by Susan Huppert, NAMMA Not all gifts come in a ditty bag. Concern for seafarers’ welfare has existed at the Port of Savannah since 1969. Maritime Bethel Savannah began its outreach to seafarers in 2007. Executive Director, John Houchens joined the ministry only three years ago. He feels God was preparing him for the international […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA It was a pair of number nine knitting needles that introduced Carol McQuellen to the world of seafarers. Carol lived as a child in Vancouver, WA and returned there when her husband retired in 1970. As was typical in those days, one step to settling in a new community was finding […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA It can be lonely to celebrate Christmas at sea. When a cadet at sea looks out the small window of his cabin on Christmas Eve and sees only the reflection of the moon on a black sea, it’s tough. Our common Christmas experience is to find ourselves surrounded by family or […]
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 […]
