Rear Admiral (Ret.) Bill Baumgartner’s first encounter with Seafarers’ House came in 1982 when he was a young United States Coast Guard (USCG) officer using the services of Seafarers International House in New York City. In the 1990s, he became involved with seafarers’ centers in Texas, helping mariners stranded aboard an abandoned ship.
He would later find himself working with seafarers’ centers in other parts of the country, advocating for mariners in need. Some were abandoned by their ships’ owners; others were caught up in maritime tragedies such as sinkings, groundings or collisions.
“These seafarers’ centers around the country were instrumental in helping us forge important relationships with domestic and international seafarer unions,” says Baumgartner.
While serving as the Commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District headquartered in Miami, Baumgartner visited Seafarers’ House Port Everglades and met Executive Director Lesley Warrick. He was so impressed with Lesley’s dedication and the exceptional work at Seafarers’ House that he offered to host a reception at his home for the leadership of the North American Maritime Ministries Association (NAMMA), where Lesley served as vice president of the board. The two struck up a friendship and after Bill retired from the USCG in 2013 and began his second career in the private sector, he became a member of the board of directors for Seafarers’ House Port Everglades.
Throughout his time with USCG and Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd, Baumgartner has been responsible for thousands of seafarers. He’s seen time and again the importance of seafarer centers. He considers Seafarers’ House to be an integral part of the safety network for ships.
“The counseling services provided by Seafarers’ House provide a vital lifeline, not only for the seafarer seeking help from Seafarers’ House, but also for the ship itself, her crew, her passengers and the environment,” he says.
Many seafarers are away from their homes for months at a time working demanding schedules with little time away from their vessels. Add to that the fact that they are working in tight quarters, often with strangers, and Baumgartner says you can begin to understand their need to seek solace away from their vessel.
“For many, counseling at Seafarers’ House is one of the few options they have to seek advice in dealing with very difficult situations,” says Baumgartner. “Having a place where these mariners can go and recharge is critically important. No matter how dedicated the staff and volunteers are, having adequate facilities to do so are critical.”
Donating to Seafarers’ House capital campaign to build a new Place of Welcome will provide seafarers who come to Port Everglades with assurance that there is a support network available for them and that the South Florida community values them, their work and their families. The new center will include expanded private counseling areas where seafarers can seek private and confidential support from its volunteer chaplains.
“We all benefit from the work of international seafarers. They make our modern life possible. Donating to Seafarers’ House is one of the most direct and satisfying ways that we can support and say thank you to them,” says Baumgartner.