The Newsletter of the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center Winter 2019

St. Nicholas’ Bag

See our photos in color at https://www.facebook.com/BaltSeafarers —and then “like” us!

Often this publication focuses on challenges faced by seafarers or prob-lems addressed by BISC. In this issue, we share some good news from seafarers we met in 2018:

“This year, I finally have vacation in De-cember. There’s no place like home for Christmas!”

“My daughter won a math contest, and now she’s studying for the next level of competition. Thank you for taking me ashore so I could buy her a laptop.”

“We bought a new basketball at the mall. The whole crew enjoys playing when we’re on a calm sea.”

“Thank you for providing security escort so I could meet my relative! And now we’re going to tour Washington together.”

“The cook on our vessel is really good. We have three nationalities on board, but everybody eats well.”

“My house isn’t big—but it’s happy. That’s the important thing.” (Comments like this came up twice in a single week, once from an Asian seafarer, once from a European seafarer.)

“You’re from Mission to Seafarers? They do good work. I spent many days in a hospital in Hong Kong, and their chaplain visited me there.”

Good News From Our Crews

Past Episcopal Service Corps intern Will Root (on right) reunited a crew member of the Morning Cara with a relative living locally—who then drove several crew members around Washington D.C.

Exercise equipment and electronics are among the most frequent purchases of seafarers transported ashore by BISC.

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BISC is sometimes invited to conduct worship on a vessel, especially when visa status or work schedules prevent crews from going to church ashore. We are al-ways grateful for this privilege.

And this spring, our care for crews will be enhanced by additional funding from the Mission to Seafarers, BISC’s international affiliate represented in our “Flying Angel” logo, as well as the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. While many of our crews are visited by dedicated daytime and evening volunteers, Pastor Don Bryant and semi-narian Joe Zollickoffer have special roles

in light of their seminary training, flexible schedules, and willingness to visit our most challenging terminals. Both Don and Joe have also served internships funded by the North American Maritime Ministry Association. Thank you, Mission to Seafarers and Diocese of Maryland—and thank you to all our hardworking ship visitors and Center hosts!

Worship and Pastoral Care: Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Pastor Don Bryant (in glasses), whose ministry is also supported by the Baltimore Baptist Association, delivering “ninth day of Christmas” gifts to the Navios Obeliks.

Director Mary Davisson and intern Will Root led worship on board the Antonia S. in July.

After sharing worship, crew members of the Golden Zhejiang posed with Christmas gifts from BISC. The Rev. Mary Davis-son then blessed several spaces at the Captain’s request.

Virginia Theological Seminary senior Joe Zollickoffer (center) with BISC Director Mary Davisson and Seafarers

International House (Lutheran) Pastor Bob Schmitt at NAMMA’s August 2018 conference in Linthicum MD.

St. Nicholas’ Bag — Winter 20193

Many thanks to the over 50 donors who donated boxes for about 1600 seafarers on 75 ships this past December! The following are from the Baltimore area unless otherwise noted:

Lutheran participants, some filling shoeboxes and some filling Seafarers International House satchels, included: Salem Church Catonsville, Christ Inner Harbor, Zion Hummelstown PA(!), Christ Millersville, St. John Linthicum, New Hope Columbia, Rejoice WELCA Fellowship of Glen Burnie, St. John West-minster, Zion Baltimore, St. Michael Belair Rd., St. Paul Fulton, Prince of Peace Rosedale, St. John’s Parkville, St. Luke Harford Rd., St. Andrew’s Loch Raven Blvd., Grace Westminster, St. John’s Pimlico, Ascension Towson, New Light, St. John Brooklyn.

Episcopalians included: Holy Cross Church Point of Rocks, Holy Trinity Essex, St. Mark’s Highland, Church of the Messiah, St. David’s, Middleham and St. Peter’s, St. Thomas Owings Mills, Trinity

Towson, St. Andrew’s Glenwood, St. Anne’s An-napolis, Anne and Sheldon Slater, Allene Taylor, Patience McPherson, Guardian Angel, St. James Lothian, St. Paul’s Poplar Springs.

And others included: Nativity-Holy Comforter “Lu-therpalian,” employees of the Maryland Port Ad-ministration, Colleen Betz and other Roman Cath-olic donors, Bill and Cathy Taylor, Capt. Jim and Shannon Roof, Catholic Daughters Courts Queen of Peace and St. Francis (Arlington VA!), neigh-bors of the Revs Tony and Linda Hollis, Catonsville Presbyterian, New Era Academy, Rukert Termi-nals, friends of the N.S. Savannah.

Finally, while all BISC personnel went many extra miles in December, the following should be singled out for their care in sorting gifts, re-wrapping damaged boxes, bagging packages, etc.: Associate Chaplain Allene Taylor, Treasurer John Thompson, Pastor Don Bryant, volunteers The Revs Linda and Tony Hollis, and volunteers Carole and Dick Hires.

(Gift delivery days can be hectic! We tried to list all donors and thank them, usually by email. Feel free to contact us about accidental omissions.)

Lutheran Pastor Bob Schmitt delivered Seafarers International House satchels to the Nord Galaxy.

Volunteer Associate Chaplain Allene Taylor brought crew members of the Sluisgracht to the Center to select gifts for their crewmates.

After a full day’s work at Under Armour, volun-teer Tom Taylor delivered gifts to the Ultra Lion.

Joy to Seafarers—Thanks to You!

The crew of the Spiegelgracht sent photos of BISC gifts being opened on December 25.

Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center4

BISC StaffDirector: The Rev. Mary H.T. DavissonAssociate Chaplain (volun-teer): Allene TaylorBaltimore Baptist Association Chaplain: Pastor Don BryantSeafarers International House Chaplain: Pastor Bob SchmittContract ship visitor: Joe ZollickofferTreasurer: John ThompsonBookkeeper: Bruce PolanowskiOffice volunteers: The Rev. Tony HollisVolunteer ship visitors: Sunil Ahluwalia, Fred Craig, Rich Douglas, Capt. Mike Flanagan, Bob Garske, Art Guyton, Carole Hires, Dick Hires, The Rev. Linda Hollis, Tim Martin, Rich Roca, Lee Van KotenSt. Nicholas’ Bag Newsletter: Editor-in-Chief: Mary DavissonDesigner and Production: Ed DavissonFacebook Administrator: Sarah MirandaWebsite Administrator: Mercy Kariuki

During the second half of 2018, Director Mary Davisson’s outreach included the following groups and congregations: Asbury Retirement Community in Solomons, Christ the King Woodlawn, St. Margaret’s Annapolis, Redemption Locust Point, St. Andrew’s Glenwood, and Trinity Towson. We thank all these groups for their support! BISC also helped host the North American Maritime Ministries at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (Linthicum) in August 2018, and met

with local Coast Guard officers to discuss shore leave.

On the Move: Outreach and Networking

Lutheran volunteer Bob Garske, Treasurer John Thompson, Volunteer Associate Chaplain Allene Taylor, and Director Mary Davisson were photographed by Marge Ewertz when she delivered Trinity Towson’s generous dona-tion of gifts. Mary preached twice at Trinity in 2018.

International Transport Workers Federation Inspector Barbara Shipley, BISC Associate Chaplain Allene Taylor, and Director Mary Davisson at the NAMMA confer-ence in August.

Douglas Stevenson Esq. (Director of Center for Seafarers’ Rights and BISC

Board member), LCDR Benjamin Mazyck (USCG), the Rev. Mary

Davisson (Director of BISC), LCDR Evelynn Samms (USCG), and MSTC

Kerry Bolen (USCG) met recently at the Sector Maryland-National Capital

Region Coast Guard Yard to discuss seafarers’ shore leave.

St. Nicholas’ Bag — Winter 2019 5

On the Move: Outreach and Networking

Please join the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center

For a waterside tour aboard the “Raven” to celebrate 26 years of service to Seafarers in the Port of

Baltimore Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Reserve a spot for you and your friends and neighbors! Send your check by March 26th for $65 per guest to:

Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center 1430 Wallace St.

Baltimore, MD 21230 Please mark it “cruise” and include names of all guests, if possible, for nametag purposes.

If you would like confirmation, please include your email address or a S.A.S.E. Prefer PayPal? Visit BaltSeafarers.org

Please consider a sponsorship to increase your support of the compassionate work the Seafarers’ Center provides to the men and women from around the world passing through the Port of Baltimore.

Park: Discount coupons available on board for the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Garage (the hotel is at 550 Light St. near Lee St.; enter the garage from Lee St.).

Board: 4:45 pm (PROMPTLY) at the Baltimore Finger Piers on Light St. between the Visitors’ Center and the Science Center (GPS = 555 Light St.); returning by 7:00 pm.

Enjoy: Complimentary hors d’oeuvres, soda, beer, wine (cash bar for spirits), and of course – great company!

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Golf Fore a Cause!Heartfelt thanks go out to our major event sponsors for our 2018 Golf

Outing at the Elkridge Club: PNC Bank, ILA Local 953, McAllister Towing, the Propeller Club of Baltimore, and Ports America Chesapeake. Additionally, we recognized the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland and St. Mark’s Highland for

their year-round support. Other leadership sponsors included the Rev. Scott Bellows, Moran Tug, Rukert Terminals, Capt. Mike Flanagan. And we also thank this year’s hole sponsors: Terminal Shipping, Ceres, Steamship Trade Association, Mary Davisson, E.O. Davisson, Georges On York B&B, Herc Rentals, Bob and Marie Garske, Trigas-Oil, Allene Taylor, Church of the Redeemer, Maryland Pilots, Prints and Promo, John and Ashby Thompson, St. David’s Church, Baltimore Maritime Exchange.

Save October 17 for our next outing!

Our roomy 2018 Ford Transit accommodates eleven seafarers and plenty of cargo! We are deeply grate-ful to the International Transport Workers Federation Seafarers Trust for funding this purchase.

Steve Hussein, on behalf of the Ceres team, accepts first prize from BISC Treasurer John Thompson.

Seafarers’ Trust Keeps Us Rolling

Katie Higginbottom, left, and Luca Tommasi, right, of the Seafarers Trust, with Director Mary Davisson.

Plenty of room for the crew of the Talisman!

Volunteer Carole Hires with seafarers from the Maersk Vilnius.

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We Offer Grateful Thanks to:

BISCBaltimore International Seafarers’ CenterCurrent Board membership:

President:Capt. Michael ReagosoMcAllister Towing of Baltimore, Inc.

Vice-President:Michael DerbyWallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean

Treasurer (non-voting):John Thompson

Secretary:Edward MoosMoran Towing Corporation

Members:The Rev. Scott BellowsSt. David’s Church, Baltimore

Capt. Michael FlanaganAssociation of Maryland Pilots

Mark SchmidtPorts America Chesapeake

Douglas Stevenson Esq.Center for Seafarers’ Rights, Seamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey

Allene TaylorVolunteer Associate Chaplain,BISC

Leland Van Koten Esq.Volunteer ship visitor,BISC

Gregory WaidlichAtlantic Container Line

BISC is especially grateful for leadership donations during the second half of 2018 from: Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, St. Mark’s Highland, C. Steinweg Baltimore Inc., Mr. George “Bud” Nixon (past president of BISC’s board), Ms. Virginia and Mr. Gunter Arndt, The Glennan Family Charitable Fund, Propeller Club of Baltimore, The Rev. Mary Davisson, the Derby-Masson Family Fund, Old St. Paul’s Church, Mr. Steuart H. Thomsen, Ms. Louise Young Meledin, The Friendly Inn Association, The George E. Babylon Jr. and Ruth J. Babylon Charitable Founda-tion, American Marine & Cargo, The Rev. John S. Cassell, Na-tivity Cedarcroft.

And many thanks go out also to: St. James Monkton, Mr. William and Ms. Catherine Taylor (honoring volunteer Tom Taylor), Propeller Club of Balti-more (donations honoring Harry Hussein and Paul Swensen respectively), Capt. Paul Whitin, Ms. Gloria Jeanne Petit-Clair, Women of St. George’s Mt. Savage, Ms. Dorothy Wilkins, The Rev. Lance Gifford and Ms. Mar-garet Campbell, Dr. Martin A. Barley, Ms. Mary Ellen Elwell, Ms. Sara Scarfo (in honor of Paul Swensen), Vessel Operations LLC, St. Margaret’s Annapolis, Ms. Kathleen K. Polk, Ms. Aurora Bautista, Ms. Christine L. Cleary, The Rev. Linda Hollis, Ms. Pamela Cady, Capt. Richard Shea, Ms. Elizabeth Wilson, Hugh & Katharine Stierhoff Charitable Fund (a Donor Advised Fund of The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust). Sherwood Episcopal Church, Ms. Margaret Peeling, Mr. Walter and Ms. Barbara Clifford (in honor of volunteer Bob Garske), Mr. Timothy Johnson, Capt. Brian Fierro,

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mr. Taylor and Ms. Patricia McLean, Ms. Helen Wheeler, Ms. Teresa Thomas, The Rev. Herbert K. Lodder, Mr. Gislin Dagnelie, Mr. Thomas J. Lamm, Terminal Shipping Co., Mr. Edward T. Bedford, Ms. Alice T. Bock-man, Ms. Gloria Jeane Petit-Clair, Ms. Eileen Shelley Menton, Capt. George and Ms. Virginia Miller, Ms. Kathy Waugh, Ms. Linda Hall, Mr. Edwin S. Davisson, Mr. Bob and Ms. Shirley Noll, Munro Family Trust, Ms. Anne Keifer (in honor of volunteer Lee Van Koten), Mr. Graham Clark, Mr. Lo-rin Turnblacer, Mr. John and Ms. Virginia Riopelle (in honor of volunteer Capt. Mike Flanagan), Ms. Mary Jane Norris, Capt. Richard Shea, Ms. Joann Toalapei, Mr. Pete Partridge.

2018: A Year to Remember with Gratitude

Volunteer Tim Martin helped a seafarer (left) meet his brother for the first time in eight years! (Photo: volunteer Fred Craig.)

Please help support our work with your generous check to the

Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center1430 Wallace St.

Baltimore MD 21230, or visit BaltSeafarers.org to donate via Paypal

8Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center

BISC Baltimore InternationalSeafarers’ Center

The Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center1430 Wallace Street | Baltimore, MD 21230410.685.1240 | baltseafarers@aol.com | www.baltseafarers.org

These visitors from the Onego Merchant relaxed at our center while staying in touch with home. But when all BISC’s personnel are out in the port, our doors are locked, and seafarers have been known to stand outside in below-freezing wind chill to access our free internet! Please con-sider volunteering so we can expand our hospitality.

BISC needs YOU! Please write BaltSeafarers@aol.com or call 410-685-1240. Volunteers should be: willing to respect all cultures, able to climb gangways, willing to drive an 11-passenger van, able to commit to a regular weekly shift, able to pass a background check, and willing to follow security procedures.