We live in a global village. The international shipping industry is responsible for the transport of around 90% of world trade. It is said that without seafarers, half the world would starve and the other half would freeze.

​Over 50,000 merchant ships are trading internationally, transporting everything from bananas to cars. The world fleet is registered in over 150 nations, and manned by over a million seafarers of almost every nationality.  Generally, these mariners have contracts for ten months or more with modest salaries and few benefits. For those long periods, the seafarer works in virtual isolation in the middle of the ocean facing risks of piracy, abusive employers and co-workers, depression, and accidents.

Time in ports is short ranging from a few hours to three days depending on the cargo. In a US port, a foreign seafarer will be regarded as a national security threat and is often denied shore leave.  Seafarers International House Port Chaplains and volunteers assist mariners by providing WiFi hotspots to connect them to their families and friends, and for those that are able to leave the ship they offer transport to medical facilities or shopping malls.  Many crew members also order necessities online and have the port chaplains deliver them when they visit.

Most importantly, Seafarers International House staff spend time to lend an ear, offer council, meet spiritual needs, and advocate on behalf of seafarers regardless of faith or nationality.  

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Our port chaplains and ship visitors call on ships arriving into ports in the Northeastern United States including Albany, NY, Baltimore, MD, New Haven, CT, and New York & New Jersey. Email them at port-mission@sihnyc.org and meet them below (with phone numbers):