Dispatch from the Field: Port Newark


Here is an excerpt from SCI Chaplain James Kollin's pastoral report:

“My contract is nine months but I have been on board for 14 months now. I was able to manage for the first two  months of extension but for the 13th and 14th month, I have been feeling real mental and physical fatigue. I have requested for my repatriation as soon as able and until now I’m on a wait-and-see situation. I am anxious to go home for an overdue break, to reconnect with my family and grab a much needed good rest. I have a wife and three young children patiently waiting for me.” 

“When I go home and upon arrival at the airport, I will be immediately sent for swabbing test and wait for five days in a government-sponsored facility. If results are good, I am allowed to go home but mandated to do a 14-day self- quarantine and to be temp-checked by local officials every day until cleared. If results are bad, I will not be allowed to go home yet but will be quarantined in a facility under the care of my manning company.”

“I’ve been working onboard even beyond my finished contract due to  difficulties of crew change. However, I find this  better because I make more money versus going home without work and no money compounded by all these COVID-19 restrictions.”  

These are the common COVID-19-related  sentiments I have been hearing on board for the last five months. Recently though, I observed that crew change has relaxed. Yesterday a group of "joining" seafarers from overseas via JFK airport were dropped off at the center by their agent to wait for their ship which was scheduled to arrive in a few hours. 

My counseling conversations with these fatigued seafarers revolve around listening and discussing methods for mitigating stress. I attempt to affirm the value of these protocols and restrictions in safeguarding everyone’s well-being. By helping the seafarers understand the reality that there are things on earth that are beyond our control, by encouraging them to maintain self-care, sustain communications with families and maintain good relationship with co-workers, exercise physically, do meditations and prayer and wholesome entertainment, I try to be of service to them. I assume that the seafarers already know most of these principles, but I feel it is a comfort to them when I am there as a chaplain to remind and reassure them. 



Dispatch from the Field: Paducah


From Captain John Arenstam, Assistant Director of CME/Instructor:

Our schedule is completely full for September. One of the highlights of the month is that CME Paducah once again gets to provide a venue for mariner voices to have a big impact on the future of navigational safety on the river. We are assisting Waterway Simulation Technology, Inc., out of Vicksburg, with their navigational feasibility study for the proposed sediment diversion project located on the lower Mississippi at Mile 68.


The Numbers for the Power Up the River Campaign Are In & They Are Impressive!


Mariners and the maritime industry pooled their resources to make a significant impact on the lives of hungry people living along U.S. inland waterways.

Mariner gifts + company and matching donations provided by Marquette Transportation, Canal Barge, Kirby Corporation, Crescent Towing, SCI + the Eckstein Charitable Trust match provided food banks with a grand total of:

$479,656.23


Feeding Kentucky, Houston Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans, Mid-South Food Bank (Memphis), and St. Louis Area Foodbank are the beneficiaries of this campaign driven by 472 donors including inland mariners and marine transportation companies, as well as, the Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust.

Mate Travis Fields and Port Mate Chase Smith in the photo above model their Power Up the River hats distributed by Marquette's HR Department to every Marquette employee who donated $25 or more.




In a testament to the natural generosity and impact of the maritime community, Kirby employees responded to one email notice explaining the campaign in such great numbers that Kirby President & CEO David Grzebinski also approved a major donation from corporate. In all, 173 Kirby employees made individual contributions in this grass roots initiative.

"Food banks are doing an incredible job in tough circumstances with unprecedented demand. Kirby and its employees are honored and thankful to be able to help support this effort."
– David Grzebinski, President & CEO – Kirby Corporation


Good Luck, Kapya!

Chaplain James Kollin's daughter Kapya has been helping administer the front desk and our new COVID-19 protocols in Port Newark all summer. Next week she returns to online classes at the College of New Jersey where she is majoring in Chemistry.

Kapya says she has a very clear picture of the welcome center from the "olden days"' when she would visit with her dad before the major renovation of the facility. Because of the restrictions, she misses seeing the seafarers "hang out and play pool." This position was her first job, so when asked what she found unusual or new, she responded, "Everything!"

President & Executive Director, the Rev. Mark Nestlehutt had high praise for Kapya's work ethic and disposition. "She was a delightful addition, and we really needed her help this summer! I hope to see her back soon!"

Your support allows us to respond to mariner needs without hesitation!

Thank You!
This photo is a callback to happier times and to our hope for happy times again visiting the ships without COVID-19 restrictions.
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Founded in 1834 and affiliated with the Episcopal Church, the Seamen’s Church Institute of New York & New Jersey (SCI) is the largest, most comprehensive mariners’ agency in North America. Annually, its chaplains visit more than 3,000 vessels in the Port of New York and New Jersey and along 2,200 miles of America’s inland waterways. Through its Christmas at Sea program, SCI delivers 16,500 knitted gifts hand-crafted by volunteers to mariners. SCI’s maritime education facilities provide navigational training to 2,700 mariners each year through simulator-based facilities located in Houston, TX and Paducah, KY. The Institute and its maritime attorneys are recognized as leading advocates for merchant mariners by the United States Government, including the Congress, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security, as well as the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization, the International Labor organization and maritime trade associations.

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