The North American Maritime Ministry Association is a network of more than 50 affiliated agencies and individual members who work for seafarers\u2019 welfare around North American and the Caribbean. NAMMA’s Annual Conference is the most broadly diverse gathering of maritime agencies and port welfare workers in North America, that drew more than 100 attendees from nearly every port and a wide variety of backgrounds. The 2018 Annual Conference took place at the MITAGS Maritime Conference Center in Linthicum Heights, MD from August 14-17. The conference provided networking opportunities, engaging discussion of timely maritime issues, and training that is directly applicable to seafarers’ wellness.<\/p>\n
The overall theme of this year\u2019s conference was \u201cPort Ministry at the Margins\u201d. This theme called attention to \u201cthe margins\u201d as a term with many meanings. Despite its size, the maritime industry is marginal in the minds of the vast majority of people who benefit from it every day; likewise, workers within the industry and those who serve them are equally marginal in most people’s idea of international commerce. Our conference considered how to gain support and awareness for seafarers\u2019 well-being needs, working from the margins to support those on the margin. Moreover, many practices once considered peripheral are now industry-standard. Our conference considered the past and present of dynamics in the maritime industry so we may better prepare for the future. Finally, the margin also evokes the profitability of companies: how can we, as maritime welfare providers, help the industry balance profit with the wellbeing of its most valuable asset?<\/p>\n
Conference speakers included (new video recordings being added as they are edited):<\/p>\n
Check out our conference video here:<\/p>\n