SCI TODAY
Established in 1834 and affiliated with the Episcopal Church, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) is North America’s largest and most comprehensive organization serving both international seafarers and U.S. mariners. Our mission areas focus on mariner well-being, humanitarian crisis response, pastoral care, maritime training, navigational and vessel safety, legal advocacy, and global policy. Our work and mission are only made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, donors, and volunteers.

VIDEO

WATCH: The History and Mission of SCI (12m 48s)

VALUES
COMPASSION
Above all, SCI profoundly cares for mariners and seafarers, recognizing the challenge of their work, their needs, and the vital contributions they make to world commerce.
DEPENDABILITY
SCI is resolute in our mission, determined to be a fully committed partner. We will always stand with mariners and seafarers in support of the human element of the maritime community.
INTEGRITY
SCI and its programs are dedicated to operating with transparency, professionalism, and a deep sense of purpose.

MISSION
SCI upholds our enduring legacy of serving and protecting the personal and professional lives of mariners and seafarers with unwavering compassion and dedication. We are committed to partnering with the maritime industry to ensure dignity within the workplace, and the safety of vessel operations and maritime environments. Through our efforts, we strive to foster a safer, more respectful and sustainable maritime community, both internationally and domestically.

MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to serve all mariners and seafarers with compassion, ensuring safety and dignity
within the workplace, and fostering a respectful and sustainable maritime community.

With its administrative headquarters based in its city of origin, New York City, SCI hosts operational facilities in four other locations:

International Seafarers’ Center
Port Newark, New Jersey

• Port Chaplaincy
• Maritime Crisis Response Center
• Seafarer and Port Worker Services and Hospitality
• Christmas at Sea—base of operations

Center for Maritime Education
Paducah, Kentucky & Houston, Texas

• Simulator Training
• Online Learning
• Feasibility Studies
• Ministry on the River Chaplaincy–base of operations
• Maritime Crisis Response Center

Center for Mariner Advocacy
New Orleans, Louisiana

• Mariner and Seafarer Legal Services
• International and Domestic Mariner Policy Oversight

SCI’s Ministry on the River (MOR) focuses on attending to the personal, professional, and spiritual needs of domestic mariners. Three dedicated Chaplains are stationed along the Mississippi and Ohio River systems and Gulf Coast. They are supported by a network of Chaplain Associates in 14 additional states.

MOR provides crisis response, mental health support, guidance, and a compassionate presence to address the diverse needs and concerns of Inland and Gulf Coast mariners.

At times, MOR Chaplains and Chaplain Associates will be called upon to support our work with cadets during State University of New York–Maritime College initiatives such as Summer SeaTerm and Indoc.

MOR has three full-time chaplains, currently the are stationed in:
– Paducah, KY
– Houston, TX
– New Orleans, LA

An additional full-time chaplain to come in 2025

The Port of New York and New Jersey is one of the largest ports in North America. At SCI’s International Seafarers’ Center (ISC), three dedicated chaplains, supported by a team of Chaplain Associates, regularly visit ships to connect with seafarers and are available in times of crisis, wherever and whenever needed.

The ISC serves as a vital hub within the port, offering a welcoming refuge for the entire port community, including seafarers, truckers, and port workers.

The ISC also provides basic financial services, a gym, an outdoor basketball court, billiards and ping pong, a shower facility, and transportation to seafarers from the terminals in Port Newark and Port Elisabeth to the local mall.

Chaplains, together with Chaplain Associates, will partner with the State University of New York–Maritime College to support cadets during milestone events like Indoc and Summer Sea-Term. ISC will also host cadets at ISC for port tours and ship visits.

• The Center for Mariner Advocacy (CMA) provides pro bono legal aid and handles cases for individual mariners and seafarers, including:
  – Abandonment/Repatriation
• – Shore Leave/Facilities Access
  – Ship Safety
• – Illness/Injury,
  – Living Conditions,
• – Pay Issues/Unemployment
  – Contracts
• – Immigration,
  – Piracy
• – Criminal Detention

CMA helps to shape policies in international and domestic maritime, leading and also collaborating with other agencies in efforts to protect rights and advocate for the safety and well-being of mariners and seafarers.

CMA trains international and US chaplains and support workers in maritime law and policy.

The Center for Maritime Education (CME) operates facilities in Paducah, KY—in the heart of river country—and Houston, TX—America’s energy capital.

CME delivers leading-edge, US Coast Guard-approved, online “e-learning” courses, currently serving 10,000 mariners from 39 companies.

CME provides simulator training specifically designed for the Inland and Gulf Coastal maritime industry. This training is customized to meet client needs and is delivered collaboratively by skilled CME instructors and company facilitators.

CME offers mariners and maritime operators a range of assessments and accreditations.

CME collaborates with engineering firms and maritime agencies to conduct navigational and environmental studies that enhance waterway safety and informs vessel design and infrastructure projects.

SCI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

SCI’s work relies on the generous support of sponsors, donors, and volunteers. Individuals and organizations can contribute through donations, planned giving, corporate support, or volunteering.

SCI engages and honors the maritime community through three annual events: the Silver Bell Awards Dinner in New York, the River Bell Awards Luncheon in Paducah, and the Maritime Bell Luncheon in Houston. Every two years, it also hosts the “Mountain Challenge” in New England, held in Vermont in 2023 and returning to Maine in 2025.

SCI’s Christmas at Sea (CAS) program, established in 1898, is supported by volunteers from across the US and other countries who create and donate handmade knitted and crocheted items, which SCI distributes to mariners and seafarers during the holiday season. CAS receives between 25,000 to 30,000 handmade donations per year.

PASTORAL CARE & CHAPLAINCY

Expansion of Regional Visits:

•       SCI chaplains expanded their outreach within the Port of New York and New Jersey, providing pastoral care and support to a broader range of seafarers and mariners. LINK

Helicopter Safety Training:

•       SCI chaplains underwent helicopter safety training to support offshore mariners, demonstrating a commitment to serving mariners in diverse and challenging environments. LINK

CRISIS RESPONSE

Support for Container Ship Dali Crew:

•       SCI provided crisis support to the crew of the Dali following its allision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor, offering pastoral care and advocating for the seafarers’ well-being. LINK

Support for MV Patrick J. Studdert Crew:

•       SCI provided coordinated support for the crew of the MV Patrick J. Studdert, that sank after a collision with the bulk carrier Clara B in the Mississippi River at mile marker 123, upriver from New Orleans. Additional support was provided for the staff at the boat’s home office in Houston. LINK

TRAINING

Advanced Radar Course:

•       In August 2024, Center for Maritime Education (CME) conducted an Advanced Radar course for the Sabine Pilots Organization, enhancing navigational skills and promoting safer maritime operations. LINK

Rules of the Road Video Series:

•       CME introduced a series of short video-based training modules through their Learning Management System, aiming to share maritime knowledge on legal obligations and vessel operations with a wider audience, accessible anytime, anywhere. LINK

ADVOCACY

Addressing Seafarer Criminalization:

•       SCI’s Phil Schifflin participated in the third meeting of the Joint ILO-IMO Tripartite Working Group, focusing on seafarers’ issues and the human element, underscoring SCI’s dedication to safeguarding mariner rights. LINK

Support for Detained Crew:

•       SCI highlighted the ongoing detention of the Galaxy Leader crew in Yemen, advocating for their release and bringing attention to the challenges faced by seafarers in conflict zones. LINK

Discovering more about SCI is simple, with numerous online resources available to showcase dedication towards fulfilling our mission.

Social media (Images and posts that reflect our work)

• Facebook                                          

• Instagram     

• SCI LinkedIN / CME Linked IN          

• Flickr

Online Publications

• News is regularly posted to our website – seamenschurch.org/news

• The Masthead (SCI’s monthly online newsletter) – LINK

• Quarterly Activity Report (4 per year, stories from chaplains and advocates)

Print Publications – LINK

• The Lookout (2 issues per year)

• The Knit Before Christmas (dedicated to Christmas at Sea)

• The Annual Report