by Susan Huppert, NAMMA Giving can begin with just a conversation. Rob Henkel, Vice President of Operations and Galveston Cruise for Ceres Terminals Inc. found a conversation at the docks that lead to a much-needed gift. Henkel and friends at Ceres extended its concern for seafarers in a tangible way by recently donating a 16-passenger […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA Small is still significant On the northwestern edge of Lake Ontario is one of the ten seafarers’ centres in Canadian ports affiliated to the Anglican global ministry of The Mission to Seafarers. This rather modest mission began in 2016 from the doorstep of a 43 ft. x 10 ft. trailer. The […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA Nestled just south of the bustling Port of Tampa, Florida on Tampa Bay, is Port Manatee; a deep water seaport on the Gulf of Mexico. While a comparatively smaller port, it’s geographic footprint and impact in the shipping industry is increasing with an annual economic impact of more than $5.1 billion. […]
by Kevin Walker (NAMMA), with contributions from Debbie Murray (APCA), Peter Lahay (ITF), and Jason Zuidema (NAMMA) On November 7, the Canadian Seafarers’ Welfare Board (CSWB) convened in Ottawa ahead of the meeting of the Canadian Marine Advisory Council (CMAC) for its first in-person board meeting, a conference and the first meeting the following day […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA Shore leave for seafarers on cruise ships has improved since the decrease of COVID-19. Seafarer centers in the United States and Canada report improved access to shore leave provides reduced stress on those working at sea and greater access to support services through local seafaring centers. Mark Wodka, Director of the […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA Cookies make a difference to seafarers. Chaplain Ruth Setaro has been visiting the ships in the Port of New Haven, CT for more than 26 years. Her committed partner in seafarers’ welfare work, Ute Brinkmann has a heart for seafarers. She doesn’t visit ships. She bakes cookies. Every week dozens of […]
On this, World Maritime Day, we’re delighted to announce the winners of the Life at Sea 2022 photography competition, the latest in the ITF Seafarers’ Trust project to capture the experiences of seafarers today and highlight their vital, often unnoticed, role in the global economy. The photography project, which began in 2020 at the height […]
by Jason Zuidema, ICMA From September 27-30, 2022, ICMA held its annual general meeting and conference in Rome to discuss challenges and programs during the pandemic and war, but also the new opportunities that have been made clear. The COVID-19 pandemic deeply disrupted the work of port-based seafarers’ and fishers’ welfare worldwide. Missions in ports […]
by Jason Zuidema, NAMMA/ICMA Since its earliest beginnings over 200 years ago, port-based seafarers’ welfare organizations have relied on the generosity of a wide variety of donors to support their work. Churches, foundations, industry and labor groups, and individuals from the wider community all come together to make sure seafarers’ centres help mariners continue to […]
by Dr. Jason Zuidema, NAMMA/ICMA In July 2020, I put out a first list of podcasts that were insightful and encouraging for those in seafarers’ welfare. That list still has top picks like the Shipping Podcast, The Last Voyage of the Pung Su, and As the Crow Flies among other great podcasts. Since then, many […]
