By the Rev. Grace Pardun SCI Supervisory Chaplain, Ministry on the River A deckhand called out as I was passing through the galley, “Hey, Chaps! Can I talk to you for a sec?” “Absolutely!” I responded as we stepped out to the deck locker. “What’s going on?” The mariner began to share how tough things had been at […]
Read MoreBy Capt. Stephen Polk Director, Center for Maritime Education Every safe voyage depends on more than a single tool; it depends on how well a watchstander builds a complete picture using all available information. In today’s busy and complex waterways, when vessels find themselves in close-quarter situations, the difference between a near miss and a […]
Read MoreSCI’s President & Executive Director, the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, is in Sweden this week teaching on the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) at the International Christian Maritime Association’s annual Introduction to Seafarers’ Welfare and Maritime Ministry training hosted this year by the Malmö Seafarers’ Center. This course serves as training for maritime chaplains, ship […]
Read MoreFrom the early days of Ministry on the River, we have invited congregations along the waterways to partner with SCI in supporting the well-being of mariners. Because of their demanding schedules, mariners often cannot attend church regularly. Many spend up to 28 days at a time on the river, making it difficult to stay connected […]
Read MoreWe are pleased to share that Noah Falk of Tulane Law School has been selected as the Center for Mariner Advocacy’s (CMA) summer intern for 2026. Noah will be the thirty-first intern to serve in this capacity, continuing a longstanding partnership between the Seamen’s Church Institute and Tulane Law School that began in 1993. This […]
Read MoreOn April 23, 2026, More than 300 maritime leaders and professionals gathered at the Hilton Americas–Houston for the Seamen’s Church Institute’s Annual Maritime Bell Awards Luncheon. During the event, Kelly M. Teichman, Executive Chairman of T&T Group of Companies, received the Maritime Bell Award, and Sandra Ashford, Director of Training, HSSE at Ingram Marine Group, […]
Read MoreStatement 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 […]
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