Home | SMGG at the IMC

Welcome, Friends!

Thank You for visiting. We are glad you stopped by. We want to share some excitement with you.

This year we have reached a tremendous milestone ---- 80 Years of Service to Seafarers, thanks to the encouragement, support and involvement of so many colleagues, friends and partners like you!

To commemorate this 80th year we will be busy – we will host celebration events to thank and congratulate You, our partners and friends (look for the event calendar later in February). We will accelerate our ongoing efforts to visit every ship that docks in the Port of Oakland each day, serving seafarers with excellence and care. And we will launch a two-year campaign to improve our International Maritime Center and make the Port of Oakland and the Bay Area the most welcoming port in the world.

We invite you to browse through our upgraded website to get information on upcoming events and activities. We welcome and encourage you to become involved to show the seafarers the we all depend upon that they can depend on us!

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What We Do

TOGETHER, We are Seafarers Ministry of the Golden Gate At The International Maritime Center — SMGG-at-The-IMC

Two Organizations Working Together as One For

SEAFARER WELLBEING, MARITIME PROMOTION & COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Seafarer Wellbeing

Seafarers perform one of the toughest jobs in the world by running massive cargo and container ships through the roughest seas and riskiest areas. They spend months at a time away from family and friends, missing birthdays, family events or brothers’ and sisters’ weddings to ensure that cargo reaches people on time. Many seafarers have missed every single birthday celebration of their kids. Some haven’t been able to attend funerals of their loved ones. Stress, homesickness, anxiety and loneliness are constant companions. Among the best ways to ensure the wellbeing and satisfaction of seafarers is with ship visits and shore leave. With Shore Leave, seafarers are allowed to leave the ship while their vessel is docked in the port. They are able to go shopping, sightseeing and get exercise. During Ship Visits, local chaplains and trained Ship Visitors come aboard to say Hello to the seafarers, listen to the stories and issues seafarers want to share and provide help where they can. The friendly faces and listening ears help to relieve some of the stress and boost the spirits of these valuable seafarer heroes. That’s why Seafarers Ministry of the Golden Gate created the SHIP VISIT & WELCOME TEAM & THE CHRISTMAS AT SEA DITTY BAG PROGRAM Bay Area residents volunteer to complete extensive training in maritime safety, cultural competency, and emotional wellbeing to become members of The Ship Visit & Welcome Team. Ship Visit & Welcome Teams accompany our professional staff aboard ships in the Port of Oakland to • greet weary seafarers with a friendly smile and hearty welcome; • offer a listening ear and • extend helping hands to assist seafarers with their practical needs; • For instance, SVW Teams drive shuttles to take crews shopping, sightseeing, or on small errands. These simple gestures provide a welcome relief and a tangible “thank You” to the seafarers who make our lives comfortable, safe, and convenient. They are recharged and able to continue to the next phase of their journey.

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Maritime Promotion

Maritime Is Big Business. By 2030 the ocean economy will be worth $3 trillion. Whether working at sea or in a port, cleaning the oceans of plastics or designing a superyacht, working in maritime is exciting, rewarding and unlike any other industry. The maritime sector offers well-paying jobs in everything from seafaring and cargo handling; to logistics and port administration; infrastructure operations, research, data analysis, business development and marketing — just about anything you can imagine. So, why aren’t more young people pursuing careers in the maritime sector? Global surveys note that the biggest barrier is a lack of knowledge on the diversity of jobs offered in the marine sector. 40% of young respondents had “never heard anything about it.” As the maritime industry moves to keep up with the pace of technological change, hiring and keeping talent is a challenge. SMGG-at-the-IMC is committed to supporting the Bay Area maritime industry by promoting opportunities to the large, diverse next generation of talent in the Bay Area. TOMORROW CORPS is a maritime career awareness and leadership development initiative of SMGG-at-the-IMC. TOMORROW CORPS provides learning and work experiences that introduce young people to the many sides of the Bay Area maritime industry and promote the emerging career opportunities in Bay Area maritime. Through workshops, seminars, classroom training, and community-service learning a new generation of talented, local young adults gain the skills and knowledge needed to participate in maritime welfare and seafarer wellbeing. TOMORROW CORPS trainings also build leadership skills and competencies that can benefit our faith-led, civic and community organizations as well. TOMORROW CORPS is committed to encouraging young people from every sector of our vast and diverse region.

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Community Connections

The maritime sector is of crucial importance to the social and economic development of modern society. The sector provides a variety of excellent employment and career opportunities to workers and professionals worldwide. It is difficult to quantify the total value and economic relevance of the global maritime industry, but, in the Bay Area alone, various estimates suggest that the maritime sector accounts for as much as thirty percent of the total regional economy. Maritime also makes social contributions that enhance local communities. These include financial sponsorships to local organizations and events, training and education programs, and infrastructure improvements that enhance community aesthetics and improve environmental conditions. The Bay Area maritime community is noteworthy for its collective efforts in these aspects. Often, the great work and benefit of the maritime sector is not visible to the public, which results in limited perception and appreciation for the industry. The maritime industry remains an invisible giant in the eyes of many. But, due to its sheer size and extensive presence the maritime sector already plays a prominent role in moving the Bay area region toward a stronger, more inclusive, just and sustainable region. Even more is possible. Connecting Maritime and Community is essential. The positive contributions and promising potential of an even more productive connection between maritime and community are ready to be gathered. Connecting maritime and community is essential. SMGG-at-the-IMC is committed to serving as a catalyst and conduit for helping the Bay area region to maximize the potential of authentic, consequential connections between the maritime sector and local communities to fulfill the promise of opportunity and well-being for all. We host special events to celebrate Maritime holidays World Maritime Day, Day of the Seafarer. We host small gatherings with local community groups, small businesses, faith organizations and maritime leaders to share information and ideas and to build community connections.