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MARINERS DEPEND ON SCI.
SCI DEPENDS ON YOU.
| | SCI Chaplain the Rev. Nancy Simpson meets with a mariner on the dock along Buffalo Bayou in Channelview, Texas. | | |
IN THIS ISSUE – June 2025
- In Memory of Jim Lawrence, Fifteen-Year SCI Board Member
- See You On The Mountain: Register for the 2025 SCI Mountain Challenge
- 47th Silver Bell Awards Dinner
- Being There For a Grieving Maritime Community
- Matt Morse Represents SCI Abroad, Strengthening Global Ties in Seafarer Welfare
- Welcoming General Theological Seminary to the International Seafarers’ Center
- SCI Advances Advocacy Mission with Coast Guard Training
- The Eagle Has Landed: Precision Meets Purpose with SCI’s Maritime Simulator Training
- When Courage Meets Crisis: Stories from the 2025 LSBA Honorees
- From the SCI Archives: The Brooklyn Bridge and Its Ties to SCI
| | THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS | | In Memory of Jim Lawrence, Fifteen-Year SCI Board Member | | |
It is with profound sadness that the Seamen’s Church Institute mourns the passing of Jim Lawrence, a true legend in the maritime industry and a cherished member of our SCI family.
Jim served on our Board of Trustees for fifteen years, embodying SCI's mission to support and advocate for mariners and seafarers worldwide. His dedication, warm spirit, and joyful character left a lasting impression on all of us.
Jim's wisdom was greatly respected, his compassion was sincere, and his devotion to the maritime community was unmatched. His presence was a true gift. As one Board member noted, “Jim celebrated life and was always positive and caring; may we all strive to live our lives more like Jim.” SCI extends our deepest condolences to his wife, Jill, and the entire Lawrence family. You are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
In a 2018 interview, as that year's Silver Bell Award Recipient, Jim spoke passionately about his longtime commitment to supporting the Seamen's Church Institute and the mariners we serve. Click below to view the interview.
| | SCI invites the maritime community to join us on September 25–28 at the Sunday River Resort in Maine for a test of endurance inspired by mariners. | | Blessing of the Vessels at the 2025 Silver Bell Awards Dinner. Attending clergy from left to right: the Rev. Kristin Kaulbach Miles from Trinity Church, NYC; the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, SCI President & Executive Director; the Rt. Rev. Matthew F. Heyd, Bishop of Episcopal Diocese New York; the Rev. Dr. Bill Allport, SCI Chaplain; the Rt. Rev. Allen K. Shin, Bishop Suffragan of Episcopal Diocese of New York; and the Rev. James Kollin, SCI Chaplain. | | |
On Thursday, June 12, the Seamen’s Church Institute hosted the 47th Annual Silver Bell Awards Dinner at New York City’s Chelsea Piers. This year, the event honored Christopher J. Wiernicki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer American Bureau of Shipping, with the Silver Bell Award and Joseph E.M. Hughes, Chairman of Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc.—Managers of the American P&I Club, with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, President and Executive Director of SCI remarked, “Silver Bell is SCI’s opportunity to bring the maritime community together in celebration of our industry and in recognition of the vital contributions made by seafarers to global commerce. This year, we’re especially thrilled to honor two remarkable industry leaders, Chris and Joe, both long-time champions of SCI’s mission and tireless advocates for the seafarers we are privileged to serve.”
As is traditional for the Silver Bell event, the evening began with a parade of vessels on the Hudson River, blessed by the Rt. Rev. Matthew F. Heyd, Episcopal Bishop of New York, assisted by Suffragan Bishop Alan Shin. They were joined by the Rev. Kristin Kaulbach Miles from Trinity Church, NYC, and the Rev. James Kollin and the Rev. Dr. Bill Allport, SCI Chaplains. The Port Authority Police Department Pipes & Drums led the guests inside to dinner, where the United States Coast Guard Sector New York Color Guard opened the dinner by presenting the colors. The National Anthem was sung by the Quartet from the Choir of Trinity Church, NYC, who also closed the evening with the hymn Eternal Father, Strong to Save.
The 2025 Silver Bell Awards Dinner welcomed 600 guests and raised more than $770,000 to fund SCI’s efforts in supporting international seafarers and domestic mariners. The Rev. Nestlehutt expressed his gratitude, stating, “The Silver Bell is always a meaningful event for us, and we are thankful this evening for the guests, supporters, and sponsors who share our commitment, believe in our work, and gave generously to support our mission.”
| | Christopher J. Wiernicki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the American Bureau of Shipping, received the 2025 Silver Bell Award (pictured holding the award). He is joined by, from left to right, SCI Trustees and Silver Bell Event Co-Chairs John D. (Jack) Noonan and B. Buckley McAllister, Esq., along with SCI President & Executive Director, the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt. | | Joseph E.M. Hughes, Chairman of Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc.—Managers of the American P&I Club, received the 2025 Silver Bell Lifetime Achievement Award (pictured holding the award). He is joined by, from left to right, SCI Trustees and Silver Bell Event Co-Chairs John D. (Jack) Noonan and B. Buckley McAllister, Esq., along with SCI President & Executive Director, the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt. | | Being There For a Grieving Maritime Community | | |
by the Rev. Grace Pardun
Supervisory Chaplain, Ministry on the River, Upper Mississippi & Ohio River Region
From the June 2025 Quarterly Activity Report
On Good Friday, when many of us are preparing for the holiest weekend of the church year, I got a phone call from a maritime company. A well-loved shoreside staffer, who had been with the company for many years, fell ill suddenly and sadly passed away. Through talking with the company, I understood that her loss was going to be difficult and impactful.
On Easter Sunday, I got in my vehicle and drove several hours to the company’s location. Early Monday morning, I met with the company’s leadership to discuss the plan for the day. I held a session with the entire staff, then with the
family of the deceased when they arrived. After that, I went to the shipyard and met with the staff and workers there. Finally, I returned to the shoreside offices and conducted a Critical Incident Management Debriefing with three staff members who were more directly impacted. In between each of these sessions, I met with staff members, one-on-one, to offer grief counseling.
It was a full day. Given the relentless pace of the inland maritime industry, it would have been easy to overlook the need for space to grieve or reflect on a tragic loss. But company leadership made a wise and compassionate choice: to pause and make time. The family of the deceased was invited to the company office to meet the staff, the very people the deceased often spoke about. It became a meaningful moment of connection, as they shared stories, honored her memory, and came together in remembrance while collecting her personal belongings. As someone still relatively new to full-time maritime chaplaincy, I am particularly moved by how deeply interconnected the people are within our industry. This loss showed this: it rippled, affecting everyone at work as if they were
family.
Losing someone is heartbreaking and unsettling. Too often, we don’t allow ourselves the time or space to truly grieve. We convince ourselves that the best response is to stay busy, to keep moving forward. And yet, facing difficult feelings within a community, with each other, while it’s not pretty or comfortable, is incredibly helpful for the long journey of healing. In my view, this was the essence of my visit: to support this community in taking the first steps toward healing. I believe it was an experience that reflects the core of SCI’s chaplaincy—entering willingly into difficult places of hardship and sorrow, bringing with us peace, comfort, and reassurance that no one in maritime stands alone. When we experience loss, we mourn as a community, and together, we begin to heal.
| | Matt Morse Represents SCI Abroad, Strengthening Global Ties in Seafarer Welfare | Matt Morse, Director of SCI's International Seafarer's Center visits with seafarers en route to Port Newark, NJ in Hamburg, Germany. | |
Matt Morse, Director of the Seamen’s Church Institute’s International Seafarers’ Center (ISC), recently returned from a meaningful two-week journey to Germany and Poland on behalf of SCI. His first week was spent in Hamburg, Germany, where he visited a number of seafarers’ welfare organizations and centers. There, he observed best practices, built relationships with dedicated staff and volunteers, and deepened SCI’s collaborative ties with international partners.
In the second week, Morse traveled to Poland to participate in a specialized training on seafarer welfare hosted by Jason Zuidema of the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA). He joined 17 fellow participants from across the globe, all committed to enhancing the care and support provided to seafarers worldwide.
Reflecting on his travels, Morse shared how moved he was by the warmth, hospitality, and generosity extended to him as a representative of SCI. “Healthy collaboration, communication, and connection between seafarers’ welfare organizations concretely benefit the men and women we are all privileged to serve,” he said.
“What we build together is stronger than what we can build alone.” – Matt Morse
One particularly meaningful moment occurred during a ship visit in Hamburg, led by Stella Maris Chaplain Monica Doring. There, Morse met seafarers who were en route to his center in Port Newark, NJ. “I looked them in the eye, learned their names and stories, and asked what my team at ISC could do to support them before their arrival. That moment—made possible through the generosity of both SCI and Stella Maris—was deeply powerful. What we build together is stronger than what we can build alone.”
As Morse returns to his role, he looks forward to reflecting further on his experience and applying the insights gained to benefit SCI’s programs and operations. He remains excited to continue the conversations and relationships sparked during this global exchange.
| Welcoming General Theological Seminary to the International Seafarers’ Center | Students from The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church visit the International Seafarer's Center in Port Newark. | |
The Chaplains and staff of the International Seafarers’ Center (ISC) were honored to host the current cohort of students from The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church as part of their course on Church Missions. This immersive visit was a day of shared ministry and profound engagement with God’s work among the world’s seafarers.
Chaplains Bill Allport and James Kollin, along with Chaplain Associates Jasper DelCarino, Anthony Puca, and Richard Sloan, warmly welcomed Dean of the Seminary, the Very Rev. Dr. Michael DeLashmutt, and Dr. Carla Roland, who accompanied a group of 20 students. Their time at ISC included joining Chaplains on ship visits, participating in worship for the Feast of the Ascension in the ISC chapel, and using our seminar facilities for reflective instruction.
The students actively took part in visiting vessels, meeting crews aboard ships and tugboats, delivering care packages, and offering transport—all moments that revealed the deep relational and spiritual dimension of maritime ministry.
Reflecting on the experience, Dean DeLashmutt shared:
“It was a powerful reminder that mission takes many forms—quiet conversation in a ship’s galley, prayer in a noisy port, shared stories that bridge oceans and cultures. And in every one of these moments, I saw our students embody the kind of leadership the Church needs: compassionate, grounded, and open to the world.”
We were deeply encouraged by the joy and openness of the seminary community as they encountered God’s mission in action—alive in the care of seafarers and the rhythms of port ministry.
| Chaplain Associate Jasper DelCarino (center) and General Theological Seminary students visiting vessels docked at Port Newark. | | SCI Advances Advocacy Mission with Coast Guard Training | |
On Tuesday, June 3, Phil Schifflin, Esq., Director of SCI's Center for Mariner Advocacy conducted a training session for U.S. Coast Guard personnel assigned to Marine Safety Unit Morgan City.
The session began with a brief overview of the Seamen’s Church Institute’s three mission areas: chaplain support for mariners, mariner training, and advocacy. Following this introduction, Phil focused the remainder of the training on the U.S. Coast Guard’s authority to inspect foreign-flagged vessels for issues related to seafarer welfare—including pay, repatriation, food quality, and living conditions. He emphasized how Coast Guard personnel can help ensure these vessels comply with the standards of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, despite the United States not being a party to the convention.
Throughout the training, Coast Guard participants remained engaged—asking thoughtful questions and actively participating in end-of-session exercises designed to reinforce the material covered. Phil looks forward to the next opportunity to provide similar training to another Coast Guard unit.
| | The Eagle Has Landed: Precision Meets Purpose with SCI’s Maritime Simulator Training | | |
SCI’s Center for Maritime Education recently welcomed the “M/V Eagle Vellore,” a custom-built VLCC ship model, to our Houston simulation facility. Developed in collaboration with the Maritime Simulation and Resource Centre (MSRC) in Quebec, this high-fidelity simulation is slated to support training for AET’s Ship-to-Ship Lightering Mooring Masters. As a global leader in petroleum transport, AET relies on advanced, realistic simulation to prepare mariners for the complex demands of lightering operations.
When it comes to specialized maritime simulator training, the accuracy of the ship model is critical. “For specialized training or feasibility studies, ship models are the most important element of the simulations," noted MSRC Director Paul Racicot. "They contain all the algorithms that will recreate conditions mariners would face in real, on-the-water situations. So, things like the bank, squat, ship-to-ship, current effects; a seasoned pilot or navigator running the model will quickly notice if these elements don't feel right or respond as they should, as they would on the water. This is why we ensure that all the ship models we develop internally are of 'pilot-grade' quality and making sure SCI's trainers have what they need to train AET professionals."
CME Director, Capt. Stephen Polk concurs, “Working with MSRC has been excellent. They're highly attentive and responsive. We're very excited with the M/V Eagle Vellore model—it includes dynamic loading capabilities, naming, and hull textures that significantly enhance experience and scenario development. We’re extremely pleased with the result. This is the third vessel model we’ve developed with Paul and his team, and it’s a significant addition to our training program for AET’s Mooring Masters.”
David Boudreaux, Head, Global Lightering, at AET added: “Our partnership with SCI spans over a decade and reflects a shared commitment to operational excellence and safety at every level. The development of the Eagle Vellore VLCC model equips our Mooring Masters with realistic, high-fidelity simulations that prepares them for managing complex ship-to-ship transfers with confidence and precision. By integrating real-world learnings into training, these simulations also support our incident reviews and root cause investigations, reinforcing AET’s Generative Safety Culture of learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.”
Accuracy means improved safety and CME’s Kongsberg KSIM simulators deliver exceptional experiential precision with realistic visuals, vessel handling, and scenario accuracy that give mariners and partners the confidence to train effectively. The addition of the Eagle Vellore model marks another significant milestone in our collaboration with MSRC as we aspire to provide models for maritime companies that combine advanced technology, expert insight, and operational excellence to elevate the standard of navigational simulation even further.
| | When Courage Meets Crisis: Stories from the 2025 LSBA Honorees | | From left to right: Leslie E. O'Neal, SCI's Director of Finance & Operations and LSBA Treasurer, awardee Ryan Mack, and the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, SCI's President & Executive Director and Chair of the LSBA Baord. | | |
The Life Saving Benevolent Association (LSBA) was founded in 1849 and is currently administered by SCI. The Association has three main objectives:
- To recognize and reward courage in the rescue of human life at sea or on navigable waters;
- To encourage training in seamanship, rescue methods, and resuscitation; and
- To carry out other charitable and educational services.
On May 22, 2025, the LSBA’s annual awards ceremony honored three individuals with medals, plaques, and monetary awards for meeting the criteria for a life-saving award in the previous year.
In September 2024, Ryan Mack swam out to rescue a swimmer who had been caught in a rip tide and was in severe distress. Mack gave the swimmer his own life vest, keeping him afloat until emergency services arrived.
In October, surfers Cooper Lysinger and Clayton Off were participating in a surfing competition when they responded to an alert: an unexpected wave had swept several fishermen off a nearby jetty. Weighed down by their waders, the fishermen would have been in serious danger had the surfers not acted quickly to bring them to safety.
The LSBA was proud to present all three men with awards in recognition of their bravery and service.
| | From left to right: Leslie E. O'Neal, SCI's Director of Finance & Operations and LSBA Treasurer, awardees Cooper Lysinger and Clayton Off, and the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt, SCI's President & Executive Director and Chair of the LSBA Baord. | | The Brooklyn Bridge and Its Ties to SCI | | |
On June 12,1806, John A. Roebling—the visionary behind the Brooklyn Bridge—was born. The bridge, an engineering marvel, stood as a long-time neighbor to SCI, appearing in many photos of our former headquarters at 25 South Street and later at 241 Water Street.
Roebling tragically died after his foot was crushed by a Brooklyn ferry while surveying the site. His son, Washington, continued the work until he too was sidelined by illness. It was Washington’s wife, Emily, who ultimately saw the bridge through to completion—an extraordinary family effort that made history.
The bridge’s story also includes conflict: legal battles over its construction and long-term operational limits for the nearby Brooklyn Navy Yard, which cited the bridge’s air draft as a factor in its 1966 closure.
Through triumphs and collisions, the Brooklyn Bridge remains a symbol of ingenuity—and a fixture in SCI’s historic view.
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