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MARINERS DEPEND ON SCI &
SCI DEPENDS ON YOU...
| | IN THIS ISSUE – July 2024 | |
- The Seamen’s Church Institute Staffs Sailing Chaplains for SUNY–Maritime's Summer Sea Term
- SCI Welcomes New Director at the International Seafarers Center
- Pilot and Tug Master Training — "A Win For Maritime Safety"
- SCI Advocacy Director to Moderate GICA Mariner Mental Health Panel
- Supporting Mariners in Crisis
- From the Archives: SCI's Origin Story
Photo by Mark Nestlehutt of Captain Sarah piloting the M/V Andrew McAllister in Portland Harbor.
| | Thank You To Our Corporate Sponsors | | The Seamen’s Church Institute Staffs Sailing Chaplains for SUNY–Maritime's Summer Sea Term | | |
For many SUNY Maritime College cadets, the Summer Sea Term (SST) marks their first extended experience on open water. The SST brings its own set of challenges and pressures, and when invited, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) assembles a chaplaincy team to provide pastoral and counseling support to the cadets throughout the voyage.
SCI is honored by the trust SUNY Maritime places in our chaplains, and we’ve been answering this call since 2021. This year’s contingent of chaplains consists of the Rev. Anne Reed, an SCI Chaplain Associate from Cincinnati; the Rev. Charlie Stiernberg, M.D., an SCI Chaplain Associate from Houston; the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, SCI’s President & Executive Director; and the Rev. Jay Geisler, an SCI Chaplain Associate from Pittsburgh. Fr. Geisler will relieve Mark in late July while the ship is in port in Bermuda and make the crossing back to Ft. Schuyler.
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Above: The Rev. Mark Nestlehutt with SUNY's "Cajun contingent."
Below, Left: The Rev. Anne Reed with Cadet 1C Griffen departing New York Harbor for Nassau, Bahamas.
Below, Right: The Rev. Dr. Charlie Stiernberg and cadets, underway to Portland, Maine.
| | SCI Welcomes New Director at the International Seafarers Center | | |
The Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew W. Morse, Esq. as the new Director of the International Seafarers’ Center in Port Newark. Originally from Long Island, NY, Matt brings a wealth of experience in law and nonprofit leadership.
With over 15 years of legal experience in Manhattan, managing projects and other operational aspects at Syncora, Matt transitioned to the nonprofit sector in 2020. He assumed leadership roles at Marble Collegiate Church as Chairperson and served on the board of the Collegiate Church Corporation.
As Director, Matt will lead ISC's efforts to support seafarers in the Port of New York & New Jersey, ensuring the delivery of vital services such as hospitality, ship visits, and local transportation. He will sustain SCI’s presence and reputation within the port community, establishing connections with key stakeholders and strategic partners. Matt will also oversee the ISC facility, its personnel, and day-to-day operations. His experience, commitment to mission-driven work, and dedication to serving others make him ideal for this role. Welcome to SCI, Matt.
| | Pilot and Tug Master Training — "A Win For Maritime Safety" | | |
In early July, four pilots from Buckeye Bahamas terminal and four tug masters from Kotug Seabulk Maritime participated in a comprehensive combined pilot and tug master training at SCI's Center for Maritime Education in Houston, Texas. During the session, the pilots operated various classes of tankers, from Handymax to VLCC, while the tug masters assisted the pilots and were trained to manage their ASD and Rotor Tugs more effectively. They were engaged in interactive training sessions and emergency drills during vessel arrivals and departures at the offshore marine terminal, as well as arrivals on Buckeye’s jetty within the inner harbor.
Two experts from KOTUG’s Training & Consultancy arm, Capt. Waldo de Waal (Tugmaster) and Capt. Jan Frans van den Hoek (Retired Rotterdam senior pilot), provided professional tug training and operational pilotage expertise to demonstrate enhanced port safety and efficiency. SCI personnel generated the custom Bahamas database, facilitated the training by operating simulators, and developed the simulations.
This program underscores CME’s determination to innovate, meet customer needs, and our overarching commitment to mariners and maritime safety. “We are always excited for such opportunities,” noted CME Director Capt. Stephen Polk. “For inland and near-coastal operations, ships and boats work closely and constantly interact. Anytime we can get pilots and masters together and run hyper-accurate scenarios like these, it’s a win for maritime safety. And we thank Buckeye Partners and KOTUG for their trust in us, for their sustained and strong partnership, and for their dedication to training.”
| | SIMULATOR TRAINING IN ACTION — Click BELOW to watch a sample of some sped-up training sessions between ship pilots and tug masters for this integrated program based in Freeport, Bahamas. In these simulations, each vessel is operated by mariners in different bridge rooms, communicating with each other and the control room. | | SCI Advocacy Director to Moderate GICA Mariner Mental Health Panel | | |
Mariners in the inland marine industry often work under challenging conditions. These challenges can be further exacerbated by periods of isolation from friends and family, which can affect mental health. At SCI's Center for Mariner Advocacy, these realities drive our mission, and we take every opportunity to work with the industry and advocate for ways to improve inland mariners’ wellbeing.
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To that end, Phil Schifflin, Director of the Center for Mariner Advocacy, will be moderating a panel discussion at this year’s Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association’s (GICA) Annual Seminar, held at the Westin Hotel in New Orleans, LA. The seminar runs from August 7 to 9, with Phil's panel, titled “Workforce Essentials: Exploring Mariner Mental Health,” taking place on the morning of August 9th. The panel members have been serving on a committee that has been working on various mental health issues with a focus on inland mariners. The panelists will be discussing their progress so far and seeking feedback from the audience to assist in better informing the committee's next steps. If you’re interested and able to attend, your attendance and participation would be welcomed. Check out the conference web page here.
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Supporting Mariners in Crisis
by Chaplain Geoffrey Davis
From SCI's June 2024 Quarterly Activity Report
| | New SCI Chaplain Geoff Davis recounts his first month, highlighting meaningful encounters with mariners. When a critical incident affected a ship’s crew, he quickly responded, providing timely support and facilitating open communication to help mitigate long-term impacts. His efforts were appreciated by the captain and management, underscoring the importance of SCI’s presence in times of need. | | |
As a new Chaplain with SCI, my first month was filled with meaningful encounters and reunions with industry partners. Each day, I set out to visit and connect with mariners, primarily on towboats. The relationships I’ve begun to form have been a great blessing.
One morning, just as I was preparing for routine vessel visits, I received a call about a critical incident that had affected a ship’s crew. With my car already packed, I hit the road within minutes. When helping crews in crisis, getting on board as soon as is safely possible is critical, and the timely notification we received from the ship’s management team facilitated this. Our commitment to open communication and swift response ensures that the crew is well-supported during such challenging times.
Upon boarding, I started assisting the affected mariners. A significant part of processing such an experience involves sharing and speaking with someone. Regularly expressing thoughts and feelings after critical incidents help mitigate long-term impacts. As an SCI Chaplain, I promote open communication among the crew during these times. The close relationships formed onboard often resemble family bonds, providing a supportive network for sharing and discussion. I also encourage crews to maintain communication with their families at home throughout the recovery process.
Responding to critical incidents presents unique challenges. Each vessel has its own cultural framework shaped by the diverse experiences and backgrounds of the crew members. Effective listening is essential to understand each crew member's specific problems and concerns. Additionally, the work on board must continue to support daily operations, adding another layer of complexity to the response.
I was able to provide individual counsel to the entire crew in the ship’s office, and our meetings were productive. Together, we developed a plan to navigate the stress and grief stemming from the incident. Several days later, the captain and shoreside management expressed their gratitude for SCI’s response, highlighting its significant and positive impact on the crew and the ship's operations. Their appreciation affirmed the importance of our support and the value of our work.
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SCI's Origin Story
On this date, in 1843, the organization that became SCI held its first church service for seamen at the corner of Pike and South Streets. The service was held over a grog shop in a rented room, which was used until the first floating church was ready in 1844. The interior can be seen here.
The Young Men's Auxiliary Education and Missionary Society was formed in 1834 with the idea of doing missionary work. Initially, they focused on serving Appalachia, but in the early 1840s, they turned their attention to seafarers.
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