NAMMA Conference 2022 – August 9-11

Theme: Finding our Balance In Seafarers’ Welfare

Introduction: The world of shipping has witnessed tremendous instability in the last several years. The worldwide pandemic and supply chain crunch have caused significant disruption for all those working at sea and in port. Seafarers’ welfare organizations have needed tremendous agility to respond to each new challenge. NAMMA’s 2022 conference explored how to find balance as seafarers’ ministries to serve effectively, but also how to encourage balance in the lives of the seafarers we serve and in our own lives. The conference welcomed more than 100 representatives of local and international seafarers’ welfare organizations but is open to all other partners in the wider maritime community.

Venue: Maritime Conference Center at 692 Maritime Blvd, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090, United States.

Program Schedule and Media

Tuesday, August 9

• Conference Opening Session 
  • Welcome and Introductions – Deacon Paul Rosenblum (NAMMA President)
  • Welcome from MITAGS MCC – Eric Friend (Executive Director, MITAGS MCC)
  • Introduction of Theme: Finding Balance for Seafarers’ Welfare – Dr. Jason Zuidema
  • Distinguished Service Awards
    • Rev. Mary Davisson (Baltimore)
    • Niels Aalund (Houston)
  • Photos from opening day, NAMMA Distinguished Service Award presentations, and opening worship

Wednesday, August 10

• Session 1
  • Kitack Lim, Secretary-General, IMO [Video Message] (bio)
  • Ann Phillips (Rear Admiral, ret.) Administrator, Maritime Administration (MARAD) (bio)
  • David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer, Seafarers’ International Union and Chair, ITF Seafarers’ Trust (bio)
• Session 2
  • Brian Miller, Deputy Executive Director, Maryland Port Administration / Port of Baltimore (website)
  • RDML Wayne Arguin Jr., Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy at U.S. Coast Guard (bio)
  • C. James Patti, International President, International Propeller Club (bio) 
• Session 3
  • Phil Schifflin, Director, Center for Mariner Advocacy, Seamen’s Church Institute (bio)
  • “Maintaining Our Balance: Lessons Learned from the Early Years of NAMMA” – Dr. Jason Zuidema
• Session 4
  • The Revd Canon Andrew Wright, Secretary General, The Mission to Seafarers and Chair, International Christian Maritime Association (bio)
  • Fr. Bruno Ciceri, International Director, Stella Maris
  • Tonya Meister-Griffith, Meister Law LLC (website) [Video message]
• After Dinner Activity – Visit to Port Baltimore to visit the historic ships NS Savannah and the Liberty Ship SS John W. Brown (Pier 13, 4601 Newgate Ave, Baltimore, MD, 21224)

Thursday, August 11

• Session 5
  • Dr. Alicia Rossiter, University of South Florida College of Nursing and Steve Finnesy, Tampa Port Ministry
  • Meike Erichsen, ITF Seafarers’ Trust, “Pandemic and War: A View from the Sea” (bio) (see also exposition at Rotterdam Maritime Museum on an earlier photo campaign)
• Session 6
  • “Government Funding for Seafarers’ Welfare,” Morris Van Voornveld, National Coordinator, Seafarers’ Welfare Board for New Zealand (website)
  • “Working Through Pandemic in Denmark and Greenland,” Nicolaj Wibe, General Secretary, Danish Seafarers’ Mission (website)
  • “See-Judge-Act and the Ad Hoc Bishop’s Conference Committee on Stella Maris Canada,” Bishop Thomas Dowd, Bishop, Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie and Stella Maris Bishop Promoter, Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops (bio)
• Session 7 – Group Workshop – Maintaining Balance in Our Local Port Ministry – Facilitated by Chaplain Michelle DePooter (Ministry to Seafarers Montreal) and Deacon Dileep Athaide (Stella Maris Vancouver).
• NAMMA Updates and AGM – Auditorium
  • maretraining.com
• Closing Worship – Accompanied by Brass Quintet Chesapeake Brass Authority

Friday, August 12 and Saturday, August 13

• [Stella Maris Regional Conference [Those Stella Maris members interested, please direct any questions you might have to Deacon Paul Rosenblum at paul.rosenblum@stellamarismail.org]

Conference Planning Committee: Deacon Paul Rosenblum (Charleston), David Clark (Houston), Deacon Dileep Athaide (Vancouver), Rev Cristi Chapman (Seattle), Nereida Kerkado (San Juan)