{"id":1595,"date":"2022-08-13T12:09:58","date_gmt":"2022-08-13T12:09:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marereport.namma.org\/?p=1595"},"modified":"2024-01-17T16:22:00","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T16:22:00","slug":"namma-conference-2022-finding-our-balance-in-seafarers-welfare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marereport.namma.org\/index.php\/2022\/08\/13\/namma-conference-2022-finding-our-balance-in-seafarers-welfare\/","title":{"rendered":"NAMMA Conference 2022 – Finding Our Balance in Seafarers\u2019 Welfare"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Susan Huppert, NAMMA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not the words, it\u2019s the sounds. One by one attendees arrive, pick up a room key and registration paperwork. Then a gentle chatter begins to swell as the gathering of NAMMA members reunite after two years of virtual meetings and Zoom gatherings. Joy seems to percolate among chaplains warmly exchanging stories at the North American Maritime Ministry Association annual conference in Baltimore, Maryland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enthusiasm develops as they corporately realize they made it through unprecedented ministry challenges of a global pandemic, COVID-19 restrictions, ever-changing vaccination guidelines, shore leave obstacles and a Ukrainian war deeply affecting the seafarers they serve. Priests and professionals diligently working together, but apart, sense the unique commodore they share and the connection they have missed since the global pandemic slowed down the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt feels good,\u201d said Sr. Joanna Okereke, who works with\nStella Maris United States. \u201cThere is something wonderful about being together.\nSee how we smile?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nconference theme, \u201cFinding Our Balance in Seafarers\u2019 Welfare\u201d was designed to\nprovide industry information and personal connections that nurture weary\nworkers in an extended season of abnormal obstacles and trouble-shooting\nsolutions. Spiritual care begins the first evening as Chaplain Michelle\nDePooter offers a meditation. Her reflections suggest balance happens as we\nkeep God in the center of our work. DePooter serves seafarers at the Montreal\nMinistry to Seafarers. She has served the port for more than 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By\nthe following day, conversations around meal tables from Canada to Panama,\njointly caring for the invisible workforce of seafarers were reconnecting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s\nwhy we are here – to find balance,\u201d said Stella Maris chaplain, Fr. Lito\nCapeding. \u201cSharing experiences, networking . . . you learn what others are\ndoing. No one knows it all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To\nensure balance in ministry, NAMMA offered perspectives from various sectors of\nshipping including government, industry and labor continually equipping members\nto serve with excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rear Admiral Ann C. Phillips (US Navy, ret.) addressed members and guests. As head of the Maritime Administration, she advises and assists the Secretary of Transportation on commercial maritime matters providing insights from her position. Among pertinent information facing mariners, Phillips highlighted health concerns mariners face and safety measures available. She stated a commitment to resources in building trust among the seafaring community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer, Seafarers\u2019 International Union serves as chairperson of the ITF Seafarers\u2019 Trust, a valuable contributor to organizations serving seafarers with grants directly related to seafarers\u2019 welfare. Heindel noted that important actions like distinguishing seafarers as essential workers has raised awareness of their role and necessity globally. This designation helps directly with pandemic challenges they continue to face in some measure. Needs like access to vaccines, timely crew changes, and sufficient shore leave, all critical to well-being became primary as their status in the global movement of goods became more prominent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mieke Erichsen, Project Manager at the ITF Seafarers\u2019 Trust presented an overview of the UK charity\u2019s projects it continues to support through grants. Opportunities for online training in health and safety, telemedicine, a mobile seafarers\u2019 lounge, and most critical of late is the assistance provided to Ukrainian seafarers\u2019 families forced to relocate when war demanded they leave their homeland. Unmeasurable generosity helped Ukrainian seafarers work with less distraction knowing their families were safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A\nwelcome video message from Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International\nMaritime Organization, validated the challenges that the past two years of\npandemic have presented. He highlighted the importance of seafarers globally\nstating, \u201cwe must never forget seafarers are the lifeblood of this industry,\u201d\nand thanked NAMMA for advocating for seafarers and for its contribution in\nissuing valuable vaccination access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants\nalso heard from Brian Miller, Deputy Director, Maryland Port Authority, Port of\nBaltimore. He encouraged port ministries to get involved in each local port. He\ncited the recently retired Rev. Mary Davisson, former director of Baltimore\nSeafarers Center, who served on the board of the Baltimore Port Alliance. Port\npartnerships are beneficial relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMary would let us know when there was a problem,\u201d said Miller. \u201cWhen she contacted us, we would respond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building relationships around common goals was further highlighted\nby Steve Finnesy, Executive Director of the seafarer center in Tampa, Fla. His\npartnership with the University of South Florida College of Nursing began with\nvaccinating seafarers and is developing into a clinic within the port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RDML\nWayne Arguin Jr., Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy, Coast Guard\noffered insight into how various port ministries can partner with their\nspecific port authorities and Coast Guard. He is working to improve connections\nbetween port ministries and their local Coast Guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\nreally did not have an appreciation for all the work you do in your ports,\u201d\nsaid Arguin of the port ministries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Constant\nchanges in the industry will likely require adjustments to the ministries\nwithin the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He offered\nsound suggestions for NAMMA participants in approaching changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n