The following is the text of a press release issued by the North American Maritime Ministry Association:
(NEW YORK) — The North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA) announced that Hapag-Lloyd and the United States Coast Guard are the recipients of this year’s maritime ministry awards. The awards are given to a corporation and an individual or organization who demonstrate a commitment to benefit seafarers. The awards will be presented on October 23rd in New York at this year’s World Maritime Day Observance.
Hapag-Lloyd will receive NAMMA’s Seafarer’s Salute Award for its programs and practices benefiting its seafarers. “Hapag-Lloyd works tirelessly to support its seafarers and exemplifies “best practices” in today’s industry”, stated Maggie Whittingham-Lamont, President of NAMMA. “In fact, I happened to be on board one of their ships when the crew learned of a wage increase and additional benefits to the seafarers and their families. The joy was palpable, along with their gratitude to the company.”
The United States Coast Guard is the 2008 recipient of the Joe R. Gerson Humanitarian Award for their efforts on behalf of seafarers. “We are pleased to present this award to such partners in supporting our seafarers” observed Ms. Lamont-Whittingham. “Their initiatives on their treatment of seafarers, willingness to meet with industry to air and resolve concerns is exemplary.”
The Hapag-Lloyd group focuses on global container liner shipping. With the acquisition of CP Ships in 2005, the company became one of the top five shipping companies in the world. The Hamburg-based company is present in more than 130 countries and operates about 320 sales offices. In 2007, Hapag-Lloyd reported revenues of around €6 billion. Hapag-Lloyd transported approx. 5.5 million TEU worldwide an increase of 9% in the same period of last year. Hapag-Lloyd sets industry standards in terms of customer orientation, service and productivity. The company deploys 135 containerships featuring more than 493,000 TEU in capacity across five regions worldwide: North Europe, South Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia.
The United States Coast Guard is a military, multi-mission, maritime service within the Department of Homeland Security and one of the nation’s five armed services. Its core roles are to protect the public, the environment, and U.S. economic and security interests in any maritime region in which those interests may be at risk, including international waters and America’s coasts, ports, and inland waterways.
This year’s World Maritime Day Observance, the third to be held in New York, will be held at the Union League Club in midtown Manhattan. Co-sponsors of this event are NAMMA and the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA).In addition to the NAMMA Awards, there will be a worship service, a conference, and a tribute dinner to George P. Livanos. For more information on World Maritime Day, contact Carleen Lyden-Kluss at +203 255- 4686.
NAMMA is an alliance of over 150 nonprofit, faith-based agencies that assist seafarers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Founded in 1932, it sets standards for pastoral care of seafarers coping with spiritual, physical and legal challenges in the conduct of their jobs in the maritime field. For more information on NAMMA, please go to the website www.namma.org .
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