Working With the Inland Maritime Industry to Find Solutions to Mariner Well-being In this The Waterways Journal article, Phil Schifflin, Esq. Director of SCI’s Center for Mariner Advocacy, outlines how the Seamen’s Church Institute is moving from identifying challenges facing inland mariners to developing practical, collaborative solutions. Building on the U.S. Inland Mariner Wellness Assessment […]
Read MoreWomen in Maritime Operations (WiMOs) recently hosted a timely conversation with Philip C. Schifflin Jr., Esq., Director of the Center for Mariner Advocacy at The Seamen’s Church Institute. The webinar examines the personal, professional, and legal challenges mariners face throughout their careers, with particular attention to the experiences of women working at sea. Drawing on […]
Read MoreThe assessment, released in January of this year, identified five broad categories of stressors affecting inland mariners: demanding work environments, organizational pressures, cultural barriers surrounding mental health, physical health concerns, and psychological challenges such as isolation and depression. Together, these factors contribute to issues ranging from fatigue and chronic health conditions to lower morale and […]
Read MorePhil Schifflin, Esq., Director of SCI’s Center for Mariner Advocacy (CMA), is featured in a recent Waterways Journal article, “Next Steps for the U.S. Inland Mariner Wellness Assessment.” The piece highlights the findings and future direction of the landmark assessment conducted by SCI and the Yale School of Medicine, which examined the health, wellness, and […]
Read MoreBy Philip C. Schifflin, Esq. Director, Center for Mariner Advocacy At the Seamen’s Church Institute’s Center for Mariner Advocacy, one of our missions is to help ensure that the human aspect of shipping is never overlooked amid geopolitical tensions, commercial pressures, or regulatory complexities. We best accomplish this mission when we work collaboratively with other interested parties such […]
Read MoreAt a recent session at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), maritime welfare leaders delivered a clear message: seafarers need more than regulation—they need real, human support. Hosted by the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA), the discussion highlighted the critical role of welfare organizations working directly with seafarers in ports around the world. While international frameworks […]
Read MoreSeamen’s Church Institute was featured on Religion Unplugged in the podcast episode “Ministering to Mariners.” The conversation underscores the vital role of the maritime shipping industry in sustaining the modern world—and how the millions of mariners who make it possible often go unnoticed. Drawing on SCI’s nearly 200-year, profound and storied history, the episode highlights how the […]
Read MorePhil Schifflin, Esq., Director of SCI’s Center for Mariner Advocacy, strives to stay abreast of laws that impact mariners, both foreign and domestic. Recently, Phil attended a presentation on U.S. cabotage laws, with a particular focus on the Jones Act where he was asked to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and deliver the invocation at the […]
Read MorePhil Schifflin, Esq., Director of SCI’s Center for Mariner Advocacy, regularly attends maritime industry events to better understand the issues currently affecting mariners. Most recently, Phil attended the International WorkBoat Show on December 3 in New Orleans, Louisiana. One of the largest commercial marine trade shows in North America, the event attracts thousands of professionals […]
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