The Rev. Bill Allport
The Rev. Bill Allport is an SCI Chaplain serving the port of New York and New Jersey, offering seafarer care and services at the International Seafarers Center. The following collection of articles offers a glimpse into his work with seafarers from around the globe.
Between Bureaucracy and Shore Leaver
May 7, 2025
The captain of the Algoma Verity reached out to the International Seafarers’ Center (ISC) Office with an urgent request—his crew had arrived at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard for a month-long drydock, but their shore leave passes were set to expire in just three days. He hoped that SCI could assist in securing an extension.
When Tragedy Happens, We Meet It Together
February 6, 2025
By Chaplain Bill Allport, D.Min — International Seafarers’ Center, Port of New York & New Jersey. From the Quarterly Activity Report, December 2024 I stood on the quay in Bayonne, New Jersey, waiting for the arrival of the container ship. Earlier that day, SCI received an urgent call from the ship’s agent requesting our presence…
Extending Grace
November 21, 2024
SCI Chaplains Expand Visits Within the Port of New York and New Jersey The Port of New York and New Jersey, along with the surrounding maritime region, plays a crucial role in global commerce, with ships arriving and departing daily, carrying the goods we use to build our cities, create our products, and put food…
We Reach Further than You Might Think
November 4, 2024
Every month, on a Wednesday, the Seaboard Pioneer arrives. After navigating the traffic out of Port Newark, crossing through Manhattan into Brooklyn, I finally reached the crew of the vessel at the Red Hook Marine Terminal. These farther-away terminals aren’t easy places to reach, but they are always worth the trip. As I waited in…
ISC Chaplains Expand Regional Vists
August 21, 2024
When COVID-19 restrictions were mandated across the Port of New York and New Jersey in 2020, ISC chaplains masked up and limited their ship visits to terminals within Ports Newark and Elizabeth. Now that pandemic limitations have been lifted, SCI Chaplains at the International Seafarers’ Center have resumed visiting seafarers at terminals across the entire…