From February 22 to 27, the North American Maritime Ministry Association’s Houston training was back in full strength. Officially known as the Introduction to Seafarers Welfare and Maritime Ministry course, the program gathered a remarkable group of students from across the globe for a week of learning, reflection, and fellowship in one of the world’s […]
by Jason Zuidema (NAMMA) Listen to the original interview here: The Port of Brownsville sits at the end of a 17-mile channel, built in 1936 with funds meant to lift the region out of the Great Depression. It is a working port—steel slab, coil steel, cement, windmill blades—much of it destined for northern Mexico. It […]
by Jason Zuidema (NAMMA) It was a beautiful day in Corpus Christi when I stopped in to visit the Corpus Christi International Seafarers Center. The sun was bright over the bay, and the breeze carried that unmistakable sense of a working waterfront. I was only passing through, but I was received with warmth and generosity […]
by Jason Zuidema (NAMMA) In January 2026, the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) published Phase 3 of its Social Interaction Matters (SIM) project, authored by Dr. Kate Pike, Director of Field Research Limited. Funded by the UK Department for Transport through the Trinity House Maritime Charity Department for Transport Fund, and supported by […]
The count down is on for this year’s highly anticipated CMA Shipping 2026 conference and exhibition taking place from 10–12 March 2026 at the Hilton Stamford Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut. Organised by the Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) and Informa Markets, this flagship event is set to bring together the most influential voices in the maritime industry for […]
by Jason Zuidema (NAMMA) At the Mariners’ Workshop of the Shipping Federation of Canada held at the Marriott Montreal Chateau Champlain on January 29, the theme “Enhancing the Human-Tech Balance in the Age of E-Navigation” set the tone for a candid discussion about what technology is doing to life at sea. The panel on Seafarer […]
by Jason Zuidema (NAMMA) Layovers are usually something to endure rather than savour. Airports blur together, time zones collapse into one another, and the goal is simply to get from one gate to the next with as little friction as possible. But occasionally a layover becomes something else entirely—a small window that opens unexpectedly. That […]
by David Reid MA FNISunday morning at sea meant a thorough tidy and cleaning of our cabin onboard a British merchant ship. As navigating cadets, we were subjected to a very thorough inspection by the master and senior officers at 11:00. So immediately after breakfast the focus for the morning was on a deep clean […]
On December 15, 2025, members of the North American Maritime Ministry Association gathered online for a Christmas Service of Light, Hope, and Waiting. More than twenty-five participants joined from across the maritime ministry community to share scripture, prayer, and reflection while celebrating Jesus Christ as the light of the world. Readings during the service were […]
NAMMA was represented at the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) 22nd Annual Environmental Achievement Awards Dinner held in Washington, D.C. on November 12 by Christopher Graham, NAMMA Assistant Director, who provided the opening prayer. At this event, the U.S. maritime industry publicly recognizes the merchant mariners responsible for environmental excellence. 57 companies representing 1377 […]
