Seafarers’ welfare leaders gathered online on August 10 for the first day of the annual NAMMA Conference. Taking place online for the first time in NAMMA’s history, the event brought together 75 registrants and speakers from seafarers ministries and maritime industry partners around North America and the world.
The conference took place online as travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continue to limit international travel.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt all our lives. For the last 18 months, seafarers’ welfare providers have needed to adapt to new safety measures and financial challenges. Our courage has been tested in serving seafarers whom the pandemic has directly affected, and, in so many situations we could neither understand nor control, we have had our faith tested as well. We have also been given reason to hope: we have learned from the pandemic, and those lessons may instruct our work in years ahead. To reflect on what we have gone through and what comes next, NAMMA’s 2021 Annual Conference focused on the theme “Leading and Learning through Uncertainty”.
The conference welcomes a number of distinguished speakers and panelists:
- Mr. Guy Platten, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping
- Capt. Wayne Arguin, Director of Inspections and Compliance at United States Coast Guard Headquarters
- Mr. David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer, Seafarers’ International Union and Chairman, International Transport Workers’ Federation, Seafarers Section
- Dr. Desai Shan, Assistant Professor, Memorial University of Newfoundland
- Rev. Dr. Alan T. Baker, (Rear Admiral, USN, retired) Chaplain of the Marine Corps (2006-2009) and author Foundations of Chaplaincy: A Practical Guide (Eerdmans, 2021)
Though thankful for the wonderful speakers, we were especially privileged to have opportunities throughout the conference to hear from other NAMMA members to share best practice ideas and encouragement.
Rather than just a series of speakers, the conference leaves plenty of time in the schedule for small groups, friendly discussion, and prayer together. The presence and participation of all participants in plenary and small group discussions is a highlight of the conference.
The full schedule and recordings of the sessions is available here: http://namma.org/conference-2021/
NAMMA thanks all our sponsors and annual partners which include the Seafarers’ International Union, the WGMA, the TK Foundation, the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, The Mission to Seafarers, and the Diocese of Victoria.
For more information on NAMMA or our Conference please contact: Dr. Jason Zuidema, Executive Director, NAMMA. jason.zuidema@namma.org.
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About NAMMA: With seafarers’ welfare provider members in more than 50 ports around North America, NAMMA’s mission is to support those in maritime ministry with professional development, fellowship, and advocacy. https://namma.org/
