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MARINERS DEPEND ON SCI.

SCI DEPENDS ON YOU.

IN THIS ISSUE – December 2024

• 2024 River Bell Awards Luncheon
• A Step Forward in Addressing Seafarer Criminalization
• Livestream: The International Seafarers' Center Christmas Service and Celebration
• An Intern’s Experience at the Center for Maritime Education
• Chaplains Strengthen Crews Through Compassion
• Deliveries Well Underway for SCI's Christmas at Sea
• From the Archives

Above: SCI Chaplain, the Rev. James Kollin, delivering Christmas at Sea (CAS) gifts to seafarers in the Port of New York and New Jersey. CAS distributions are in full swing both in the port and along the rivers, with thousands of handmade hats and scarves being gifted to mariners and seafarers this holiday season.

Thank You To Our Corporate Sponsors

Holiday Wishes from SCI

On December 5, the Seamen's Church Institute hosted the 24th Annual River Bell Awards Luncheon in Paducah, KY, bringing together nearly 600 members of the maritime community. The event raised nearly $500,000 to support SCI's core mission areas: training, advocacy, chaplaincy, and crisis support. We extend our sincere gratitude to our guests, sponsors, and donors, and offer our congratulations to this year's distinguished honorees.

2024 River Bell Honorees

click images to enlarge

2024 River Legend Award

From left to right: Alison Phillips, Director of Communications, Parker Towing Company; Charles A. Haun Jr., Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Parker Towing Company; The Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, President and Executive Director, The Seamen's Church Institute.

2024 River Bell Distinguished Service Award

From left to right: John Roberts, President and CEO, Ingram Barge Company; Matt Woodruff, Vice President of Public & Government Affairs, Kirby Corporation; The Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, President and Executive Director, The Seamen's Church Institute.

2024 River Bell Lifesaving Award

The Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, President and Executive Director of The Seamen's Church Institute (right), with the crew of Canal Barge Company's M/V Hallie M. Merrick, recipients of the 2024 River Bell Lifesaving Award.

2024 River Bell Lifesaving Award

Mary McCarthy (left), Director of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Moran Towing Corporation, and The Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, President and Executive Director of The Seamen's Church Institute (right), with the crew of Blessey Marine's M/V Capt. Rodney Adams (center), recipients of the 2024 River Bell Lifesaving Award.

Watch the Lifesaving Award submission video from Canal Barge Company.

Watch the Lifesaving Award submission video from Blessey Marine.

Above: Phil Schifflin, Esq. (left), Director of SCI’s Center for Mariner Advocacy, with Dr. Jason Zuidema (right), Executive Director of NAMMA and ICMA’s General Secretary, at the “Joint ILO–IMO Tripartite Working Group to Identify and Address Seafarers’ Issues and the Human Element” in Geneva, Switzerland as non-governmental observers.

A Step Forward in Addressing Seafarer Criminalization

SCI's Phil Schifflin, Esq. recently participated in the third meeting of the Joint ILO-IMO Tripartite Working Group to Identify and Address Seafarers’ Issues and the Human Element (JTWG3) as a representative of the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA). The meeting focused on the criminalization of seafarers, who may be unjustly treated as criminals for performing their duties, especially after incidents causing environmental harm or crimes aboard vessels without their knowledge. In some cases, seafarers could face detention without due process.

During JTWG3, participants reviewed and revised draft guidelines that had been developed over several years at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), where Phil had also participated in previous meetings. Ultimately, JTWG3 approved a revised document titled "Guidelines on Fair Treatment of Seafarers Detained in Connection with Alleged Crimes." These guidelines will now be submitted to the IMO for further review and approval. If endorsed, they will be published as a best practices document outlining the rights that countries should provide to detained seafarers. While these guidelines are not legally binding, they represent a significant step forward in addressing the troubling issue of seafarers' criminalization.

Service Livestream to Facebook

The International Seafarers’ Center (ISC) in Port Newark, NJ, will host its inaugural Christmas Service and Celebration on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. The service will be led by SCI Chaplains, the Rev. James Kollin and the Rev. Dr. Bill Allport. This warm and inclusive event offers a non-denominational seasonal celebration, bringing together seafarers and the port community in fellowship. For those unable to be in the port for the service, we plan on livestreaming the event on our Facebook page—December 18, 12:00 p.m. We offer this meaningful gathering in hopes of providing comfort and connection during a time that can often feel challenging and isolating for members of the maritime community. 

Val Tamez takes the helm during a dredge boat simulation in the Bahamas, gaining hands-on experience as part of his internship at SCI’s Center for Maritime Education.

An Intern’s Experience at the Center for Maritime Education

by Capt. Stephen Polk

Director, Center for Maritime Education

This past semester, I had the pleasure of mentoring Valdemar (Val) Tamez Jr., a high school senior and Eagle Scout I’ve known since his childhood through our Boy Scout troop. Val’s father and I served as Assistant Scoutmasters, and I’ve had the privilege of watching him develop into a determined and capable young man. When Val expressed interest in interning at the Center for Maritime Education (CME) in Houston for his senior year, I was happy to support him, confident that his enthusiasm for maritime business and technology would make the experience rewarding for both of us.

From September to December, Val participated in an independent study mentorship class offered by his high school in partnership with San Jacinto Community College. During this time, he fully immersed himself in the work of SCI’s Center for Maritime Education (CME). His experience ranged from facility tours and staff meet-and-greets to hands-on training simulations. Val took on roles such as serving as a helmsman during a mooring master class, piloting a ship-assist harbor tug, and navigating a dredge in the Bahamas simulator.

In addition to these practical experiences, Val collaborated closely with our team, gaining valuable insights into database management, 3D modeling, e-learning module development, and adult education methodologies. His time with CME provided a comprehensive introduction to the maritime industry and its many career opportunities.

Val’s curiosity and fresh perspective inspired our team to rethink day-to-day processes and reflect on the maritime industry's future. His questions sometimes challenged us to consider how we connect with the next generation of maritime professionals and whether we fully leverage technology and innovation to benefit the field.

Though his internship has ended, Val had such a positive experience that he plans to return to work with us in 2025 to further explore the maritime industry’s many opportunities. We look forward to continuing this partnership and helping Val build a promising career in maritime.

Val Tamez (right) in the Houston Center's control room with CME Director, Capt. Stephen Polk (left).

Chaplains Strengthen Crews Through Compassion

by the Rev. David Shirk

Chaplain, Ministry on the River—Upper Mississippi & Ohio River Region

from the December Quarterly Activity Report

During a routine boat visit, I had the chance to engage in a meaningful conversation with the vessel’s captain and some of the crew. I also showed one of our port chaplains what ministry looks like on the river—a practice quite different from port ministry, though both are equally important in supporting mariners.

As we prepared to leave, we passed through one of the crew lounges, and I noticed a deckhand sitting off to the side, visibly upset and in tears. I stopped, sat down next to him, and gently asked if he was all right. His initial response was to say he was fine, but it was clear he wasn’t. I asked again, giving him space to open up. Gradually, he shared that he was new to working on the river and was struggling with being away from his family for such long stretches. Not everyone is suited for the demanding lifestyle of a mariner, and he was wrestling with that reality.

With his permission, I shared his concerns with the mate and the captain. In a profession as inherently dangerous as river work, having a crew member who is distracted or emotionally distressed can increase risks for everyone. The chaplain's role in addressing these struggles is not just about the individual's well-being; it may also be about the entire crew's safety, underscoring the importance of the chaplain's work in enhancing crew safety.

As Chaplains, we are called to notice when mariners are not at their best—to sit with them, listen, and offer support. These moments are not interruptions; they are the essence of what we do. By caring for the emotional and spiritual well-being of mariners, SCI Chaplains contribute to a safer, more focused, and ultimately more productive maritime industry. In this way, we act as force multipliers, amplifying care and safety for all who work on the water.



Deliveries Well Underway for SCI's Christmas at Sea

Christmas at Sea (CAS) deliveries are in full swing, led by CAS manager Joanne Bartosik at the International Seafarers' Center in Port Newark. Distribution began on December 2, with SCI Chaplains in the Port of New York and New Jersey delivering knits and crochets directly to seafarers onboard ships, while inland river Chaplains and various distribution centers along the river system continue to deliver boxes to companies who will pass them along to their mariners.

This year is shaping up to be another success for CAS, made possible by the thousands of hats, scarves, and other handmade items lovingly crafted by volunteers across the U.S., Canada, and even Europe. We are also deeply grateful to the many packing groups who have assembled the ditty bags for seafarers in port and prepared boxes for shipment for distribution along the Mississippi/Ohio River regions, and the Gulf Coast. Thanks to the dedication and generosity of our volunteers, the spirit of the season is reaching mariners everywhere!

Recently, SUNY Maritime Cadets (pictured above) and USMMA Cadets (pictured in the middle) visited the International Seafarers' Center (ISC) to join our Chaplains in visiting ships and seafarers, as well as to assist with CAS's packing efforts.

Packing continues even during the summer! In July, volunteers from the NY/NJ/CT Chapter of the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) (pictured below) spent a day at the ISC assembling mini Santa sacks for shipment to tow boat companies in Paducah, KY.

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 FROM THE SCI ARCHIVES 

On December 19, 1912, President Taft pardoned the captain of the side-wheel steamer General Slocum after he served 3.5 years in prison. The General Slocum tragically caught fire on June 15, 1904, and was run aground by its captain on North Brother Island after passing through New York’s Hell Gate at full speed. The disaster claimed 1,021 lives, mostly women and children, making it the second deadliest event on a U.S. waterway after the Sultana disaster, and the second deadliest in New York City’s history after 9/11. The Summer 1989 issue of The Lookout highlighted this 1906 Slocum Memorial in Tompkins Square Park as part of a campaign to raise funds for its restoration.

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