Seafarers International House

The Rev. Marsh Luther Drege, Executive Director

MISSION: Seafarers International House (SIH) is the Lutheran response to the urgent needs of vulnerable seafarers and immigrants.

SIH offers hospitality, social assistance, and advocacy to a multi-national and multi-faith community in maritime ports on the Eastern Seaboard, Albany, and New York City.

MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: We cannot wait till the world is sane

Dear friends of Seafarers International House (SIH):

Thanks to your support, we assisted 19,066 people, over 1,000 more than last year! We had many reasons to rejoice as we journeyed together with seafarers and immigrants legally seeking asylum, even though the year itself can be described as “unsteady.”

In January, Houthis fired upon two US-flagged container ships, putting seafarers in danger. From November 2023 until their release on January 22, 2025, 17 Filipinos, 3 Ukrainians, 2 Bulgarians, 2 Mexicans, and 1 Romanian of the MV Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier, were held hostage. Since November 2023, over 90 vessels have been attacked, sinking at least two ships and killing four mariners. Adding to this, the “normal” isolation of contracts lasting for 6-9 months makes seafarers’ sacrifices even greater.

Thanks to your support, our Port Chaplains can bring a ministry of presence, essentials, and transportation to seafarers. Last February, we celebrated the official start of our Ukrainian-born Port Chaplain Pastor Vitalii Guz, who serves with our partners at the Baltimore International Seafarers Center (BISC). We also welcomed our new ship visitor, Tim Marzik, who follows in the footsteps of Ruth Setaro, who retired after 27 years of service.

We reignited our partnership with the Deutsche Seemannsmission e.V., which traces its roots to 1907, when the son of the director of the German Emigrant House (a predecessor of SIH) helped found the German Seamen’s Mission in the Port of New York, a service we continue to this day.

2024 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

19,066 immigrants and seafarers directly benefited from SIH services (up from 18,004).
2,225 lodging nights provided to 140 seafarers in Manhattan.
13,556 seafarers were visited and counseled on 1,232 ships, receiving essentials they requested.
1,830 seafarers were transported to malls or medical facilities.
3,507 seafarers received Christmas-at-Sea satchels (up from 3,216 last year).
33 asylum seekers received lodging for a total of 1,508 nights (from countries including Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Colombia, Cuba, DR Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Ukraine, and Venezuela).

2024 FINANCIAL REPORT

Operating gains continue to build reserves ($1M) for a new property with mission-based guest rooms and offices.
$200,000 allocated for capital repairs on the guesthouse, leased to Breaking Ground, a non-profit providing transitional housing.
Donations remain a vital pillar of income to support services and expansion.
85% of expenses were for program services and reserves; only 15% spent on support services and fundraising.

For audited financial statements, email [email protected].

Become involved in supporting our work with seafarers and immigrants: Just click on https://www.sihnyc.org/volunteer to learn more about volunteering, https://www.sihnyc.org/donate in regard to donating financially, https://www.sihnyc.org/upcoming-events to support upcoming fundraising events, and https://www.sihnyc.org/christmas-at-sea to participate in our Christmas-at-Sea initiative. You can view our Annual Report here.