Kempton Baldridge News - The Waterways Journal

Blessing Ceremony Marks SCI River Chaplain Transition From left: The Rev. Kempton Baldridge, the Rev. David Shirk and the Rev. Tom Rhoades. (Photo by Shelley Byrne)

From left: The Rev. Kempton Baldridge, the Rev. David Shirk and the Rev. Tom Rhoades. (Photo by Shelley Byrne)

Blessing Ceremony Marks SCI River Chaplain Transition

March 4, 2022

The tools of the trade the Rev. David Shirk received as the new Upper Mississippi and Ohio River chaplain for Seamen’s Church Institute may not have been what he expected. Read More

RocketShip Pilots Train On New SCI Simulator Model The R/S RocketShip transports Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy boosters, second stages and payload fairings for United Launch Alliance (ULA) to be used in the space program. (Photo courtesy of Seamen’s Church Institute)

The R/S RocketShip transports Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy boosters, second stages and payload fairings for United Launch Alliance (ULA) to be used in the space program. (Photo courtesy of Seamen’s Church Institute)

RocketShip Pilots Train On New SCI Simulator Model

January 21, 2022

Crowds who watch the launch of spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center or gathered in front of their TVs likely have no idea that for the past 22 years it has… Read More

Golding, Nadeau Lead River Bell Honorees Austin Golding, left, and Rev. Mark Nestlehutt flank Steve Golding, chairman of Golding Barge Line, who received the River Bell Award at the 21st annual River Bell Awards Luncheon in Paducah, Ky., December 9. (Photo courtesy of Seamen's Church Institute)

Austin Golding, left, and Rev. Mark Nestlehutt flank Steve Golding, chairman of Golding Barge Line, who received the River Bell Award at the 21st annual River Bell Awards Luncheon in Paducah, Ky., December 9. (Photo courtesy of Seamen's Church Institute)

Golding, Nadeau Lead River Bell Honorees

December 22, 2021

In a ceremony that paid tribute to mariners as the essential workers who kept freight moving throughout a global pandemic along with the recognized honorees, the Seamen’s Church Institute held… Read More

‘Chaps’ Baldridge Retiring From Seamen’s Church Institute When the Rev. Kempton Baldridge retires as Seamen’s Church Institute’s senior river chaplain early next year after more than 11 years of service, friends and colleagues say his cheerfulness along with his tireless commitment to mariners and genuine concern over their wellbeing will be difficult to replace. (Photo courtesy of Seamen's Church Institute)

When the Rev. Kempton Baldridge retires as Seamen’s Church Institute’s senior river chaplain early next year after more than 11 years of service, friends and colleagues say his cheerfulness along with his tireless commitment to mariners and genuine concern over their wellbeing will be difficult to replace. (Photo courtesy of Seamen's Church Institute)

‘Chaps’ Baldridge Retiring From Seamen’s Church Institute

December 17, 2021

The Rev. Kempton Baldridge makes a habit of reaching out to people. He shakes the hands of the towboat crews he calls shipmates. He lays a hand on a shoulder… Read More

Campbell Celebrates Additions To Fleet In Pittsburgh Ceremony The mv. Marci Gale leaves the christening ceremony to go to work. The 4,300 hp. towboat is the former Elizabeth Lane, which Campbell bought from Canal Barge Company and had extensively refurbished at Main Iron Works. (Photo by Fisher Fotos)

The mv. Marci Gale leaves the christening ceremony to go to work. The 4,300 hp. towboat is the former Elizabeth Lane, which Campbell bought from Canal Barge Company and had extensively refurbished at Main Iron Works. (Photo by Fisher Fotos)

Campbell Celebrates Additions To Fleet In Pittsburgh Ceremony

August 27, 2021

In this age of mandates, the one mandate that meant the most when Campbell Transportation Company held a christening ceremony in Pittsburgh recently was seemingly “to have a little fun,”… Read More

Maritime Nonprofits Partner To Bring WWII Ship To Ohio River P-520, a World War II Crash Rescue Boat, is headed to the Ohio River. The boat is aboard the mv. St. Georg, a yacht carrier, for trans-shipment through the Panama Canal. (Photo courtesy of Maritime Pastoral Training Foundation)

P-520, a World War II Crash Rescue Boat, is headed to the Ohio River. The boat is aboard the mv. St. Georg, a yacht carrier, for trans-shipment through the Panama Canal. (Photo courtesy of Maritime Pastoral Training Foundation)

Maritime Nonprofits Partner To Bring WWII Ship To Ohio River

September 21, 2020

America’s last PT boat, PTF-26, won’t be operating on the Ohio River this fall, but a partnership between the Maritime Pastoral Training Foundation Ltd., which owns it, and a nonprofit… Read More

SCI Chaplains Continue Vessel Ministry Through Morale Boxes Jessica Allain, manager of Benedetto’s Market, speaks with Rev. Tom Rhoades.

SCI Chaplains Continue Vessel Ministry Through Morale Boxes

August 9, 2020

Life on a towboat was difficult prior to COVID-19, with the dangers of the job combined with time away from home. But the virus has brought new restrictions and stresses,… Read More

Last PT Boat Prepares For River Mission PTF-26 could leave California as soon as August for a trip first to Ensenada, Mexico, where it will be transported as deck cargo through the Panama Canal and on into the Gulf of Mexico. Known as the last American PT boat, it could arrive on the Ohio River by mid-September. (Photo courtesy of Maritime Pastoral Training Foundation Ltd.)

PTF-26 could leave California as soon as August for a trip first to Ensenada, Mexico, where it will be transported as deck cargo through the Panama Canal and on into the Gulf of Mexico. Known as the last American PT boat, it could arrive on the Ohio River by mid-September. (Photo courtesy of Maritime Pastoral Training Foundation Ltd.)

Last PT Boat Prepares For River Mission

May 22, 2020

The last of the Vietnam War era’s fast patrol boats has new ownership, a continued mission of service and plans for a home port on the Ohio River. The Maritime… Read More

Seamen’s Church Institute Adapts To Continue Ministries

In a pastoral response adapted to the realities of the global pandemic, Senior River Chaplain Kempton Baldridge transfers two parcels to Brandon Land, supervisor at Ingram Barge Company‘s warehouse in Paducah, Ky., for further delivery to an Ingram towboat crew on the Lower Mississippi River. With all vessel visits curtailed, chaplains must communicate their care and concern for crews by different means. Thus, after learning of a crewmember’s death earlier in the day, Chaplain Baldridge packed up the flag of the U.S. Merchant Marine to fly in the mariner’s memory and a large morale box loaded with books, DVDs, dental kits, snacks and prayer books for his shipmates, ever mindful to observe “social distancing” protocols. (Photo courtesy of Seamen's Church Institute)

Seamen’s Church Institute Adapts To Continue Ministries

April 11, 2020

Note: This is a revised and expanded version of a story that was previously posted on Waterwaysjournal.net. This version also appears in the April 13, 2020, print edition. The Seamen’s… Read More

Seamen’s Church Institute Continues Ministries

March 27, 2020

The Seamen’s Church Institute has reassured supporters in an emailed bulletin and website message about its ministries’ continued operation as the world responds to the coronavirus pandemic. SCI has four… Read More