Center for Maritime Education

The Institute's Center for Maritime Education (CME) empowers mariners with valuable training, providing professional advancement opportunities through SCI-developed and USCG-approved courses. Instructors train mariners utilizing expertise in adult education principles and the latest computer simulation technology.

The Institute’s training programs provide continuing education that saves both crew and passenger lives and meets the challenges faced in the new millennium of maritime security. SCI staff works with experts from various fields preparing curricula and designing simulator exercises.

SCI’s computer simulators rank top in the world. They challenge mariners’ reactions and skills, using realistic, three-dimensional projections on a lifelike replica of a towboat pilothouse. SCI has more than 20 years of multi-bridge interactive simulation experience.

Mariners' Licensing

For questions regarding licenses, proceed to the USCG National Maritime Center website or call their phone service at 1-888-427-5662.

For information on the TWIC card, visit the TWIC Deployment website with enrollment center locations and compliance dates. For the TWIC Program Help Desk, dial 1-866-347-8942.

Simulators

SCI's Centers for Maritime Education use Kongsberg Polaris full mission ship bridge simulators consisting of fully equipped interactive ship’s bridges with visual systems. Two of the simulator theaters in Paducah project an image of the river on a screen 18 feet tall by 108 feet around, providing a 230-degree forward view and a 30-degree stern view. These were the first of their kind in the nation built specifically for the inland river industry.

The simulators meet the simulation requirements of STCW Section A-1/12- Performance Standards for Simulators used in Training. Simulation and monitoring capabilities include:

Paducah, KY Click here to see a video demonstration.
  • 22 Visual Channels, each including projectors
  • Cabling and Switches Network IG Video MUX Repeaters and Switching Software (SeaView R5 Visual Licenses)
  • Kongsberg Polaris Software v 5.5 with 2 full-function Instructor Stations
  • Instructor software (2 Full Mission Instructor Stations) HW and SW
  • Radars (4 Furuno FR1525MK3 17-inch Color Displays) with Interface
  • Communication System, Visual Monitoring System
  • Audio Eavesdrop System and accompanying HW/SW
  • Suite of Debriefing Equipment, including Projector
  • 4 Navigation display units (Capt. Navigators) with HW/SW integration
  • Electronic Chart Software + NMEA Interface
  • Maneuvering Consoles (Hydrodynamic + Visual Models)
  • Multiple Database Areas (Visual, Radar, Instructor, Depth Databases)

Houston, TX
  • 14 visual channel High-Intensity Projectors
  • 8 visual channel w/ HD Plasma Screens
  • 22 Visual Channels, each including Image Generation System + PC HW with Graphics Cards (22)
  • Cabling and Switches Network IG Video MUX Repeaters and Switching Software (SeaView R5 Visual Licenses)
  • Kongsberg Polaris Software v 5.5 with 2 full-function Instructor Stations
  • Instructor Software (2 Full Mission Instructor Stations) HW and SW
  • Radars (4 Furuno FR1525MK3 15-inch Color Displays) with Interface
  • Communication System, Visual Monitoring System and Audio Eavesdrop System and accompanying HW/SW
  • Suite of Debriefing Equipment, including Projector
  • 4 Navigation display units and AIS Units (Capt. Navigators) with all HW/SW integration
  • Electronic Chart Software + NMEA Interface
  • Hydrodynamic Vessel Models (Hydrodynamic + Visual Models)
  • Maneuvering Consoles (Hydrodynamic + Visual Models)
  • Multiple Database Areas (Visual, Radar, Instructor, Depth Databases)

Staff Bios

Eric K. Larsson
Director, Center for Maritime Education
The Seamen's Church Institute's maritime training is directed by Dr. Eric K. Larsson. Dr. Larsson. With SCI since 1984, Dr. Larsson is responsible for the overall direction of the training facilities in New York, Paducah, and Houston, including policy, planning, and oversight of curriculum development, hydrodynamic model development and course instruction. Dr. Larsson graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation and holds an Unlimited Chief Mates License. He received a Master's Degree in Adult Education from Fordham University and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Fordham University.

Captain Greg Menke
Director, Center for Maritime Education - Paducah
Captain Greg Menke started working on the river in 1970 as a deckhand and calliope player on the Delta Queen. He worked his way up, and in 1978 became pilot and then master on the Belle of Louisville. He later worked as a captain and then port captain for Chotin Transportation and Midland Enterprises. In 1997, he joined the Seamen's Church Institute as Director of Inland Training; three years later he was named the Director of the Institute's Center for Maritime Education - Paducah.

Captain Menke holds a USCG license as Master of Steam and Motor Vessels of any gross tons, First Class Pilot of steam or motor vessels Mile 279-981 Ohio River, and Master of Towing Vessels Inland Waters and Western Rivers. He is a certified Crew Endurance Management Systems expert and certified radar instructor. During his tenure at SCI he developed the first simulator-training course designed for Western Rivers towboat captains & pilots, and fire training courses targeting towing operations.

Captain Stephen Polk
Director, Center for Maritime Education - Houston
Captain Stephen Polk is the Director of SCI’s maritime education facility in Houston, TX. Before joining SCI, he was a Senior Port Captain for Kirby Inland Marine, LP and managed several types of inland towing vessels in the Canal Division. Captain Polk is a certified Crew Endurance Management System (CEMS) expert and holds a United States Coast Guard 3rd Mate Unlimited Tonnage, Oceans License. He also recently earned his Master of Towing Vessel and 300 ton Master-Oceans endorsement on his license.
 
A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Captain Polk served in the US Navy with two patrol boat units. As a Lieutenant Commander (LCDR), he has worked in various leadership and supervisory roles such as Tactical Communications Officer, Training Department Head, and Operations Department Head for both of the patrol boat units he was assigned to. Captain Polk has also logged over 10,000 hours of tactical and underway command experience while protecting ports and performing escorts of MSC and Navy warships in and out of various harbors worldwide.
 
Captain Polk started in the maritime industry as an Able-Seaman (A.B.) for Polar Tankers and as a Third Mate and working in the TAPS trade moving crude oil from Valdez, AK to various ports along the west coast of the United States. He graduated from Texas A&M University at Galveston in 1997 with a B.S. in Marine Transportation.

Captain Michael P. De Cesare, Instructor
Assistant Director, Center for Maritime Education, Houston
Mike joined SCI's Houston Center for Maritime Education in August 2008. He hails originally from San Antonio, TX and graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut in 1972. He embarked on a military career covering a variety of deck assignments on USCG vessels and shore-side maritime safety positions at a number of Coast Guard units throughout the United States, including marine inspection and investigation, pollution prevention, port and maritime security, and marine licensing of mariners.
 
Upon his retirement from the Coast Guard in 1994, Mike worked for two inland towing companies. The first was Hollywood Marine in their Training Center in Channelview, TX, where he was responsible for training deckhands, tankermen, and wheelmen, assisting them to obtain the necessary maritime credentials to perform their jobs. Upon their merger with Kirby Inland Marine in 1999, Mike continued to serve as a Training Specialist until late 2007. Mike obtained an MBA from Central Michigan University and is an active member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He holds a Coast Guard license as Master 1600 Oceans, Master Towing Vessels Oceans and Western Rivers, and Chief Mate Oceans Unlimited, in addition to a license as Third Assistant Engineer Steam and Motor Vessels of Any Horsepower. His USMMD is endorsed with a variety of unlicensed deck and engine ratings, including Able Seaman and Tankerman.

Captain Buddy Compton
Director of Inland Training–Paducah
As Director of Inland Training - Paducah, Captain Buddy Compton teams up with Captain Greg Menke and Dr. Jay Downs Siska to further develop and teach Advanced Pilothouse Management Training classes, as well as other courses at the Seamen’s Church Institute’s Center for Maritime Education in Paducah, KY.

Captain Compton has worked in operations management for Ingram Barge Co. and Excell Marine Corp. He has served on several river industry navigation committees, including River Industry Action Committee, Lower Mississippi River Committee, and Illinois River Carrier’s Association. Over the years, Compton has received five United States Coast Guard Commendations, a United States Army Corps of Engineers Public Service Commendation and the Vice President Al Gore Hammer Award. He also coauthored the Upper Mississippi River Crisis Action Plan.

Dr. Jay Downs Siska, Ed.D.
Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Dr. Jay Downs Siska, EdD joined the Seamen's Church Institute in Paducah as Director of Curriculum & Instruction in May 2006. Dr. Siska's responsibilities include developing curriculum for courses on leadership, Crew Endurance Management System (CEMS), situation awareness, and decision making. He recently revamped the Designated Examiner Course that is required under the new licensing rules and the Institute's Advanced Pilot House Management course.

Dr. Siska has completed the United States Coast Guard's CEMS expert training program. He received his Doctorate of Education from Florida State University and a Masters and Bachelors in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Hawai'i. Dr. Siska has 20 years of teaching experience from the middle school to college level. His wife, artist Char Downs, is part of Paducah's Artist Relocation Program.

The Seamens Church Institute of New York & New Jersey

SCI

MARITIME EDUCATION

SCI’s Center for Maritime Education provides career development opportunities for mariners through cutting-edge training.