by Phil Schifflin, Esq.Director, Center for Mariner Advocacy From the Lookout, Spring 2023 Abandonment of seafarers has been a plague upon the shipping industry for years, and has recently seen a significant uptick in reported cases. It occurs when, for a variety of reasons, a shipowner neglects their responsibility to their crews, denying them the … Read more

From the Spring 2023 Lookout Chaplain Christine Brunson, an Episcopal priest and former counselor with experience working with veterans and trauma responders, joined SCI in January 2023. Christine is based at SCI-Houston and focuses her work on the Houston Ship Channeland Gulf Coast region. How did you come to find the job with SCI, and … Read more

by Evan BrownDirector, Communications From Spring 2023 Lookout Magazine “I remember doing a study one time, back in 2015 I believe, and things just weren’t going right. Every run was a failure. Every run was unsuccessful, unsafe, stressful, and difficult. The guys kept hitting the bridge piers; every run was a bridge strike.” When SCI’s … Read more

by Naomi WalkerManager, Special Projects From the Spring 2023 Lookout Magazine Janet Temchus first learned of the Seamen’s Church Institute when the Rev. Jean Smith, President and Executive Director at the time, came to the Trinity Church in Cranford, NJ to give a talk. In response, the church started a coat drive, because at that … Read more

Phil Schifflin, the Center for Mariner Advocacy Director, recently attended the National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (NMEDMAC) meeting in Piney Point, MD. NMEDMAC has six workgroups focusing on various issues that impact U.S. mariners. Phil has been participating in the efforts of four of the workgroups: 1) Recommendations on Mariner Mental Health; 2) Recommendations … Read more

SCI’s Center for Maritime Education wrapped the Bolivar Fleet Feasibility Study for Turn Services last month. In this third round of testing for this project, CME focused on industry input from Lonestar Harbor Safety Committee members to further evaluate the challenging environmental and operational conditions. From CME Director, Capt. Stephen Polk: “We looked at factors … Read more

SCI President and Executive Director, the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, will deliver this year’s keynote address at the 2023 Inland Marine Expo’s 40 Under 40 awards ceremony. The 40 Under 40 awards recognize those under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions to the inland marine transportation industry and collectively promise to play a … Read more

The Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) hosted Inland and Gulf Maritime leadership for their annual Maritime Training Benefit Luncheon on April 20, 2023, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Houston, Texas. This event, chaired this year by Austin Golding (President and CEO of Golding Barge Line) and Clark Todd (President and CEO of Blessey Marine Services), … Read more

From The Masthead, March 2023 Facilitated by SCI’s Center for Mariner Advocacy Director Phil Schifflin, the Mariner Wellness Steering Committee is currently comprised of three maritime professionals and one medical professional familiar with the health-related challenges faced by mariners in the inland marine industry. While the committee will eventually focus on a full range of … Read more