On Tuesday, June 3, Phil Schifflin, Esq., Director of SCI’s Center for Mariner Advocacy conducted a training session for U.S. Coast Guard personnel assigned to Marine Safety Unit Morgan City.

The session began with a brief overview of the Seamen’s Church Institute’s three mission areas: chaplain support for mariners, mariner training, and advocacy. Following this introduction, Phil focused the remainder of the training on the U.S. Coast Guard’s authority to inspect foreign-flagged vessels for issues related to seafarer welfare—including pay, repatriation, food quality, and living conditions. He emphasized how Coast Guard personnel can help ensure these vessels comply with the standards of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, despite the United States not being a party to the convention.

Throughout the training, Coast Guard participants remained engaged—asking thoughtful questions and actively participating in end-of-session exercises designed to reinforce the material covered. Phil looks forward to the next opportunity to provide similar training to another Coast Guard unit.