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MARINERS DEPEND ON SCI.
SCI DEPENDS ON YOU.
| | SCI Chaplain, the Rev. Dr. Bill Allport (right), visits with a seafarer at Port Newark. | | |
IN THIS ISSUE – November 2025
- 25th Annual River Bell Luncheon—Register Now
- SCI’s Center for Mariner Advocacy Expands Coast Guard Training on Seafarer Welfare
- Join Us—SCI's Second Annual Christmas Service and Celebration
- A Sacred Moment on the River: Celebrating an SCI Wedding in Paducah
- CME Collaborates with Naval Architects to Enhance Accuracy of Inland Towboat Models
- SCI Joins Maritime Leaders at NAMEPA Awards Dinner
- Building Connections: HSCM Visits SCI to Learn About Seafarer Support
- Celebrating Service: San Jacinto Students Support SCI’s Christmas at Sea on the River
- Port Packing Day 2025
- The Lookout—Fall 2025
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From the Archives: Remembering the SS Yarmouth Castle Tragedy: A Turning Point for Maritime Safety
| | THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS | | |
We hope that you will be able to join us as we celebrate the inland maritime industry and this year's honorees.
River Bell Award
George G. Leavell
Wepfer Group, LLC
River Legend Award
William R. Barr
Amherst Madison
Distinguished Service Award
Marty Hettel
American Commercial Barge Line (ret.)
Lifesaving Award
The Crew of the M/V Susan Robinson
Crounse Corporation
The Crew of Mary Moran
Moran Towing of New Orleans
| | Please Register By Friday, November 21, 2025 | | SCI’s Center for Mariner Advocacy Expands Coast Guard Training on Seafarer Welfare | | |
On Thursday, October 23, Phil Schifflin, Director of the Center for Mariner Advocacy, conducted a training session at U.S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans for the Port State Control staff. These Coast Guard personnel are often the first U.S. government representatives to board foreign-flagged vessels arriving in the United States.
During the session, Schifflin instructed the Coast Guard on how to inspect for seafarer welfare-related issues and outlined specific indicators to observe during such inspections. This marks the second training session of its kind delivered to a Coast Guard unit since the program’s development, which was supported by Ms. Leilany Rodriguez, the 2025 Tulane summer intern.
Schifflin continues to seek opportunities to collaborate with governmental and non-governmental organizations to strengthen advocacy for mariners both in the United States and worldwide.
| | A Sacred Moment on the River: Celebrating an SCI Wedding in Paducah | SCI Supervisory Chaplain, the Rev. Grace Pardun (center), officiates the wedding of Jae Raybrun (left) and CME Instructor, Stephen Douglas (left) at St. Nicholas Chapel at the Center for Maritime Education in Paducah. | |
by the Rev. Grace Pardun
SCI Supervisory Chaplain, Ministry on the River
Did you know we have a chapel at the Center for Maritime Education in Paducah? It’s a little chapel, just off the main entrance. It fits about 10 people comfortably, 15 if you’re willing to get cozy. Lining the walls of the chapel are stained glass windows given to The Seamen’s Church Institute from the Vanderbilts in the mid-1800s for use in one of our churches. This special little chapel doesn’t get a lot of use, as many don’t know about it. However, just recently, we were allowed to unlock the doors and light the candles, and illuminate the beautiful stained glass windows when Stephen Douglas, an instructor at the SCI's Center for Marine Education in Paducah, got married.
Being a chaplain for Ministry on the River is a unique calling. We are invited onto boats for visits, just as chaplains on land are invited into hospital rooms. We respond to calls in the middle of the night when critical incidents happen on the river, just like chaplains on land rush to the ER as soon as their pager goes off. But, as chaplains on the river, we are invited into unique spaces that are often unexpected and always an absolute honor.
On November 11, 2025, Stephen Douglas and Jae Rayburn were united in holy matrimony in the St. Nicholas Chapel at the Center for Maritime Education in Paducah, and I had the honor of officiating. In that tiny chapel, they were surrounded by family and friends who love them dearly. We were squished in there, each one of us thrilled to be standing behind this couple, supporting them as they took the next step in their journey together. After the ceremony, we filed into the galley and had coffee and cupcakes for the reception.
This couple could have picked anywhere to have their wedding and reception, but that little chapel at the CME felt exactly right for them for this moment. There were people from the maritime industry present, there were friends they knew their whole lives, there were new friends whom they’ve gotten close with- all coming together to squeeze into the little chapel at the CME.
The Seamen’s Church Institute has been meeting the needs of seafarers and mariners since 1834, and even though a lot has changed in 191 years, we are still there for them however we can. In this situation, we were there for them by opening up the doors of the chapel and ushering them into the next chapter of their life together.
| | CME Collaborates with Naval Architects to Enhance Accuracy of Inland Towboat Models | | |
CT Marine of Cape Elizabeth, ME, and the Seamen’s Church Institute's Center for Maritime Education (CME) have entered into a proprietary information agreement to securely share technical and operational data for advanced simulation-based training and maneuvering research. The partnership focuses on CT Marine–designed towboats and barges, and will eventually allow CME to model and analyze vessel designs within its simulators.
As part of this initiative, the Maritime Simulation and Resource Centre (MSRC) in Québec City, Canada, will utilize detailed plans from CT Marine to develop digital vessel models. With continued testing, CME then aims to document the process with the goal of achieving DNV certification, which will verify the real-world accuracy of the models, helping to enhance training standards across the inland marine industry.
CME Deputy Director, Jonathan Burson, says: “We are looking to emulate our previous collaborations with Robert Allan Ltd.; this partnership with CT Marine will continue our work with naval architecture firms who are capable of providing high-quality vessel data to strengthen our simulation models. By incorporating detailed inland vessel information from CT Marine, we are looking to significantly enhance the realism and accuracy of our towing simulation and deliver even higher-quality training experiences for our clients and mariners.”
SCI is grateful to Capt. Matt Lagarde from Ingram, and Capt. Stephen Douglas with SCI in Paducah for connecting CME with CT Marine. This collaboration aligns with SCI’s strategic plan for the Center for Maritime Education, which prioritizes advancing the precision and quality of simulator models. The initiative underscores CME’s commitment to its mission of improving safety, performance, and professionalism for mariners across the inland industry.
| | SCI Joins Maritime Leaders at NAMEPA Awards Dinner | Left to right: Deacon Paul Rosenblum, NAMMA President, NAMEPA Board Member, and Stella Maris Port Chaplain, Matthew Morse, Director of SCI’s International Seafarers’ Center, and the Rev. Marsh Drege, Executive Director and Pastor, Seafarers’ International House, at the NAMEPA awards dinner. | |
Undaunted by storm and heavy rain, the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) held its annual awards dinner at SUNY Maritime College on the evening of October 30. The event celebrated organizations and individuals making significant contributions to maritime environmental protection, collaboration, and workforce development.
During the ceremony, the North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA)—of which SCI is a proud member—received the “Seafarers Award,” recognizing NAMMA’s steadfast support of seafarers and their families, as well as its commitment to promoting well-being and safe shipping practices.
Matthew Morse, Director of SCI’s International Seafarers’ Center, attended on behalf of SCI, joining NAMMA colleagues Deacon Paul Rosenblum (NAMMA President, NAMEPA Board Member, and Stella Maris Port Chaplain) and the Rev. Marsh Drege (Executive Director and Pastor, Seafarers’ International House). Together, they connected with environmentally conscious professionals from across the maritime community.
| | Building Connections: HSCM Visits SCI to Learn About Seafarer Support | | |
On October 28, the International Seafarers’ Center (ISC) welcomed nineteen individuals from Hudson Structured Capital Management (HSCM) for a tour of SCI’s facilities and of Port Newark itself. Arriving via watercraft, HSCM’s party was met at their berth by SCI’s Chaplains and transported to the center.
ISC Director Matt Morse provided HSCM’s group with a tour of the center and discussed SCI’s work within the Port with them. SCI’s Chaplains rounded out HSCM’s visit with a tour of the Port itself before safely returning the party to their waiting vessel. SCI is thankful to Neil McLaughlin (second from right), Lindsay Gill (fourth from right), and Luca Bruga (first on right) of HSCM for their interest in arranging this visit.
| | Celebrating Service: San Jacinto Students Support SCI’s Christmas at Sea on the River | | SCI Chaplains, the Rev. Geoffrey Davis and the Rev. Nancy Simpson, joined by San Jacinto student volunteers, load donations to be delivered to mariners this holiday season. | | |
On Thursday, October 30, students and faculty from the San Jacinto Maritime Training Center came together in La Porte, TX, to volunteer their time for the Seamen’s Church Institute’s (SCI) annual Christmas at Sea on the River packing event. Under the coordination of SCI Chaplain the Rev. Nancy Simpson, and San Jacinto's Capt. Amy Arrowood, participants packed and labeled 2,745 hand-knit and crocheted garments—hats and scarves lovingly made by crafting enthusiasts from across the United States and beyond. These gifts, along with Season’s Greeting cards, will soon make their way to inland and near-coastal mariners, delivered to their companies through the efforts of SCI Chaplains, Chaplain Associates, and other volunteers.
Each box represents more than warmth; it carries a heartfelt reminder that mariners, who spend long stretches away from loved ones during the holidays, are remembered and appreciated. The Christmas at Sea on the River program has long been a cornerstone of SCI’s mission, bringing comfort to our nation's mariners during the cold months of the Christmas season.
This enduring tradition is sustained by the generosity of volunteers, donors, and community partners who share a deep appreciation for the sacrifices of maritime professionals. Special thanks go to Capt. Amy Arrowood and her dedicated students and faculty members for their leadership and enthusiasm; to Chaplains the Rev. Geoffrey Davis and the Rev. Nancy Simpson, and Chaplain Associates Dallas Hughes and Diane Burson; and joined by special guest Stephen Polk, Director, SCI’s Center for Maritime Education, all of whom helped make this year’s event a success.
| | Port Packing Day Volunteers fill ditty bags with handmade knits, toiletries, and treats to be distributed to seafarers this holiday season. | | |
Port Packing Day 2025, held on November 13 at SCI’s International Seafarers’ Center in Port Newark, was an all-day volunteering extravaganza led by Joanne Bartosik, Senior Manager of Development and Christmas at Sea. The event brought together an energetic community of volunteers who transformed a year’s worth of handmade generosity into holiday cheer for seafarers. By day’s end, an impressive 2,016 knit and crocheted items—created by dedicated volunteers from all 50 states, Canada, and several European countries—were carefully packed into ditty bags alongside donated toiletries and tasty treats. This volunteer-powered effort reflects the global reach and heartfelt commitment behind Christmas at Sea, a tradition built entirely on the kindness and skill of makers and supporters around the world.
The accomplishment was made possible through the remarkable teamwork of seven participating groups from the maritime community, including the Council on Port Performance Workforce Development Implementation Team, East Coast Warehouse, Hapag-Lloyd, Maher Terminals, ONE (Ocean Network Express), the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT), and Ports America. Working at record speed, volunteers filled the “Santa Sacks” that SCI chaplains will hand-deliver to crews, offering warmth, gratitude, and a reminder that SCI stands beside them year-round.
Seasoned Port Packing veterans returned with enthusiasm, while new volunteers brought fresh energy to the day. Reflecting on the meaning of this longstanding tradition, the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, SCI’s President & Executive Director, underscored the profound impact of gifting seafarers a tangible reminder that they are valued and never forgotten during the holiday season. Sincere thanks go to everyone—both those present on Port Packing Day and those who contributed throughout the year—for making this extraordinary effort possible.
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The Fall 2025 edition of SCI's semiannual magazine, The Lookout, is officially here!
This issue features a report on the 46% decline in seafarer shore leave in the Port of New York and New Jersey, a remembrance of longtime Trustee Jim Lawrence, five years of chaplaincy aboard SUNY Maritime’s Summer Sea Term, updates from the Center for Maritime Education and Center for Mariner Advocacy, reflections on the SS El Faro’s tenth anniversary and SCI's longstanding presence amidst maritime disasters, and more.
The Lookout is available both online as well as a downloadable PDF version for your convenience.
For additional news and updates from SCI, please visit: seamenschurch.org/who-we-are/media-and-publications/news/
| | Remembering the SS Yarmouth Castle Tragedy: A Turning Point for Maritime Safety | | |
On November 13, 1963, the SS Yarmouth Castle tragically caught fire and sank en route from Miami to Nassau, claiming the lives of 88 passengers and two crew members.
This disaster prompted major changes to SOLAS — the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea — strengthening fire safety standards aboard ships worldwide.
Fun fact: It also inspired one of Gordon Lightfoot’s two maritime ballads, written seven years before his famous “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”
| | Mariners at SCI’s nautical school, practicing safe entry procedures, including testing for flammable gases. | | Here, officers practice firefighting in a 1983 SCI training held in Bermuda. | | |
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