Ken Hawkins recently sent us some reflections from a long trans-Pacific cruise, and with his permission we share them here because they capture something important about life at sea that is often hidden from view. Ken is retired Executive Director of the Mission to Seafarers in Seattle, Washington. He spent many years serving and advocating […]
NAMMA members and affiliated agencies throughout the United States observed National Maritime Day on May 22. NAMMA members also led and participated in activities in the nation’s capital. Sister Joanna Okereke, HHCJ, the Stella Maris National Director of the United States, offered the invocation and benediction at the National Maritime Day observances hosted by the […]
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 […]
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 […]
At the CMA Shipping 2026 conference in Stamford, Connecticut, the North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA) convened a timely and urgent forum on one of the most pressing humanitarian issues in global shipping today: seafarer abandonment. Held on the morning of March 12, the panel brought together legal, insurance, welfare, and regulatory perspectives to grapple […]
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by Jason Zuidema (NAMMA) The International Mariners Center in the Port of Hueneme, California, recently welcomed the North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA) for a visit and conversation with the volunteers who sustain the ministry there. Hosted by board president Chuck Culkins, the gathering brought together about a dozen volunteers and supporters who serve seafarers […]
At the International Maritime Center in the Port of Oakland, California, a small gathering of maritime leaders, community members, and partners met for a “Lunch and Launch” event hosted by Seafarers’ Ministry of the Golden Gate at the IMC (SMGG at the IMC). The event marked an important moment for the organization as it enters […]
by Jason Zuidema (NAMMA) From March 10 to March 12, representatives of the North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA) were present at the CMA Shipping Conference in Stamford, Connecticut. The CMA Shipping Conference is one of the premier maritime gatherings in North America, particularly influential in the tanker and dry bulk sectors. Each year it […]
by Jason Zuidema (NAMMA) On a bright Houston morning, a group of maritime ministry students gathered at the new home of the Houston Norwegian Church (Sjømannskirken) at 12211 Memorial Drive, on property graciously owned by Christ The King Lutheran Church. The Sjømannskirken is part of the global International Christian Maritime Association, so students from other […]
