that prompted that note, Dcn. Paul points out that the crew could have expressed their thanks for the cases of water he provided or the efforts he took to get that water to them. Instead, he notes, the seafarers recognized that through these acts of service, he and his colleagues are conduits of deeper, intangible realities such as peace, love, and joy.
Along with Dcn. Paul, a cadre of individuals with the Charleston Port and Harbor Society (CHAPS) and volunteers with the Stella Maris ministry of the Diocese of Charleston, work closely in facilities supplied and maintained by South Carolina Ports at each of its terminals. NAMMA members, Clark Cromwell, Executive Director of CHAPS, and Dcn. Paul work with volunteers to meet the needs of seafarers who visit these centers, which are walkable from vessels and have lounges that are open 24/7 to provide seafarers “a shelter,” where they can find peace.
In the neighboring state of Georgia, the International Seafarers’ Center of Brunswick and Maritime Bethel in Savannah serve the needs of seafarers at Georgia Port Authority terminals. Peter Boynton and his team at the center in Brunswick serve seafarers in all three GPA terminals, with a store and lounge located in the heart of the Colonel’s Island Terminal—the nation’s largest automotive port and the busiest U.S. gateway for Ro/Ro cargo. John Houchens, NAMMA member and Maritime Bethel Executive Director, along with Richard Hadeed provide practical support, spiritual care, and a compassionate presence for those calling in Savannah. John, Richard, the agency’s board, and significant partners are intentionally positioning Maritime Bethel to meet the demands in the single largest and fastest-growing container terminal in the U.S.
Over the state line in Fernandina Beach, Florida, longtime residents Bob and Susan Fernandez, began Seafarers’ Ministry in the middle of the COVID pandemic. Seeing a cruise ship berthed at the dock typically occupied by general cargo ships, Bob and Susan felt compelled to find out more about the crew to meet their spiritual needs. Since then, with the support of local congregations, that ministry has grown so that Bob, Susan, and volunteers now visit each of the 35 to 50 vessels that call on the port each year. They give directions for those who can leave the ship to make the small walk into the lovely town. And for those who cannot, they extend God’s love and care through conversations, prayers, and provisions.
Just down the road, several organizations serve Jaxport, the largest container port in Florida. The Stella Maris ministry of the Diocese of St. Augustine, a NAMMA-affiliated agency, has centers in both Talleyrand and Blount Island terminals. Since joining the ministry alongside Deacon Milton Vega a year ago, Dr. Erich Schaller has become an essential member of the ministry, using the knowledge and network contacts he gained from the Introduction to Seafarers’ Welfare and Maritime Ministry course in Houston to great use in serving seafarers. They make regular ship visits and welcome both seafarers and dockworkers to their centers.
Seafarers who visit ports in the Southeast United States, then, are the recipients of southern hospitality thanks to individuals and communities committed to seafarer welfare.