Crisis Response Follows Brutal Atlantic Storms
by the Rev. Dr. Bill Allport — Chaplain, International Seafarers’ Center, Port of New York & New Jersey
From the February 2026 Quarterly Activity Report
For those of us in the New York metropolitan area, late January and early February have been marked by deep snow, sharp winds, and bitterly cold temperatures. In these moments, we may mutter about the changing seasons and our tendency to forget the full power of weather. For seafarers, however, the experience is very different. They have had to face brutal winter Atlantic crossings, navigating several major storm systems on open water, with punishing winds, ice, and massive swells.
While visiting the Yassa Sparrow, a bulk carrier transporting concrete and arriving from Elefsis, Greece, I encountered a crew that was clearly unsettled. From the moment I arrived, there was a sense of weariness—quiet detachment and visible exhaustion. As I met crew members on deck, in the ship’s office, and in the mess room, it was immediately apparent that they had been shaken. At first, however, I wasn’t sure what had happened.
We exchanged the usual conversation—contract lengths, family back home, prior voyages. When the chief officer mentioned their departure from Greece, I asked, “So, how was the transit and crossing this week?” He glanced at several crew members around the room and replied, “It was bad. The worst ever.” Others quickly echoed the same sentiment. They described navigating through three separate storm systems. Then, about 36 hours before arriving in Port Newark, during the night, they were hit by the full force of a bomb cyclone, a powerful and rapidly intensifying storm that drives heavy rain and strong winds.
The chief officer showed a video captured from various CCTV cameras during the storm. The waves reached above the B deck, tearing equipment from its securing points. Crew members described being awakened by the violent rolling of the vessel. Waves swept across the main deck and higher decks, flooding parts of the engine room. During the storm, an engine and a generator were disabled. Many of the crew members were in agreement, “I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Despite the conditions, each crew member remained professional and disciplined as the ship limped into port. Thankfully, no one was injured or lost. I was able to listen, offer care, and share suggestions focused on health, recovery, and mindfulness.
Seafarers know that rough weather and heavy seas come with this profession. Even so, experiences like this are traumatic and qualify as critical incidents—events that overwhelm normal coping mechanisms and cause significant emotional distress. While hardship is part of life at sea, moments like these bring acute fear and uncertainty. They are not everyday occurrences, and they underscore why presence and pastoral care matter so profoundly. Such experiences highlight the importance of crisis intervention not only in clearly defined emergencies but also in the moments that shape seafarers’ lived reality. In many incidents, what may be described as “part of the job” for seafarers may not be something any human is meant to endure without support. These situations are precisely where, and why, chaplaincy becomes indispensable.
After further conversation, the crew invited me to share prayers and blessings with them. As I prepared to leave, the chief officer said quietly, “I’m glad you showed up today, Father Bill.”