Seafarers’ Ministry of the Golden Gate at the International Maritime Center [SMGG-at-the-The IMC] is a multi-sector alliance for seafarer wellness, maritime welfare, and community connectedness.
The Seafarers Ministry of the Golden Gate provides hospitality, personal support and spiritual care to seafarers, maritime workers, and their families. Our multifaith and culturally diverse chaplains and volunteers visit ships docked in the Bay area to offer a caring presence and listening ear to the seafarers onboard. We seek to let the crew know that we know them, care about, and appreciate them. We also offer essential services that help to make their lives aboard ship a bit more comfortable and convenient, and their time in port as pleasant and refreshing as possible:
The International Maritime Center [The IMC] collaborates with non-profit organizations, community groups, government agencies and the private sector to
Educate the public about the needs of seafarers and the importance of the maritime industry;
Advocate for policies and programs that address the needs of seafarers, and the progress of the maritime sector and that promote care for the ocean environment. Coordinate administrative and operational services [e.g. facility use, transportation, communications, and IT] for the SMGG-at-The IMC network.
Collectively
 We provide transportation during brief shore leaves for crews to do personal shopping and tourist activities
 We conduct limited personal shopping to seafarers for basic personal necessities when staff and volunteers have capacity.
 We receive packages that crews have shipped to our center, and we deliver the packages to their ship when it arrives in our Bay Area ports.
 We offer The Maritime Center as a comfortable area to rest and play table games, video games, pool, table tennis, a quiet area to call home, and a chapel for quiet reflection.
 When requested [and with the approval of the captain] we offer prayers, sacred rites, and sacraments to crews on ships and at the Center.
ISWAN is a network of international organisations and companies committed to improving the welfare of seafarers. Whatever your business or organisational objectives, as an ISWAN member you can take advantage of opportunities which will benefit you and help us to continue to improve the lives of seafarers and their families.
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