Every month, on a Wednesday, the Seaboard Pioneer arrives. After navigating the traffic out of Port Newark, crossing through Manhattan into Brooklyn, I finally reached the crew of the vessel at the Red Hook Marine Terminal. These farther-away terminals aren’t easy places to reach, but they are always worth the trip. As I waited in […]
Read MoreDuring the past three months, I’ve made it a priority to spread awareness about Ministry on the River and ensure my business cards reach as many mariners as possible. While we’re available in times of crisis, my main focus during these discussions is encouraging mariners to reach out when they need to talk. Many of […]
Read MoreQAR by the Rev. Nancy Simpson – When I step into the world of mariners and their living quarters on vessels, I bring a heart filled with peace and blessings. I immerse myself in their stories—their laughter, worries, insights, and wisdom—celebrating their joys, whether it’s receiving a cherished SCI knit hat, scarf, or a holiday […]
Read MoreThe Seamen’s Church Institute, along with Seafarers International House, proudly co-hosted the 2024 North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA) conference in September in Newark, NJ. SCI President and Executive Director, the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, welcomed the 125 delegates with a speech focused on the issue of “Sea Blindness.” He explained how advances in containerization have […]
Read MoreAt SCI’s Center for Mariner Advocacy (CMA), we regularly engage in discussions focused on mariner health and safety. Recently, the U.S. Coast Guard commissioned the National Academies of Sciences (NAS) to study the role of alcohol use in the maritime industry and its impact on related incidents. In response, NAS initiated a study titled “Prevention, […]
Read MoreIn August 2024, CME made significant strides in its mission to enhance training for maritime professionals. CME Director Stephen Polk met with Tim Studdert, President of Buffalo Marine, to explore ways to further improve their crew training program. Tim shared a valuable insight: customizing barge models to reflect Buffalo Marine’s specific needs would significantly improve […]
Read MorePhil Schifflin, Jr., Esq. Director, Center for Mariner Advocacy Recently, the Center for Mariner Advocacy has been frequently assisting U.S. Coast Guard personnel who encounter mariners in problematic situations aboard foreign-flagged vessels. Although our advocacy work has mainly involved blue-water and brown-water mariners, my predecessor, Doug Stevenson, and I have previously assisted and trained Coast […]
Read MoreEstablished in 2009, Texas International Terminals (TXIT) is a multimodal facility for deep draft vessels, trains, trucks, and barges on the Galveston Ship Channel. Located near Pelican Island, it offers liquid transloading, dry bulk handling, and storage services. TXIT accommodates various classes of ships and ocean-going barges, with new docks set to handle Suezmax ships. […]
Read MoreWhen COVID-19 restrictions were mandated across the Port of New York and New Jersey in 2020, ISC chaplains masked up and limited their ship visits to terminals within Ports Newark and Elizabeth. Now that pandemic limitations have been lifted, SCI Chaplains at the International Seafarers’ Center have resumed visiting seafarers at terminals across the entire […]
Read MoreFor many SUNY Maritime College cadets, the Summer Sea Term (SST) marks their first extended experience on open water. The SST brings its own set of challenges and pressures, and when invited, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) assembles a chaplaincy team to provide pastoral and counseling support to the cadets throughout the voyage. SCI is […]
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