On September 19, 2025, staff at the Liverpool Seafarers’ Centre gathered for a half-day training on ship visiting led by Dr. Jason Zuidema, General Secretary of the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA). The session was not simply about techniques or checklists but about grounding the team once more in the reasons why ship visiting matters. At the heart of the practice is the conviction that the Centre offers a “home away from home” for those who spend long months at sea. Ship visiting is a way of being present, of helping and serving with love, of showing in concrete ways that seafarers are not forgotten. This basic motivation is what sets the tone for everything else: it is about care, welcome, and presence.
From that foundation, the training moved to the “how” of ship visiting. Dr. Zuidema encouraged the group to think of themselves as entering each encounter with open hands, ready to create space for conversations that can be meaningful. Ship visiting is not about standing behind a barrier, whether physical or emotional, but about taking a step forward—onto the gangway, into the messroom, beside someone in the minibus, or across a table at the Centre. Each occasion, however ordinary, can become an opportunity for conversation, and each conversation an occasion for dignity and connection. The reminder was clear: people are the heart of this work, not just the services offered.
John Wilson, Director of the Liverpool Seafarers’ Centre, reflected afterwards on what this time together meant for the team: “Having all recently undertaken the online Ship Welfare Visitor Course of the MNWB, a good base line focusing upon the safety aspects of ship visiting, we are aware that as a team we are missing opportunities to engage with seafarers thus ensuring a meaningful visit for both the visitor and the beneficiary, in this case the seafarer. Having discussed this internally we realised we needed to come together as a team to explore how we might upskill everyone involved…this was the vision, it became evident we needed support, an approach was made to ICMA, through Jason who was up for the challenge.”
Wilson noted that this training also introduced ICMA more broadly to the team, reminding them that Liverpool Seafarers’ Centre has been a long-term member of the association. The independence and breadth of ICMA, together with Dr. Zuidema’s experience, brought both outside perspective and encouragement. “As we move forward together,” Wilson continued, “we believe that the team will be better equipped as individuals to understand what we stand for and why we all do what we do. It will build individual confidence, through preparation, delivery and reflection, thus ensuring that the experience has been of benefit to the seafarer but equally important to the individual delivering the service.”
For the staff, those three hours were not just a workshop but a renewal of purpose. They reinforced a shared belief that Liverpool Seafarers’ Centre remains, in Wilson’s words, “a beacon of hope, help, love and support to all seafarers.” The imagery of the Body of Christ, made up of many different elements, resonated deeply with the group: each individual brings their own character and gifts, yet together they form one mission. The training reminded them not to stand still, but to seize opportunities and embrace challenges equally. For seafarers, that means finding a welcome and listening ear on every visit; for the staff and volunteers, it means continuing to grow in the vocation of service. The day underlined that ship visiting is never just a task—it is an act of presence, love, and hope.
Learn more about the Liverpool Seafarers’ Centre here: https://liverpoolseafarerscentre.org/