We’re excited to share that Chaplain Pardun, SCI’s Supervisory Chaplain for the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River Region, has been highlighted in the Waterways Journal for her compassionate work and unwavering commitment to America’s mariners. In the article, Grace speaks about her spiritual calling and her hope to bring encouragement, care, and God’s love to […]
Read MoreAbove: William Mercer, ISC Operations Associate/Driver (far left) and Matthew Morse, Esq., SCI’s Director of the International Seafarer’s Center (second from right) are joined by students from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Spring has arrived at the International Seafarers’ Center (ISC) in Port Newark, bringing with it new partnerships and fresh faces. Over the […]
Read MoreOn March 27, 2025, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) welcomed over 300 guests to its annual Maritime Bell Luncheon at the Hilton Americas-Houston. This signature event honors the maritime community of Houston and the broader Gulf Coast region, celebrating leadership and service across the industry. This year, SCI proudly presented two distinguished awards: • John […]
Read MoreThe Center for Maritime Education (CME) in Paducah recently hosted representatives from the Alexander-Cairo Port District and the engineering firm BFW/Marcum to conduct feasibility studies for a proposed port terminal on the western side of Cairo, IL, along the Mississippi River. Approved for construction in 2020, this state-of-the-art, multi-modal terminal will better facilitate the transport […]
Read Moreby Chaplain Nancy Simpson— Ministry on the River, Houston Ship Channel & Gulf Coast Region From the Quarterly Activity Report, December 2024. This year, I began learning French with the intention of connecting more deeply with the French side of my ancestry. Little did I know that this language immersion would also enhance my work […]
Read MoreSCI’s Ministry on the River Chaplains Aid in Mississippi River Vessel Emergency On December 29, 2024, the bulk carrier Clara B collided with and sank the towboat Patrick J. Studdert near mile marker 123 on the Mississippi River, close to Luling, Louisiana. While initial reports thankfully confirmed no fatalities, SCI Chaplain, the Rev. Geoff Davis, promptly responded to provide assistance […]
Read MoreThe Center for Maritime Education (CME) is pleased to welcome Tommy Galvan to the Paducah team as a Simulator Operator/Instructor Trainee. A native of Houston, Texas, and now a Paducah resident, Tommy brings some maritime experience to his new role. He previously served as a mate-pilot at Tennessee Valley Towing and is working on getting […]
Read MoreThis past semester, I had the pleasure of mentoring Valdemar (Val) Tamez Jr., a high school senior and Eagle Scout I’ve known since his childhood through our Boy Scout troop. Val’s father and I served as Assistant Scoutmasters, and I’ve had the privilege of watching him develop into a determined and capable young man. When […]
Read MoreIn August 2024, the Center for Maritime Education welcomed the Sabine Pilots Organization, Pilot Boat Operators, from Port Arthur, Texas. At CME, they engaged in an Advanced Radar course designed to update their radar proficiency through simulator exercises and classroom instruction. The course covered critical areas such as radar interpretation, collision avoidance, speed and course […]
Read MoreRemembering the Galaxy Leader Crew’s Ongoing Detention We recently passed November 19, 2024, which marked the one-year anniversary of the Galaxy Leader crew’s detention by the Houthis in Yemen. These 25 seafarers—17 Filipinos, two Bulgarians, three Ukrainians, two Mexicans, and one Romanian—were simply carrying out their duty, transporting critical cargo across the seas to support […]
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