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IN THIS ISSUE – December 2023

• River Bell Awards Luncheon 2023
• Merry Christmas from SCI - Video
• SCI and American P&I Club Publish New Guidance on Seafarer Mental Health Challenges
• Center for Mariner Advocacy - Piracy and Seafarer Mental Health
• A Major Assist from Christmas at Sea Volunteer Groups

Photo: Delivering Christmas at Sea ditty bags to the crew of the Grande Marocco, Port Newark: December 2023. Photo, Evan Brown

Thank You To Our Corporate Sponsors

Thank you to our generous sponsors, supporters, and everyone who joined us at the 2023 River Bell Awards Luncheon! This record-breaking event welcomed nearly 600 attendees and raised over $500,000 to support SCI’s vital services and programs. We congratulate this year’s award recipients, applauding their outstanding contributions and unwavering dedication to the inland maritime community. Your support makes a significant impact, and we are truly grateful.

Jerry Clower – 2023 River Legend Award recipient

Pictured from left to right: 

• Damon Judd - President and CEO Marquette Transportation Company (River Bell Committee Co-Chair)
• Jerry Clower - River Legend Award recipient - President and Owner, Harbor Towing and Fleeting
• Todd Clower - CEO and Owner, Harbor Towing and Fleeting
• Merritt Lane - President & CEO, Canal Barge (River Bell Committee Co-Chair)
• The Rev. Mark Nestlehutt - President and Executive Director, The Seamen's Church Institute

Rear Admiral Richard Timme – 2023 Distinguished Service Award recipient

Pictured from left to right:

• Damon Judd - President and CEO Marquette Transportation Company (River Bell Committee Co-Chair)
• Rear Admiral Richard Timme - Distinguished Service Award recipient - U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.)
• Merritt Lane - President and CEO, Canal Barge (River Bell Committee Co-Chair)
• The Rev. Mark Nestlehutt - President and Executive Director, The Seamen's Church Institute

THE 2023 RIVER BELL LIFESAVING AWARDS

Presentation Videos (click image to watch)

This year's River Bell Lifesaving Award was bestowed upon three crews in recognition of their prompt and decisive actions in response to two distinct river incidents. The crews of the M/V Mike Sanders (ACBL) and M/V Mary Ellen Jones (Amherst Madison) received the honor for their collaborative effort, while the crew of the M/V San D (Parker Towing) was also acknowledged for a separate incident. In both, these crews demonstrated swift and decisive action, rescuing individuals from the water after their boats had capsized.

Congratulations Crews! (click photo to expand image)

American Commercial Barge Line – 2023 River Bell Lifesaving Award recipient

Pictured Left to Right:

• Brandon Yarborough - Captain, American Commercial Barge Line
• Kevin Wallace - Engineer, American Commercial Barge Line
• DeRay Yancy - Mate, American Commercial Barge Line

Amherst Madison – 2023 River Bell Lifesaving Award recipient

Pictured from left to right.

• Mary McCarthy - Director of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, Moran Towing Corporation (2023 River Bell Committee member)
• Adam Adkins - Captain, Amherst Madison
• Lane Rhoades - Mate, Amherst Madison
• Bill Barr - Vice President for Safety and Compliance, Amherst Madison

Parker Towing – 2023 River Bell Lifesaving Award recipient

Pictured from left to right:

• Mary McCarthy - Director of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, Moran Towing Corporation (2023 River Bell Committee member)
• Darius Thomas - Deckhand, Parker Towing
• Nick Verdugo - Relief Captain, Parker Towing
• Chris Eberlein - Port Captain, Parker Towing

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from SCI

From all of us at The Seamen's Church Institute, to all mariners and seafarers, as well as to the family and friends who love them, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

SCI AND AMERICAN P&I PUBLISH NEW GUIDANCE ON SEAFARER MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES

In collaboration with the American P&I Club, leveraging its expertise in maritime insurance and risk mitigation, SCI presents, "Addressing and Managing Seafarer Mental Health Challenges," published in November 2023. The goal of this document is to offer guidance and insights into the mental health challenges confronted by even the most experienced seafarers. 

Notes SCI President and Executive Director, the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, "On every contract, seafarers face prolonged separation from loved ones, grueling schedules, and often perilous weather, in addition to the myriad anxieties and stresses we all face in modern life. We all worry, and we all wish for safety and security for ourselves and our families. Seafarers are no different, yet they face challenges while at sea, in an isolated and often risky environment."

| Web Version |

PIRACY AND SEAFARER MENTAL HEALTH

For as long as merchant vessels have sailed the waters of the world, there have been incidents of piracy. The individuals orchestrating these piracy incidents have typically been focused on financial rewards, either by stealing the cargo or, more recently, by holding the vessels and crews hostage for ransom. In response to these incidents, the shipowners and countries of the world have typically focused on preventing piracy incidents from occurring, and if they do occur, they then seek a prompt release of the vessel and crew. Certainly, these are worthy goals. However, the Seamen’s Church Institute’s Center for Mariner Advocacy (CMA) has been a leading voice in raising awareness of another important goal: greater care for the impacted mariners and their families. The family members of the mariners held hostage need to be provided mental health support throughout the incident. Additionally, once a piracy incident is resolved, it is imperative that both the impacted mariners and their families receive appropriate mental health care to help them better process the trauma that they were subjected to.

Recent piracy incidents in the Middle East have gained attention. One significant difference in these latest cases is a shift away from the typical financial motivations, focusing instead on making political statements. Regardless of the motives behind these acts of piracy, SCI recognizes the multifaceted impact these traumatic incidents have on mariners and their families. And we encourage affected companies and nations to take appropriate measures in offering essential mental health support. SCI is ready to assist individuals or maritime organizations affected by piracy; please reach out to our CMA office, and we will provide resources and support.

THE LOOKOUT

The latest Lookout Magazine is out. Learn more about how SCI lives up to its mission—promoting the safety, dignity, and improved working conditions for mariners and seafarers.

Read Online | Download PDF

A MAJOR ASSIST FROM CHRISTMAS AT SEA VOLUNTEER GROUPS

The Christmas at Sea program this year mirrored the success of its previous year, with over 25,000 knitted and crocheted items received from volunteer groups across the United States and various other countries. To date, in Port Newark, volunteers have packed 4,791 ditty bags into nearly 400 Santa Sacks, and these numbers are likely to increase as more packing sessions remain. The Christmas at Sea on the River initiative has concluded—shipping a total of 11,853 knitted and crocheted items to locations such as Vicksburg, MI; Paducah, KY; Houma, LA; Cincinnati, OH; Gallipolis, OH; La Porte, TX; Joliet, IL; Catlettsburg, KY; Pittsburgh, PA; and Baton Rouge, LA. From those locations, boxes are delivered to inland maritime companies for distribution to mariners. This represents an impressive increase of 2,205 over last year.

And, with all of the hats and scarves we needed to pack this year, SCI was deeply honored and humbled by the generous volunteers who dedicated their time to help us with the task. We extend our sincere gratitude on behalf of our staff, as well as the mariners and seafarers who will receive these thoughtful gifts. Thank you to all our volunteers.

The gifting of Christmas at Sea items will continue through the first week of January 2024. We extend a heartfelt thank you to all the dedicated volunteers who generously contributed their time and effort, making the holiday season a bit more special for mariners and seafarers.

Any additional photos from 2023 Port Packing? Send them in, and we'll post them to our album

Your donations make a difference!

 FROM THE SCI ARCHIVES 

Merry Christmas from the Seamen's Church Institute Archives. In this black and white photo, a Women's Council Volunteer in a hat and pearls prepares a Christmas at Sea package under a sign reading "May the Spirit of the Christ Child be in Every Box You Pack."

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