Page 29 - Port of Baltimore - Issue 4 - 2024

TO LEARN MORE about Apostleship of the Sea and find out how you can support its mission, go to www.archbalt.org/apostleship-of-the-sea.
One of our biggest roles is providing
transportation for shore leave, whether it’s just to the gate or the shopping center, or wherever they want to go and back. We try to visit as many ships as we can per week and that varies depending on circumstances.”
– Andrew Middleton, Director, Apostleship of the Sea
to see all the wreckage that was there, but it was a sight to behold for sure.”
Nearly two months later, the
Dali left Baltimore to continue its voyage. Middleton said he admires seagoers’ work and doesn’t know
if he could endure being away from home for months with no contact. He appreciates the sacrifices and tries to repay by serving in the “fun” ministry.
“It’s estimated that 90-95%
of consumer goods have been on merchant ships at one point, in pieces or whole,” he said. “Without seafarers, we wouldn't enjoy many of the luxuries we have. We’re here in support of seafarers.” 
and has no desire to experience one. He’s satisfied enough tending to crewmembers from around the world, being a friendly face while their ships are docked in Baltimore. Middleton and his team of six volunteers try to meet the seafarers’ needs by taking them shopping, running errands, providing care packages, and giving them a chance to relax and enjoy a change of scenery at the center, which features a library, computer stations and a lounge.
“One of our biggest roles is providing transportation for shore leave, whether it’s just to the gate or the shopping center, or wherever they want to go and back,” he said. “We try to visit as many ships as we can per week and that varies depending on circumstances. If every berth in port was filled, there might be 30 to 35 in one day. I’ll never say we get to all of them because we don’t. But there’s probably 10 to 15 ships in port on an average day.”
A Trip to Remember
Middleton feels like an international traveler, having met people and eaten food from all over the world, just six minutes from his home. He typically visits ships by stepping off the dock and back on, never leaving port — his preferred interaction with watercraft. But five weeks after the Dali was grounded by bridge wreckage, Middleton and Auxiliary Bishop Adam Parker boarded a tugboat on the Patapsco River to visit the ship, deliver care packages and celebrate Mass for several Catholic crewmembers.
“It was probably a little divine intervention for me that day,”
Middleton said. “It was warm, the sun was shining and the river was smooth. It was an enjoyable ride. The way we approached from the stern, it was hard
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