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 MoreFrom left to right: Chaplain Michelle DePooter, Montreal Ministry to Seafarers; Simon Grainge, Chief Executive, ISWAN; the Ven. Dr. Peter Rouch, Secretary General, the Mission to Seafarers; Phil Schifflin, Esq., Director of SCI’s Center for Mariner Advocacy, participate in a panel discussion about advancing advocacy for seafarers on the second day of the NAMMA Annual […]
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 MoreMany across the maritime industry remain deeply concerned about the ongoing challenges facing seafarers transiting or stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. While SCI is a U.S.-based organization, our mission compels us to stay connected with seafarer welfare organizations around the world, monitoring conditions and supporting mariners wherever they serve. According to Phil Schifflin, Director […]
Read MoreBy the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt President & Executive Director he Seamen’s Church Institute has led mariner education and training since the early 1900s and has prepared maritime chaplains to serve seafarers since the mid-19th century. In 1982, SCI took a decisive step forward by formalizing its advocacy work through the establishment of the Center for Seafarers’ […]
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 MoreThe Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) Shipping Conference, held March 10–12, 2026, continues to serve as an essential forum for the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) to engage with global maritime leaders and to champion the rights and welfare of seafarers. On the opening day of the conference, SCI’s President & Executive Director, the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, joined […]
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