Source: Wikimedia Commons

An online interactive training course for port chaplains and seafarers welfare operators is to be published on this site shortly.

ICMA’s members need training on how best to respond to the humanitarian needs of seafarers when maritime emergencies occur.  A group of ICMA members assigned personnel to address this need, resulting in the Crisis Preparedness Committee (CPC).  Joined by specialist consultant Dr Marion Gibson, the team attended ICMA conferences, the Seafarers Ministry Training (SMT) and dedicated training events to teach crisis preparedness.  The CPC has since resolved that an interactive training course should be developed to roll out awareness of and facilitate efficient responses to maritime disasters.

ICMA’s members have invested hugely into what we believe is a crucial part of our minsitry to seafarers.

The ITF Seafarers Trust, who had financially supported the crisis preparedness training from the outset, has this week announced a further grant that will enable the completion of the project.

The CPC is presently preparing the final edit of the material.  It will be published on the ICMA website before the end of 2012.

The eagerly anticipated training course will help frontline welfare providers to orchestrate shoreside assistance to seafarers.  We believe that seafarers in distress will benefit.   Watch this space…

Cruise liner in the Port of Helsinki, Finland. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Thee cruise industry is set to balloon as China’s outbound tourism trade expands.  Opportunities arise for our missions to provide for the demands of seafarers’ welfare in the cruise market.

Industry analyst Tony Peisley has authored a Seatrade Research Report titled “Cruising through the Perfect Storm”. Peisley writes that the ‘unprecedented speed of the demographic change in China’ provides a ‘huge opportunity’ for cruise companies in that country.
The Shipping Tribune stated on 11 May 2012 that:

China’s outbound tourism market has more than doubled to 70m in just six years and is on track to become the world’s largest outbound market. …The China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association (CCYIA) has identified 300m Chinese as potential cruise passengers – the equivalent of the entire population of either North America or Western Europe.

ICMA member Suomen Merimieskirkko (The Finnish Mariners’ Church) has started to plan for the development of welfare provision for the growing number of cruise crews in the Baltic region.  The Suomen Merimieskirkko had previously developed the International Sailing Chaplains Training Course and employs several chaplains who sail with Baltic ferries.

ICMA has pledged its support. ICMA has applied to the ITF Seafarers Trust to grant funding support for a workshop of ICMA missions and partners. Details of the workshop will be announced when funding is assured.

The need for welfare support for cruise liner crews was recently highlighted by the Costa Concordia incident.  The large number of personnel on cruise ships and the expected growth in the cruise industry require careful planning by ICMA’s members.

Meanwhile the pressing need for welfare facilities that could serve merchant seafarers in the massive ports of China continues.

Another ICMA member, The Mission to Seafarers, is negotiating with Chinese authorities to allow the development of facilities and the placement of welfare personnel on the Chinese mainland.  Several other members of ICMA have attempted and failed.

Earlier this year the International Committee for Seafarers Welfare (ICSW) pledged to assist ICMA and The Mission to Seafarers’ in its efforts to serve seafarers in Chinese ports.

You can read the report “Cruising Through the Perfect Storm”, written by Tony Peisley and published by Seatrade by CLICK HERE

The Reverend Tom Heffer

The members of ICMA were deeply saddened at the news of Tom Heffer’s passing.

The  Reverend Tom Heffer was the Secretary General of ICMA-founder member The Mission to Seafarers.  Tom succeeded the Reverend Bill Christianson as the head of the Mission a mere four years ago.  In this all too short a period of time that Tom filled the role he did so with the utmost distinction.  If someone can be remembered, as I remember Tom, for his humanity, his love, his faith and, of course, his marvellous sense of humour, one realises anew the value of a triumphant Christian life in this broken world.  I was blessed to have known Tom.

In a moving ceremony, led by the Reverend Bill Christianson, Tom was laid to rest from the Norwich Cathedral. The service was attended by representatives from a number of ICMA members.  A memorial service will be held in London at a date to be announced.

Our deepest sympathies and ongoing prayers for Tom’s family and for the staff at the Paternoster Royal Central Office.

ICMA’s communication technology, including the ICMA website, is undergoing an overhaul and upgrade.

At first you will see little difference.  The software upgrade will stabilise our site and directory and will ensure that we have fewer failures. We are improving on our capacity for future development. You may soon see exciting new additions to our site.  We now own our domain name.

Our e-mail address changes too…
Our new e-mail address is secretariat@icma.as The older addresses will, for a while, forward our mail to us at this new address. But please remember to save our new address and start using it to ensure that we do not lose your mail.

Please bear with us while we improve our service to our members.

The ICSW has joined the many ICMA members and partners of ICMA in conveying condolences at the death of Tom Heffer, the Secretary General of the Mission to Seafarers. 

In a statement on the new ICSW website the ICSW states:

The ICSW is deeply saddened to hear about the untimely death of The Reverend Tom Heffer…

Hennie la Grange, ICMA's General Secretary

The ICSW only recently launched this new website.  In its announcement of the website’s launch in the monthly newsletter, the ICSW said that

“…the  website is aimed at organisations, companies and individuals who are concerned about the welfare of seafarers worldwide. The site contains news and information about the work of the ICSW including up to date reports on its projects and programmes. The site also contains news on seafarers’ welfare from around the world… “

ICMA is a founding member of the ICSW.  ICMA is  represented on the Board.  ICMA’s General Secretary, Reverend Hennie la Grange, is a trustee and the current interim chairman of the International Committee for Seafarers Welfare.

CLICK HERE to visit the ICSW website.