ICMA Regional Meeting Hong Kong January 2026

Introduction: ICMA gathered its members and partners for the 2026 East and South-East Asia Regional Meeting, held on 21–22 January 2026 at the newly reconstructed The Mariners in Hong Kong. Participants from across the region came together to reflect on the theme “Being Present with Seafarers” — in ports, with families, and online. Throughout the meeting, it was clear that many ministries now face growing barriers: busy schedules, traffic challenges, rising costs, complex communications, and tightened security, all of which limit opportunities for presence. Yet discussions consistently affirmed that welfare support, well-being programs, and pastoral presence remain essential, offering seafarers meaningful human connection. Together, participants explored how partnerships, creativity, and shared ICMA values can strengthen legitimacy, improve access, and help port authorities and shipping companies better recognize the indispensable role of ministry in seafarers’ welfare.

Theme: “Being Present with Seafarers”

Meeting hosts and sponsors: Thank you to the The Sailors Home & Mission to Seafarers for their local support and the ITF Seafarers’ Trust for the sponsorship.

Meeting address: The Mariners, 11 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 
Kowloon, Hong Kong (MTR Exit K)

Schedule

• January 21
  • ICMA Regional Meeting
  • Session 1 – Welcome and Theme: Being Present with Seafarers
    • Rev’d Dave Hinay (MTS Bangkok, Thailand) – “Overcoming challenges: Lessons from Serving Seafarers in Bangkok”
    • Capt. Biju Narayanan AFNI, Deputy General Manager, Wah Kwong Ship Management (HK) Limited
  • (10h45) Session 2 – Being Present Ashore: Accommodation and Seafarers’ Centres
    • Rev’d Canon Stephen Miller, “The Mariners, Hong Kong: Building Project and Lessons Learned”
    • Ayza Asis (Scalabrinian Center for People on the Move) and Isa Yñiguez (Stella Maris Manila), “Dormitories in Manila: Trends and Lessons from the Pandemic to the Present”
    • Rev’d Paul Tolhurst, “Rebuilding The Mission to Seafarers Building in Kobe, Japan”
  • (13h30) Session 3 – Being Present for those On Board – Shoreleave and Port-Access
    • Short updates from a representative from each port/mission present
  • (15h30) Session 4 – Being Present for those Not On Board – Families, Cadets, Seafarers Between Contracts
    • Pastor Rancho Villavicencio, “Encouragement for cadets and seafarers returning to sea”
    • Fr. John Mission, “Stella Maris pre-deployment seminars for seafarers: experience and insight”
    • (16h30)Ecumenical Prayer – (St. Peter’s Seafarers’ Church) (liturgy)
• January 22
  • Morning Prayer – 9h00 (St. Peter’s Seafarers’ Church)
  • ICMA Regional Meeting
    • (9h30) Session 5 – The future of seafarers’ welfare aboard
      • Vinay Singh, Group Managing Director – Marine HR, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management Limited
    • (11h00) Session 6 – Building Relationships among ICMA members and with Partners
      • (video) Lam Wai (Jason) Hong, ITF Inspector, Hong Kong
      • Rev. Matthias Ristau, “Coordinating our voices in crisis situations: feedback from workshop at ICMA World Conference”
    • Afternoon – Harbour tour aboard the DaySpring

For more information: gensec@icma.as