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MARINERS DEPEND ON SCI.
SCI DEPENDS ON YOU.
| | SCI Chaplains and Chaplain Associate visited Ingram Barge in Paducah, KY, and had the opportunity to observe deckhand training. | | |
IN THIS ISSUE – February 2026
- 2026 Maritime Bell Luncheon—Save the Date & Register Now
- Together in Ministry: SCI and the International Christian Maritime Association
- New Report Highlights Urgent Need to Improve Inland Mariner Well-Being
- SCI Leaders to Participate in Panel Discussions at CMA Shipping 2026
- Answering the Call: SCI Assists Crew of Suspect Shadow Fleet Tanker
- Advancing Global Protections for Seafarers
- CME Houston Welcomes a New Instructor, Capt. Jess Laywell
- Supporting Safe Navigation on the Ohio River
- A Call in the Middle of the Night
- ISC Director Speaks at 2026 Women on the Water Conference
- A Ministry of Presence on Ash Wednesday
- 48th Annual Silver Bell Awards Dinner—Save the Date
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From the Archives: Synchronizing the Seas—How a Sound Aligned the World
| | THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS | | Together in Ministry: SCI and the International Christian Maritime Association | | SCI’s President and Executive Director, the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, speaks to the assembled members of the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) Charity Trustees in Hong Kong. | | |
In mid-January, SCI’s President and Executive Director, the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, traveled to Hong Kong to attend a meeting of the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) Charity Trustees. The gathering was held alongside the ICMA East and South-East Asia Regional Meeting and centered on the theme, “Overcoming Challenges.”
Chaplains and seafarer welfare providers from across the region shared insights from their local ministries. Among them was the Rev. Dave Hinay, Port Chaplain with the Mission to Seafarers Thailand, who reflected on a decade of ministry in Bangkok. The meetings were hosted by the Rev. Canon Stephen Miller at The Mariners, a newly opened seafarers’ hotel owned and operated by the Mission to Seafarers–Hong Kong.
ICMA is a global network of more than 750 chaplains and ship visitors serving in over 90 countries. Mark Nestlehutt serves as Chair of ICMA’s Board and works closely with General Secretary Dr. Jason Zuidema. ICMA’s eight Charity Trustees are drawn from its 27 member societies and represent maritime ministries from around the world, including the Sailors’ Society, Nederlandse Zeevarendencentrale, Nordic Council of Seamen’s Missions (Danske Sømands- og Udlandskirker), Deutsche Seemannsmission (DSM), North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA), and the Mission to Seafarers. The board seat for Stella Maris (formerly Apostleship of the Sea) is currently vacant, pending an appointment by the Vatican.
SCI’s global impact is further strengthened through our Center for Mariner Advocacy (formerly the Center for Seafarer Rights), directed by Phil Schifflin, Esq., CAPT, USCG (Ret.). Phil leads ICMA’s delegation to the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva. He serves on committees and delegations to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, advocating for regulations that promote and protect seafarer welfare worldwide.
| | Leaders of the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) gather in Hong Kong for the ICMA Charity Trustees meeting, held in conjunction with the East and South-East Asia Regional Meeting. | |
New Report Highlights Urgent Need to Improve Inland Mariner Well-Being | |
In 2025, more than 75% of SCI's Ministry on the River crisis responses involved physical or mental health issues—far surpassing accident-related calls. It highlights a significant wellness crisis among inland mariners.
The newly released U.S. Inland Mariner Wellness Assessment outlines the risk mariners face and the possible industry-wide solutions that may strengthen health, safety, and retention.
SCI believes the time is now to address this priority for the industry and its mariners.
Click here to learn more about the report and to access a copy.
| | SCI Leaders to Participate in Panel Discussions at CMA Shipping 2026 | | |
SCI is looking forward to connecting with our maritime colleagues at this year’s Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) Shipping Conference, March 10–12, North America’s premier gathering for the shipping industry.
On the opening day of the conference, SCI’s President & Executive Director, the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, will join a keynote panel on the main stage titled, “Assessing the Impact of Geo-Political Conflicts, Tariffs and Regulations on US Shipping.” The discussion will examine the evolving global landscape and its implications for the U.S. maritime industry.
On the third day, SCI’s Director of the Center for Mariner Advocacy, Phil Schifflin, Esq., will serve on two panel discussions on the Focus Stage: “NAMMA Forum on Seafarer Abandonment: What can be done?” and “Sanctions, Ship Seizures, and Seafarers.” These sessions will address pressing legal and humanitarian challenges facing seafarers worldwide.
Be sure to find us at Booth #229 in the exhibition hall. We hope to see you there!
| | Answering the Call: SCI Assists Crew of Suspect Shadow Fleet Tanker | | |
Seamen’s Church Institute was recently called to assist the crew of a suspect shadow fleet tanker, providing pastoral and emotional support to seafarers facing uncertainty and isolation at sea. Responding at the request of the U.S. Coast Guard, SCI offered care and presence during a critical moment for the multinational crew.
The story was featured in Seatrade Maritime News, highlighting SCI’s ongoing commitment to mariner welfare—especially in complex and high-risk situations. Click here to read the full article.
| | Advancing Global Protections for Seafarers | | |
Phil Schifflin, Esq., Director of SCI’s Center for Mariner Advocacy, regularly advocates for regulations and policies that strengthen seafarer well-being. One area in urgent need of reform has been the persistent problem of bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, and—in the most egregious cases—sexual assault at sea. For far too long, seafarers have endured this unacceptable behavior without adequate protection or recourse.
An essential first step in addressing this issue was establishing a clear, global baseline of training standards. These standards are designed to ensure that all mariners understand what constitutes inappropriate conduct and know what to do if they experience or witness such behavior.
In support of this effort, Phil participated in meetings of the U.S. National Merchant Mariner Personnel Advisory Committee (NMERPAC) and the U.S. National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (NMEDMAC), two federal advisory committees chaired by the U.S. Coast Guard. Over the course of several meetings, these committees developed proposed training standards addressing bullying and harassment at sea.
The U.S. delegation then presented this work to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London for consideration. Phil participated in multiple IMO meetings as the proposed standards were reviewed and refined. The IMO subsequently referred the matter to the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva, where Phil also participated in a meeting of the Joint ILO-IMO Tripartite Working Group. There, the standards were further revised before being returned to the IMO for final approval.
This multi-year collaborative effort culminated in the formal adoption of new training guidelines by the IMO in May 2024. The standards entered into force at the beginning of this year.
While these training requirements alone will not eliminate bullying and harassment at sea, they represent a critical and long-overdue step forward. The Center for Mariner Advocacy remains committed to advancing practical reforms that protect the dignity, safety, and well-being of seafarers worldwide.
Phil Schifflin is featured in the Christian Daily International article linked below discussing these new global protections for seafarers.
| | CME Houston Welcomes a New Instructor, Capt. Jess Laywell | |
SCI is pleased to welcome Capt. Jess Laywell as the newest Instructor at the Center for Maritime Education (CME) in Houston, TX.
Jess brings a wealth of maritime leadership experience and a strong instructional foundation to CME. Most recently, he served as a Nautical Captain with Ingram Barge Company, where he oversaw vessel safety compliance, led crew operations, optimized performance, and fostered a culture grounded in safety, accountability, and professionalism.
His progression from deckhand to High Captain reflects a deep commitment to continuous learning, operational excellence, and steady leadership in demanding environments.
At SCI, Jess will support daily mariner instruction in both classroom and simulation settings, assist in the delivery and development of training programs, and contribute to debriefing sessions designed to reinforce effective learning outcomes. His hands-on operational expertise and experience within highly regulated, safety-focused environments strongly complement CME’s USCG-approved training standards and instructional goals.
Please join us in welcoming Capt. Jess Laywell to SCI. We’re excited to have him on board and look forward to the impact he will make in training and supporting the next generation of mariners.
| Supporting Safe Navigation on the Ohio River | Mariner running a navigational study for the full-service replacement of the US 51 Bridge in 2020 at CME Paducah. | |
In 2020, the Seamen’s Church Institute’s Center for Maritime Education (CME) in Paducah, Kentucky, partnered with Michael Baker International to support a navigation feasibility study for the replacement bridge crossing the Ohio River at Cairo, Illinois.
While most travelers experience a bridge from above, commercial mariners navigate beneath it—often guiding large, multi-barge tows through narrow spans and challenging river conditions. Bridge design elements such as pier placement, span alignment, and vertical and horizontal clearances are not merely engineering details; they directly affect navigational safety, mariner workload, and the safe, efficient movement of commerce along our inland waterways.
The Ohio River is one of the nation’s most important freight corridors, carrying energy products, agricultural goods, aggregates, steel, and manufactured materials that sustain communities throughout the river system. Ensuring that infrastructure projects safely accommodate both roadway traffic and maritime commerce is essential to economic resilience.
SCI’s simulation team was honored to help evaluate bridge configurations, assess navigational risk, and support a design that protects mariners while maintaining the reliable flow of goods. This collaboration with Michael Baker International, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, and the Illinois Department of Transportation reflects the kind of partnership required to deliver complex infrastructure that strengthens connectivity—both above and below the waterline.
| | A Call in the Middle of The Night | | |
by the Rev. Grace Pardun, SCI Supervisory Chaplain, Ministry on the River, Upper Mississippi & Ohio River Region
From the February Quarterly Activity Report
It was Friday night, and I had just fallen asleep. My dog was curled up next to me, snoring away. I was drifting off to dreamland when, in my dream, an alarm was going off. It took me a few groggy beats to realize that it wasn't an alarm, but my phone on my nightstand being paged by our dispatch answering service. At 12:41 am, I answered the phone and was quickly briefed about a man overboard, which resulted in a fatality on the lower Mississippi River.
I sleepily plodded over to my kitchen table, desperately trying to remember all the details that I needed to respond to the crisis. Company and vessel name. Phone numbers for the shoreside, the port captain, and the boat. Approximate location of the vessel, and is it underway? Where is it headed? What time would you like a chaplain to be there? Has the Coast Guard completed their investigation? How many crew members? What is the name and position of the deceased?
The vessel was currently a five-hour drive from my house, nowhere near a port or a dock. The port captain had boarded it from a crew boat and relieved the captain. The plan was that they would come upriver to a dock, and I would meet them there. He would call me when he thought I should start driving. I was on standby until I heard from him again.
By this point, I was fully awake. I didn’t know how long it would take the boat to come upriver, but I wanted to be prepared to leave the moment I heard back. So, I packed my suitcase, took the dog out, texted the dogsitter, canceled my weekend plans, set out my clothes for the day, and prepared as much as possible to leave when I got the call. I checked the vessel's location in the app and made sure my phone’s notifications were all on. And then I waited.
Eventually, I went back to bed, but my mind kept going. It ran the numbers like a ninth-grade algebra problem: if a vessel is heading upstream at 4.8 knots, pushing twelve barges, and a Seamen’s Church Institute vehicle is traveling down the highway at 70 miles per hour, where and when do they meet? I would doze off and wake up, checking my phone each time. Nothing. I checked the vessel’s location again. 4.8 knots isn’t very fast, is it? No follow-up text came that night.
The sun came up, and I moved through my usual morning routine. Not long after, the message finally arrived: “Start driving now. I dropped what I was doing and headed out, beginning what would become a four-and-a-half-hour drive. I reached the dock just as the boat rounded the bend. Soon after, I was seated at the galley table with the crew, guiding them through the CISM process, holding space for them to remember, to grieve, and to tell stories about their friend.
As a crisis response chaplain on call 24/7, there’s a strain that comes with always being on standby. When my phone rings, I never know whether it’s a routine question or news of a critical incident. In my early days at SCI, every notification made me jump. Over time, though, a simple piece of wisdom settled in: find harbor when the waters are calm.
I have a responsibility to steady my own nerves, especially while I’m on standby. Self-care has to be intentional and proactive. Because when I step onto a vessel on what may be the worst day of a mariner’s life, I am called to embody a calm, grounded presence—one that gently reminds them that I am there for them, that God is with them and holding them in the midst of shock and grief.
As I write this reflection, my dog is stretched out on the couch, blissfully snoring. She offers me a peaceful, nonanxious presence, and through her quiet trust, I am reminded that God is watching over me. I know I will be ready when the phone rings again.
| | ISC Director Speaks at 2026 Women on the Water Conference | | Matt Morse, Esq., Director of SCI's International Seafarers' Center, provides a virtual presentation highlighting SCI's work to the attendees of the 2026 Women on the Water Conference. | | |
by Matt Morse, Esq.
Director of SCI's International Seafarers' Center
Presenting at the 2026 Women on the Water (“WOW”) Conference in Baltimore, MD, was both an honor and a meaningful professional experience. When unexpected travel issues prevented me from presenting in person, the disruption became a fitting reminder of the unpredictability mariners and seafarers face every day. With the support of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, I joined the conference remotely to speak with women who represent the present and future of the maritime industry about the work of the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI).
I opened my presentation with a simple visual exercise, displaying a banana, a carton of orange juice, a laptop, an item of clothing, and two small matchbox cars (“imagine these are much bigger,” I joked). I asked what these everyday objects shared in common: each had moved through global commerce by the hands of a mariner or seafarer. That connection provided a natural entry point into a broader conversation about SCI’s mission to care for those individuals—past, present, and future—including those in the audience.
We discussed how SCI meets mariners where they are—emotionally, spiritually, and practically—through ship visits, chaplaincy, legal advocacy, continuing mariner education, and crisis response. I focused particularly on SCI’s pastoral care, emphasizing that it is relational, confidential, and rooted in presence.
As I shared, “It is not our job to tell you what you should believe; it is our job to take what we believe and use it to help you.”
The thoughtful questions and reflections that followed demonstrated deep engagement. Hearing from participants who had been supported by SCI during their careers was especially meaningful. Overall, the experience reaffirmed the value of showing up—despite obstacles—to build relationships and advocate for those whose work too often goes unseen. SCI is grateful to have participated in this well-organized event and thanks Ms. Trisha Meier of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy for the opportunity.
| | A Ministry of Presence on Ash Wednesday | | SCI Chaplain, the Rev. Dr. Bill Allport, imposes ashes on a seafarer aboard a vessel docked in Port Newark. | | |
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of reflection, repentance, and renewal in the Christian tradition. The imposition of ashes—often accompanied by the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”—is a powerful reminder of our shared humanity, humility, and need for grace.
At the Seamen’s Church Institute, distributing ashes to mariners and seafarers is a meaningful extension of our ministry of presence. For those who spend long stretches of time at sea—often far from home, family, and faith communities—the simple act of receiving ashes can be a profound sign that they are not forgotten. It offers a moment of prayer, connection, and spiritual grounding amid the demands and isolation of maritime life.
In addition to visiting mariners aboard vessels for the imposition of ashes, SCI hosted Ash Wednesday services in the chapel at the International Seafarers’ Center in Port Newark and at the chapel at the Center for Maritime Education in Paducah, Kentucky. In these sacred spaces, mariners gathered to pray, reflect, and begin the Lenten journey together—grounded in faith, strengthened by community, and reminded that wherever their voyages lead, they do not travel alone.
| | The altar at the Chapel at the Center for Maritime Education in Paducah stands prepared for Ash Wednesday. | | SCI Supervisory Chaplain, the Rev. Grace Pardun, imposes ashes on Chaplain Associate Bill Coscarelli in the chapel at CME-Paducah. | | Synchronizing the Seas—How a Sound Aligned the World | | |
February 5, 1924, marked a major step toward making chronometer synchronization—and celestial navigation—more accessible when the BBC began broadcasting its signature “six pips” hourly time signals.
While the U.S. Navy had used radio time signals as early as 1905, their range was limited. The BBC’s service reached across the entirety of the United Kingdom, and by the end of the decade, its time signal had gone international.
Pictured here, seafarers gather at the hotel desk of 25 South Street beneath a 24-hour clock displaying world locations around a spinning time face.
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