ICMA – International Christian Maritime Association

The International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) is a free association of 28 Christian not-for-profit organisations working for the welfare of seafarers.

Mission – ICMA is called to promote unity, peace and tolerance. ICMA works ecumenically, showing unconditional love to all seafarers regardless of nationality, religion, culture, gender or ethnic origin. ICMA respects their personal values and beliefs. ICMA cooperates with institutions to advance maritime welfare.

Vision – The International Christian Maritime Association will become the leading ecumenical and professional association of maritime ministries seeking to strengthen its Members’ maritime ministries for seafarers’ well-being.

ICMA

Guests at the Tuticorin Seafarers’ Centre, India with port chaplain Rev J Simon Dharmaraj

These twenty-eight organisations represent various Christian churches and communities. Each member organisation retains its independence and autonomy. ICMA defines seafarers as people who work in merchant shipping, fishing and on passenger ships. Through its members, ICMA currently represents 526 seafarers’ centres and 927 chaplains in 126 countries.

On this page you can find information about:

Origins of ICMA
Objectives of ICMA
Legal status of ICMA
ICMA Code of Conduct
ICMA Constitution
ICMA Executive Committee
Applying to join ICMA

ICMA was founded in 1969 to encourage ecumenical collaboration and mutual assistance among organisations. Such collaboration works at local level, in port, and at national and international level. In a fragmented and divided society, it is the mission of ICMA to promote unity, peace and tolerance. It is the duty of every ICMA chaplain and welfare worker to serve seafarers, fishers and their dependants regardless of nationality, religion, culture, gender or ethnic origin.