MTSC is one of the members of the Welfare Board and we will post the activities here.

From April 7-11, the Special Tripartite Committee of the MLC,2006 met at the ILO in Geneva. More than 400 delegates from governments, shipowners and seafarers’ groups met to discuss the proposed amendments. Among others, the committee agreed language on Protecting seafarers against violence and harassment on board; Calling for the designation and recognition of seafarers as key workers; and Strengthening the rights of seafarers with respect to shore leave. Seafarers’ welfare organizations from around the world encouraged all, but had a special place to encourage the amendment on shore leave. With Phil Schifflin (Center for Mariner Advocacy SCI), I had the privilege of representing the international NGO ICMA at the meeting. Other Canadians in the room included Scott Weatherdon (Transport Canada) and Chris Given (SIU Canada). More news about the meeting here. Want to learn more about how the ILO works as a ‘tripartite’ organization? We made this video here to explain.

  • Our condolences to the Stella Maris network on the passing of Pope Francis. We are thankful for his legacy of encouraging ecumenical ties for the care of seafarers, fishers and their families.
  • Congrats to Chris Given on being appointed as the President of SIU Canada! 
  • NAMMA is happy to be able to sponsor several interns at our Canadian members this year. Funding will to to Halifax Mission to Seafarers and Vancouver Stella Maris alongside six other missions. Thanks to the ITF Seafarers’ Trust for supporting this program. 
  • A hearty congratulations to The Rev’d Eric Phinney for his appointment as Regional Director of The Mission to Seafarers Canada. 
  • We are pleased to hear the Saint John Seafarers’ Mission was successful in receiving a Canada Summer Job position grant for 8 weeks. Should any others wish to know how they were successful, Tony Dickinson would be happy to discuss with you: tonydickinson@sjseafarers.com
  • The Ministry to Seafarers Montreal and Mariner’s House held the delicious Cabane à Sucre fundraiser on March 18. Check out the dynamic team of staff and volunteers who made the event a success!
  • The AI action figure craze was in full bloom this week. Check out Capt. Leblanc from Québec 🙂 Or, look at the NAMMA ship visitor! 
  • Captain Yoss Leclerc (Logistro Consulting and board member of the International Sailors’ Society of Canada) recently played a key role in repatriating four Vietnamese seafarers stranded in Tuvalu due to visa complications after completing a two-year contract. Faced with uncertainty, the crew benefited from Captain Leclerc’s swift action and maritime expertise, as he worked closely with Tuvalu’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Marine Department to resolve the issue. His efforts, supported by The Revd Lance Lukin (Mission to Seafarers, New Zealand), helped secure the necessary permissions and ensure the seafarers’ wellbeing. 
  • Lighthouse Harbour Ministries will hold their Spring Breakfast on April 26. 

NAMMA will hold a regional meeting in Vancouver, BC on May 13. To see an updated programme and to register go here. More than 26 participants have registered to date. Any staff, volunteer, board member or other supporter of members or partners are welcome to register to attend. Thank you Peter Smyth and local sponsors for their support.

And, we remember Chico the cat (photo attached) who has completed his tour of duty at the Robert’s Bank club of the Mission to Seafarers in Vancouver. “Chico the resident cat at the Robert’s Bank Seafarers Centre became a familiar sight to many seafarers as they found comfort in his presence with no animals onboard. Many a photo of Chico has been sent home by seafarers. On returning to Roberts Bank seafarers would ask after Chico often years later. Chico was known for following seafarers to their ship and he would lounge across the tables at the centre or on the floor making his presence felt.”Thanks!

Jason Zuidema

  • Feb 13, 2025 Today we had a quarterly meeting of the Canadian National Seafarers’ Welfare Board. Lots of topics covered, but here are a few interesting tidbits:
    • On the agenda we heard an update on various seafarers-welfare related activities of Transport Canada, especially plans for the Special Tripartite Committee of the MLC2006 meeting at the ILO in Geneva on April 7-11. Mr. Scott Weatherdon (Transport Canada) will be representing Canada at that meeting. Should you have any comments on the proposals, he has asked that you contact him as soon as possible in the coming weeks (scott.weatherdon@tc.gc.ca). With Phil Schifflin, I will be representing seafarers missions on the ICMA delegation at the STC meeting.
    • The chair of the Canadian National Seafarers’ Welfare Board, Debbie Murray, shared that in her job with the Association of Canadian Port Authorities a top concern is tariffs and trade diversification. 
    • Dcn. Dileep Athaide gave an update on the West Coast Seafarers’ Welfare Committee – great to hear progress and that their next meeting is on May 14.
    • The next Board meetings are scheduled for May 15, Sept 11 and Nov 13 – please let us know if you have any news to share or questions to ask.
    • Congrats to Judith, Karl, Morgane and others who continue to work to build a seafarers’ welfare service in St. John’s, NL – among other projects, they are planning to do more research on the needs of cruise ship crew when the cruise season starts later this year