Seamen's Church Institute News - Page 5 of 8

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

Safety, Risk Assessment, Self-Care Take Center Stage At AWO Webinar

July 31, 2020

Two barge industry compliance leaders, Mark Sawyer and Jo Ann Salyers, presented COVID-19 safety and risk assessment tips as part of an American Waterways Operators’ “Virtual Summer of Safety” video… Read More

No Damage After Barge Hits Cumberland Bridge

July 27, 2020

A loaded rock barge hit a pier of the Cumberland River bridge in Smithland, Ky., briefly closing it July 19, but an inspector found no damage. The bridge carries U.S. Read More

Diversity On The Inland Waterways WJ Editorial

Diversity On The Inland Waterways

June 12, 2020

Our nation is currently undergoing an intense dialogue about its history and the different experiences of white and black Americans. Until a few generations ago, U.S. merchant mariners of all… Read More

Mariners Pilot Beneath Simulated New Ohio River Bridge Ingram Barge Company Capt. Joseph Eubanks, piloting a Seamen’s Church Institute towboat simulator, is downbound toward the piers of a new U.S. 51 bridge over the Ohio River, connecting Cairo, Ill., and Wickliffe, Ky. (Photo by Shelley Byrne)

Ingram Barge Company Capt. Joseph Eubanks, piloting a Seamen’s Church Institute towboat simulator, is downbound toward the piers of a new U.S. 51 bridge over the Ohio River, connecting Cairo, Ill., and Wickliffe, Ky. (Photo by Shelley Byrne)

Mariners Pilot Beneath Simulated New Ohio River Bridge

June 5, 2020

Experienced river captains from several companies recently spent a week virtually piloting towboats through more than 100 different computer scenarios, testing alignments and pier placements for a new bridge just… 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 Launches #stayhomeandknit Joanne Bartosik, manager of Seamen’s Church Institute’s Christmas at Sea/Christmas on the River program, shows off some of the many knitted items SCI collects to give out as Christmas gifts to mariners. (Photo courtesy of Seamen's Church Institute)

Joanne Bartosik, manager of Seamen’s Church Institute’s Christmas at Sea/Christmas on the River program, shows off some of the many knitted items SCI collects to give out as Christmas gifts to mariners. (Photo courtesy of Seamen's Church Institute)

Seamen’s Church Institute Launches #stayhomeandknit

April 19, 2020

What started as a photo of Joanne Bartosik staying home and knitting during the coronavirus outbreak has now grown into an expanded ministry for the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI). Bartosik… 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

Letter: Support For Families

April 5, 2020

Dear Mariners, Thank you for serving our country as U.S. merchant mariners, especially during this pandemic. Few people outside of our industry understand your sacrifices. I am particularly grateful for… 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