IN THIS ISSUE – September 2023

• World Maritime University Students Visit SCI-New York
• CME Helps Streamline Canadian Container Terminal Study
• SCI Participates in “Milestone” Boat Christening Ceremony
• SCI Hosts SafeTALK/Suicide Prevention Clinic in Paducah
• Being Ready for the Future of Seafarer Welfare
• SCI Tours Inland Mariner Training Center in Europe

Photo by Mark Nestlehutt

Thank you to our Corporate Sponsors

WORLD MARITIME UNIVERSITY STUDENTS VISIT SCI–NEW YORK

Photos by Shinabhat Maneerin

On August 29, the Seamen’s Church Institute welcomed 15 master's students enrolled in the Maritime Law & Policy program at the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden. The students represented 12 countries: Mozambique, Ecuador, India, Namibia, Philippines, Georgia, Ukraine, Japan, Thailand, Maldives, Vietnam, and Guyana. All are involved in the maritime administrations or Coast Guards of their countries. The 2023 summer field study segment of the program also included visits and briefings from USCG Sector New York, the American P&I Club, the United Nations, SUNY Maritime College, the U.S. Maritime Law Association, and others in order to witness U.S. maritime governance and advocacy in action.

Our thanks to Trinity Church Wall Street for graciously hosting the meeting between SCI and the WMU students. Representing SCI were Douglas Stevenson, Esquire, Director Emeritus of SCI’s Center for Mariner Advocacy; Dr. Naomi Walker, Manager of Special Projects; and the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, President & Executive Director. A special thank you to Captain Jennifer Ketchum, Ph.D. (Capt. USCG Retired) for coordinating WMU’s visit to SCI.

SAVE THE DATE

The Seamen’s Church Institute is pleased to announce that our 23rd Annual River Bell Awards Luncheon will be held on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at the Paducah-McCracken County Convention & Expo Center from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

We hope that you will be able to join us as we celebrate the maritime industry.

For more information or to reserve your spot, please get in touch with RiverBell@seamenschurch.org or 202.719.8057.

Photo provided by MSRC's report "Operational Manoeuvring Analysis Contrecoeur Container Terminal."

CME HELPS STREAMLINE CANADIAN CONTAINER TERMINAL STUDY

When the Maritime Simulation and Resource Center (MSRC) in Quebec City, Canada, was tasked with improving a simulation study to assess the vessel maneuverability and safety of the proposed Contrecour Container Terminal (which will be located northeast of Montreal on the Saint Lawrence River), they enlisted the Seamen's Church Institute's Center for Maritime Education (CME) to assist in managing the data and final report. CME offered a tailored solution to support this feasibility study in the following ways:

• We simplified data collection and reporting by providing an electronic platform for participants, including pilots and tug captains, to submit survey data after each of the multiple runs conducted under varying conditions. This streamlined process enabled the project team to gather and report on operational and safety limits efficiently.

• We compiled crucial elements of the final study report, including an appendix that detailed the specifics of each run. Utilizing the program developed by CME, the project team integrated pictures taken during each run with the corresponding survey data. For instance, in this Contrecoeur study involving 26 runs and 225 pictures, our program generated a 417-page document, completing the task in a matter of hours instead of the usual 3-4 days.

At CME, ensuring mariner safety takes precedence, and our commitment to delivering innovative and customized data solutions to maritime training organizations, saving them time and resources, is an integral part of our mission. The Center for Maritime Education is always ready to offer assistance. For more information about the range of maritime training and feasibility study services we provide, please contact us at cme@seamenschurch.org or call 713.674.1236.

SCI PARTICIPATES IN "MILESTONE" BOAT CHRISTENING CEREMONY

Photos by Frank McCormick, Waterways Journal

Last month in Houston, TX, the Seamen's Church Institute (SCI) had the privilege of participating in the christening ceremony of Kirby Corporation's latest vessel, M/V GREEN DIAMOND. This vessel marks a significant milestone as the first U.S. hybrid-electric inland towboat and is set to operate under a three-year contract with Shell. SCI sent a delegation consisting of the Reverend Mark Nestlehutt, President & Executive Director (shown in the photograph alongside vessel sponsor Taylor Dickerson), Senior River Chaplain Tom Rhoades, Chaplain Associate Jonathan Siger, and Captain Stephen Polk, Director of the Center for Maritime Education. Kirby Corporation has been a steadfast supporter of SCI's mission for over 25 years, encompassing maritime training, mariner advocacy, and pastoral care and support for mariners.

SCI will always celebrate innovations that make the lives of mariners and citizens better. SCI's President & Executive Director Mark Nestlehutt, along with Chaplain Tom Rhoades and Chaplain Associate Jonathan Siger, were proud to have been there at Kirby Corporation's request to christen and help launch M/V Green Diamond. Check out this commemorative Kirby video below.

THE PHILANTHROPY CHALLENGE!

Support Teams in the SCI Mountain Challenge

This fall, from September 28 – October 1, 2023, SCI will host its biennial Mountain Challenge! Teams of three competitors will push their physical limits in support of mariners—who often face extreme conditions and isolation—on a race course that includes hiking, paddling, and obstacle elements at Mount Snow.

Please support our competitors in the Philanthropy Challenge! Teams are actively fundraising to meet their goal of $3,000 per team, which will support SCI’s mission. Funds raised will count towards overall team rankings and awards.

SCI HOSTS SAFETALK/SUICIDE PREVENTION CLINIC IN PADUCAH

The Seamen's Church Institute (SCI) is pleased to offer a SafeTALK Suicide Prevention Training course on the morning of Thursday, October 26, hosted by Chaplain David Shirk at the SCI building on 129 S. Water St., Paducah, KY. SafeTALK is a half-day training program (about 4 hours) designed to raise awareness and equip individuals with the necessary skills to identify and help people who may be having thoughts of suicide.

More information and registration can be found in the Waterways Journal or on our website.

BEING READY FOR THE FUTURE OF SEAFARER WELFARE

In the ever-evolving world of maritime ministry and seafarer welfare, staying informed and legally aware is crucial for chaplains and those dedicated to supporting the well-being of seafarers. Phil Schifflin, Esq., Director of the Seamen's Church Institute's Center for Mariner Advocacy, recently addressed chaplains and other seafarer welfare workers at the North American Maritime Ministry Association Conference in Seattle, WA. His recommendations shed light on the current legal landscape as it pertains to the future of seafarer welfare.

1. Cultivate Relationships with Port Leadership

One of the first pieces of advice Schifflin emphasized was the importance of establishing relationships with the Coast Guard sector commanders and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in your port before issues arise. These connections can be invaluable when dealing with various challenges that seafarers may encounter during their time in port helping ensure a smoother resolution of issues and crises.

2. Understand the Current State of the Maritime Labor Convention 2006

The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), is broad and complex, and serves as a cornerstone in protecting the rights and well-being of seafarers worldwide. Schifflin stressed the need for chaplains and welfare workers to be familiar with it. This understanding will prepare chaplains and support workers for better advocacy on behalf of seafarers helping to ensure that they receive the protections and support they are entitled to under this international treaty. (FAQs—more information about MLC 2006)

3. Familiarize Yourself with Current and Coming Updates to SASH Laws

Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment (SASH) are issues of utmost concern within the maritime industry. Schifflin urged the audience to become familiar with current SASH guidance, understand how to respond to incidents, and know the procedures for reporting such cases when visiting ships. Being prepared to provide support and guidance to seafarers facing these sensitive issues is crucial for their safety and well-being.

To delve deeper into these essential topics, Schifflin's comprehensive presentation can be viewed in its entirety in this video.

Video of CMA Director Phil Schifflin's presentation at the NAMMA conference in Seatle, WA. Courtesy of NAMMA.

SCI TOURS INLAND MARINER TRAINING CENTER IN EUROPE

Mark Nestlehutt and Philippe De Gauw by the Brussels-Scheldt Maritime Canal just outside De Vlaamse Waterweg’s training center.

Philippe De Gauw piloting a vessel simulation through the Willebroek Canal Lock.

In mid-September, SCI’s President & Executive Director, Mark Nestlehutt, visited the Antwerp Maritime Academy’s inland mariner training facility, De Vlaamse Waterweg (Flemish Waterways), in Willebroek, Belgium. Training for Belgian and other European river and canal mariners is overseen by Managing Director, Philippe De Gauw, whom Mark and his SCI colleagues met during the 2022 Kongsberg Digital User Meeting in Horten, Norway. With the recent upgrade in operating systems to K-Sim, many training facilities using Kongsberg simulators have collaborated in sharing data on best practices and optimization of the new system. Recently, SCI worked closely with peer training centers in Canada and Panama on engineering projects and studies. 

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 FROM THE SCI ARCHIVES 

On this day in 1957, the four-masted barque Pamir met a tragic fate off the Azores, with only six survivors emerging from the wreckage. Pamir, a notable member of the Flying P-Liners fleet, which also included the former NYC museum ship Peking, holds the distinction of being the final sailing vessel to successfully navigate Cape Horn while carrying commercial cargo. This accomplishment took place during the concluding installment of the Great Grain Races, a series of informal competitions among sailing ships transporting grain from South Australian grain ports to the UK, spanning from 1921 to 1949.

In 1932, a contributor to the Seamen's Church Institute (SCI), Charles Gulden, captured a remarkable photograph in the midst of winter at Cape Horn. The photo was taken aboard the grain racer Grace Harwar, and it would later grace the cover of the January 1933 issue of The Lookout magazine.

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