Statement Regarding Seafarers Stranded and Under Threat in the Strait of Hormuz The Rev. Mark NestlehuttPresident & Executive Director, The Seamen’s Church Institute The escalating conflict in the Middle East has placed seafarers in an increasingly dangerous and untenable position. Vessels that once planned to transit the Strait of Hormuz are now stranded and under […]
Read Moreby the Rev. Nancy Simpson — Chaplain, Ministry on the River, Houston Ship Channel & Gulf Coast Region From the February 2026 Quarterly Activity Report As I arrive at Gulf Coast boat docks, I take a moment to center my mind and heart before beginning mariner visits aboard the towboats. My vehicle is fully equipped […]
Read Moreby the Rev. Dr. Bill Allport — Chaplain, International Seafarers’ Center, Port of New York & New Jersey From the February 2026 Quarterly Activity Report For those of us in the New York metropolitan area, late January and early February have been marked by deep snow, sharp winds, and bitterly cold temperatures. In these moments, […]
Read MoreWhile some staff were in Connecticut attending the CMA-Shipping Conference, SCI was also represented at Marine Log’s Tugs, Towboats & Barges Conference in Mobile, Alabama, on March 10–11, a premier event dedicated specifically to the inland maritime market. Communications Director Evan Brown attended on behalf of SCI at this key inland maritime conference. “With the […]
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 […]
Read Moreby Phil Schifflin, Esq. — Director, Center for Mariner Advocacy, The Seamen’s Church Institute In late February, I had the opportunity to represent the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) Subcommittee meeting, held February 23–27 in London. As Director of the Center for Mariner Advocacy at the Seamen’s Church Institute […]
Read MoreOn March 5, our Paducah, KY, staff and leadership were delighted to welcome more than 50 community members for a special luncheon. Guests had the opportunity to get to know our team, tour the Center for Maritime Education (CME), and learn more about how SCI programs support and uplift mariners navigating the inland waterways SCI […]
Read MoreAsh Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of reflection, repentance, and renewal in the Christian tradition. The imposition of ashes—often accompanied by the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”—is a powerful reminder of our shared humanity, humility, and need for grace. At the Seamen’s Church Institute, distributing […]
Read Moreby Matt Morse, Esq. Director of SCI’s International Seafarers’ Center Presenting at the 2026 Women on the Water (“WOW”) Conference in Baltimore, MD, was both an honor and a meaningful professional experience. When unexpected travel issues prevented me from presenting in person, the disruption became a fitting reminder of the unpredictability mariners and seafarers face […]
Read Moreby the Rev. Grace Pardun, SCI Supervisory Chaplain, Ministry on the River, Upper Mississippi & Ohio River Region From the February Quarterly Activity Report It was Friday night, and I had just fallen asleep. My dog was curled up next to me, snoring away. I was drifting off to dreamland when, in my dream, an […]
Read More
