by Jason Zuidema Image: Selection from a chat conversation on April 21 between seafarer and Jason Zuidema on Chat to a Chaplain In normal times, the best methods to interact with seafarers are physical visits to ships and transport to shops or the seamen’s club. Yet, seafarers’ centres are closed in almost all ports globally […]
Ecumenical charity Liverpool Seafarers Centre has hailed the heart-warming response to its appeal for donations after the community pulled together to support seafarers. The Crosby centre called on the public to help after announcing it would be increasing its ship visits for those who cannot leave their vessels during the COVID-19 pandemic. The charity closed […]
Image: When seafarers arrived in the Port of Montreal on April 3, they texted local Chaplain David Rozeboom for some sweets which he then purchased and delivered to the gangway. The coronavirus crisis has deeply impacted the ministry methods of Christian seafarers’ welfare charities around the world. Ship visitors and chaplains have had to adapt […]
That we all crave social contact has become painfully clear in the past weeks – we do not do well in self isolation, especially in quarantine. If there is any upside to the current crisis, it might be that we are learning that we need each other and we can’t take each other for granted. […]
ICMA is in conversation with Rev. Philip Edell, Chaplain and director of The Mission to Seafarers in Dunkirk, France about how to boost efforts at digital chaplaincy. Listen to the original conversation (link here) or read the interview here. (We have lightly edited for clarity). Jason Zuidema: Welcome everyone. It’s great to see you all […]
By Susan Huppert, NAMMA For years, chaplains at international seafarers centers have concerned themselves with the problem of isolation at sea. Work at sea has always been isolating, no doubt, so seeing the growth of new tools for communication via Internet has been a key provision in our network. It is a way to stay […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA Adaptability is the marker for successful care among seafaring centers regarding the Coronavirus. Ship visiting is normally a primary contact for meeting seafarer’s needs. The opportunity for face-to-face contact is slimming quickly as fear of the spreading epidemic rises. Regardless of location, North American centers are wrestling to provide care in […]
by Susan Huppert, NAMMA As seafarers travel the world so does the current pandemic. Yet in light of associated challenges with the Coronavirus the opportunity to care for those living and working on ships remains a high priority. Ministries are adapting their practices as the news changes. Seafarer center’s websites are posting World Health Organization […]
From March 9-11, more than 50 participants took part in a conference on the future of seafarers’ welfare at the Brentwood Hotel in beautiful, windy Wellington, New Zealand. The conference theme, “Winds of Change”, helped participants understand their current identity and partnerships, but also practical suggestions for future development. The point was not just to […]
There is a lot to learn in welfare and wellbeing service to seafarers. It is a unique occupation that requires unique skills: listening, social service or pastoral care are harder for many of us than we would like to admit; a port community is a busy, commercial environment in which human needs can easily be […]
