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MARINERS DEPEND ON SCI.

SCI DEPENDS ON YOU.

SCI Chaplain Geoff Davis (pictured here on the right) visits with mariners in Channelview, Texas.

IN THIS ISSUE – August 2025

• 2025 SCI Mountain Challenge: Support Our Competitors
• Charting the Future: SCI Chaplain the Rev. Geoffrey Davis on SUNY Maritime’s Summer Sea Term
• Director of SCI's Center for Maritime Education, Capt. Stephen Polk, Featured on Between the Levees Podcast
• ASIST Training: A Crucial Investment in Seafarer Support
• CMA Internship Wrap-Up: Leilany Rodriguez Reflects on a Summer of Advocacy
• WISTA NY/NJ & CT Joins SCI for Christmas In July at Port Newark
• Available Now: The Knit Before Christmas—Summer 2025
• 2025 Mariner Mental Health & Well-being Survey
• From the SCI Archives—Legacy on the Waterfront: SCI's Joseph Conrad Library and Mariners' Hotel

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS

On September 25–28, 2025, SCI will gather for the 2025 Mountain Challenge at the Sunday River Resort in Maine. Mountain Challenge is a test of endurance inspired by mariners who push themselves every day in a race against time and nature to deliver the world’s commerce. 

While the course is a major part of the Mountain Challenge experience, our teams also participate in the Philanthropy Challenge, raising funds for SCI in pursuit of their upcoming challenge. If you would like to support our competitors, please click the link below.

SCI Chaplain, the Rev. Geoffrey Davis, joined the SUNY Maritime Summer Sea Term while the Empire State VII was docked in New Orleans.

Charting the Future: SCI Chaplain the Rev. Geoffrey Davis on SUNY Maritime’s Summer Sea Term

Serving as Chaplain aboard the State University of New York Maritime College’s training ship, Empire State VII, left me deeply encouraged about the future of the maritime profession.

For years, conversations about mariner shortages have raised real concerns: Where will new mariners come from? Can today’s young sailors meet the demands of the job? My time aboard answered those questions with a resounding “Yes.” SUNY Maritime has developed a strong and effective approach to preparing cadets—addressing both the evolving needs of the industry and the timeless demands of life at sea.

I met cadets from both long maritime lineages and first-generation backgrounds. What they shared was a genuine passion for the sea—an essential quality for becoming a Merchant Marine. I also saw officers, crew, and staff invest significant time, energy, and expertise in these students. Many even came out of retirement or took leave from their voyages to train the next generation of mariners.

The Summer Sea Term is far more than a graduation requirement—it’s an essential stage in a young officer’s professional and personal growth. Cadets live the rhythms of shipboard life, stand watch, take on responsibilities, and often experience being out of cell range for the first time. The challenges can be as personal as they are professional, especially in those early years at sea. That’s where the SCI Chaplaincy comes in: offering presence, care, and encouragement.

The Seamen’s Church Institute has provided chaplains for SUNY Maritime’s Summer Sea Term since 2021, and I was honored to serve this summer as we sailed from New Orleans across the Atlantic toward the Azores. Through meaningful conversations, Sunday worship, weekday Bible studies, and regular rounds around the ship, I connected with cadets in both struggles and triumphs. Whether meeting them at morning formations, cleaning stations, the library, or on the bridge, each encounter was an opportunity to listen, encourage, and help them process the challenges they faced.

Life as a cadet is demanding. Alongside academic projects and assessments, they must maintain cleaning stations, perform maintenance, and stand their watches.

Serving aboard the Empire State VII wove together many threads of my own life—teaching maritime subjects, sailing as a deck officer, pastoring, campus ministry, and now maritime chaplaincy. Nineteen years ago, as a freshman cadet at Texas A&M Maritime Academy, I never imagined I’d return to sea in this way. Back then, the structure and discipline of the academy were exactly what I needed; today, I see those same transformative forces shaping the lives of these cadets.

I left the ship confident that seamanship is alive and well in the next generation. The future of the maritime industry is bright, fueled by passionate, well-trained, and resilient young mariners. Employers, take note: SUNY Maritime is doing something remarkable. The sea’s next generation is ready.

Director of SCI's Center for Maritime Education, Capt. Stephen Polk, Featured on Between the Levees Podcast

Capt. Stephen Polk, Director of Maritime Education and Training at the Seamen's Church Institute's Center for Maritime Education (CME), was recently featured on Between the Levees, the podcast hosted by Tim Tregle that spotlights voices from the inland maritime industry.

In this engaging episode, Capt. Polk shares his journey—growing up in the Houston area, studying maritime at Texas A&M Galveston, and navigating a career that spans both civilian and military service. His story offers an in-depth look at what inspired his passion for the maritime world and how it ultimately led him to SCI, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of mariners.

Listeners will gain insight into his philosophy on mariner education and training, his dedication to excellence, and his belief in preparing both seasoned and emerging mariners for success on the water. Listen to the full episode here.

ASIST Training: A Crucial Investment in Seafarer Support

On July 21 and 22, staff and volunteers from Seamen’s Church Institute’s International Seafarers’ Center (ISC) participated in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)—a globally recognized, evidence-based workshop designed to equip participants with life-saving intervention skills. The training focused not only on recognizing and responding to individuals at risk of suicide but also on empowering participants to engage meaningfully with those experiencing profound emotional distress.

The workshop was led by seasoned facilitators Dr. Mansour “Max” Banilivy, Director of Clinical Training and Education at WellLife Network, and Mary Jean Coleman, Consultant at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Their combined expertise and compassionate instruction created a rich and impactful learning environment.

SCI attendees included ISC Director Matt Morse, full-time SCI Chaplain and licensed social worker Michelle McWilliams, and volunteer Chaplain Associates Rev. Dr. Phillip Yohannan, Rev. Mathew Thomas, Rev. Mary Mathew, and Professor Matt Rosales.

ASIST, developed by LivingWorks, teaches participants how to recognize warning signs, engage with those in crisis, and develop a safety plan that preserves life and dignity. Through practical simulations and group discussions, participants gain the confidence to have difficult conversations about suicide and support those navigating emotional or psychological challenges.

For SCI—whose mission centers on the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of mariners—the significance of this training cannot be overstated. Seafarers and maritime workers often endure social isolation, immense stress, and limited access to mental health resources. As such, SCI personnel must be prepared to respond compassionately and effectively when signs of distress arise—whether aboard vessels or within the ISC’s port-based community.

Reflecting on the training, Director Matt Morse remarked:

“As a result of this training, the ISC team is now better positioned to support the well-being of seafarers aboard vessels, as well as maritime workers who visit our center. With the skills and confidence gained through ASIST, we are now equipped to be a lifeline—offering not just intervention, but a sense of safety, connection, and care when it matters most.”

He continued:

“The importance of this training cannot be overstated. Suicide remains a critical public health issue, and those working closely with vulnerable populations—such as the seafarers and maritime workers we are privileged to serve—must be prepared to offer immediate, informed, and empathetic care. ASIST has strengthened our ability to respond in a way that upholds inherent human dignity and fosters hope in moments of deepest need.”

CMA Internship Wrap-Up: Leilany Rodriguez Reflects on a Summer of Advocacy

On the left: Leilany Rodriguez, SCI's Center for Mariner Advocacy's Summer Intern, visits with a seafarer while in Port Newark with SCI Chaplain Michelle McWilliams (on the right).

For over three decades, the Seamen’s Church Institute’s Center for Mariner Advocacy (CMA) has hosted summer interns from Tulane University School of Law. This summer, CMA was pleased to welcome Leilany Rodriguez to this longstanding program. During her time with CMA, Leilany made meaningful contributions across a range of advocacy, research, and outreach initiatives: 

• Developed training materials for U.S. Port State Control Officers to enhance inspections for seafarer rights, focusing on principles of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.

• Verified and updated SCI’s flag state contact database to support the advocacy work of Phil Schifflin, Esq., Director of the Center for Mariner Advocacy, ensuring accurate and current resources for assisting mariners.

• Contributed to SCI’s joint research project with Yale University, “Perceived Effectiveness of Recommended and Implemented Interventions to Improve U.S. Brown and Coastal Water Mariner Wellness,” by reviewing and editing content for clarity and impact. 

• Participated in a field visit to New York City, meeting with the American P&I Club, Liberian Ship Registry, SCI Chaplains at the International Seafarers’ Center, seafarers aboard ships at Port Newark, and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York Port State Control Division. 

• Attended and observed Port Welfare Committee meetings along the Lower Mississippi River, engaging with U.S. Coast Guard, Customs & Border Protection, maritime professionals, union representatives, and chaplains to understand collaborative efforts addressing real-time mariner welfare concerns. 

Before returning to Tulane for the fall semester, Leilany will participate in The Berlin Program, a joint initiative between Tulane Law School and Berlin’s Humboldt University that focuses on alternative dispute resolution in cross-cultural contexts. Building on the skills and insight gained during her internship with CMA, Leilany will further her experience in the maritime industry next summer as a Summer Associate in Holland & Knight’s Corporate – Trade Regulation (Maritime) Practice Group in Washington, D.C. 

Reflecting on her time at SCI, Leilany shared: 

“This internship has truly changed my life. Having the opportunity to be mentored by Phil Schifflin made this experience especially meaningful. His guidance, trust, and support shaped not only the work I did this summer, but also the way I see myself as a future maritime professional. Being introduced to individuals across the maritime industry at different stages in their careers gave me invaluable insight, and I now feel confident entering a field filled with hardworking, kind, and passionate people. 

I also want to extend a special thank you to Doug Stevenson for making my visit to New York such an unforgettable experience. From visiting the American P&I Club and Liberian Ship Registry to joining chaplains on ship visits and observing U.S. Coast Guard inspections, I gained insight that no textbook could ever provide. I could not feel more thankful to have been part of CMA’s work this summer, and I am especially grateful to Phil for making it all possible.” 

From left to right: Doug Stevenson, Director Emeritus, Center for Mariner Advocacy (formerly, Center for Seafarers’ Rights), Leilany Rodriguez, and Matt Morse, Director of SCI's International Seafarers Center (ISC) during Rodriguez's visit to the ISC at Port Newark.

Second from right: Leilany Rodriguez visits with members of the United States Coast Guard during her visit to Port Newark in July.

WISTA NY/NJ & CT Joins SCI for Christmas In July at Port Newark

Farthest to the left: SCI's Executive Director & President, the Rev. Mark S. Nestlehutt, and Joanne Bartosik, Senior Manager, Development & Christmas at Sea (third from right), joined by members of WISTA NY/NJ and CT at Port Newark for Christmas in July.

Available Now: The Knit Before Christmas—Summer 2025

The Summer 2025 edition of The Knit Before Christmas is here! This issue of Seamen’s Church Institute’s signature publication celebrates the impact of our Christmas at Sea program and shares our heartfelt thanks to the knitters, crocheters, ditty bag makers, and volunteers who help bring it to life.

Online and audio versions are now available! Click here to read or listen now.

SCI Supports 2025 Mariner Mental Health & Well-being Survey

Through the Seamen’s Church Institute’s Center for Mariner Advocacy, we engage health and maritime industry professionals to advance policy, initiatives, and best practices that support mariner mental health and overall well-being. We also recognize that useful data is essential in developing effective support systems that address the industry's unique needs. To that end, we are pleased to assist Dr. Marissa Baker from the University of Washington’s School of Public Health in distributing the 2025 Mariner Mental Health and Well-being Survey.

[This survey is open only to U.S. citizens and mariners working on U.S.-flagged vessels. It is designed to gather information about their mental health, well-being, and work experiences, and gauge how the industry has rebounded since COVID-19. This survey has been reviewed by representatives from: MARAD, SOCP, CMTS, NOAA, Maritime Academies, and American Waterways Operators. Please share this post/link with U.S. mariners and maritime operators.]

 FROM THE SCI ARCHIVES 

Legacy on the Waterfront: SCI's Joseph Conrad Library and Mariners' Hotel

Joseph Conrad, seafarer and author of often nautical tales, died in 1924 just as the Seamen’s Church Institute was planning an expansion to its 12-story hotel and mariner services center at 25 South St. The building, constructed in the lead-up to WWI, had proved inadequate to the needs of mariners in the expanding port.

SCI named the addition’s library after Conrad in appreciation for how his work bridged the divide between mariners and the public. His writing built empathy for the seafarers' and river workers' conditions and helped develop interest in SCI’s work. The library relieved boredom aboard and provided opportunities for professional development, just as our Center for Mariner Education does today.

📖 Pictured: A portrait of Conrad by Oscar Edward Cesare from the August 1925 issue of The Lookout, reprinted with permission from The New York Times and Arthur Harlow & Co.

Interested in learning more? SCI's Archivist, Stefan Dreisbach-Williams, delves further into the history of the Joseph Conrad Library in an article featured in The Lookout—Spring 2025. Click here to read.

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