Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey

The Seamen's Church Institute (SCI) of New York & New Jersey, founded in 1834 [Rousmaniere, Leah Robinson (1995). Anchored Within The Vail, A Pictorial History of the Seamen’s Church Institute. Seamen's Church Institute. ISBN 0-9643657-0-7] and affiliated with the Episcopal Church, serves mariners through education, pastoral care, and legal advocacy. With a budget of over $7 million dollars [ [http://www.seamenschurch.org/534.asp SCI Annual Report 2006] ] , SCI is the largest, most comprehensive mariners’ agency in North America. Headquartered in New York City [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7DA103CF935A35756C0A967958260 RICHARD F. SHEPARD, SOUTH STREET JOURNAL; Ahoy, Mates, the Institute's Back at the Seaport, New York Times, New York and Region, May 6, 1991] ] , the Institute operates a Seafarers’ Center in Port Newark [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E2D91430F931A2575AC0A9629C8B63 RONALD SMOTHERS, Port's House of God Goes Green, The New York Times, New York and Region, September 12, 2004] ] , Hospitality Centers in the Manhattan and Brooklyn Passenger Ship Terminal [ [http://www.seamenschurch.org/534.asp SCI Annual Report 2006] ] , and maritime education facilities in Paducah, KY [Joe Walker, In times of economic struggles, focus stays on training program, Paducah Sun, Front Page, Business Section, Sunday, July 7, 2002] and Houston, TX. [JENALIA MORENO, Waterway pilots try out new simulator, Houston Chronicle, May 11, 2001]

Annually, its chaplains visit 3,400 vessels in the Port of New York and New Jersey and along American inland waterways [ [http://www.seamenschurch.org/534.asp SCI Annual Report 2006] ] .

SCI and its maritime attorneys provide free legal advice for merchant mariners worldwide and advocates for their rights to the United States Government, including the United States Congress, the Department of Homeland Security, the US Coast Guard, as well as the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization, the International Labor Organization and maritime trade associations.

SCI instructors provide professional development and educational programs for inland, coastal, and deep-sea mariners using simulator training facilities at the SCI-Paducah Center (KY) and the SCI-Houston Center (TX). SCI counselors provide licensing and counseling service feasibility studies using database and digital media services offered at SCI’s headquarters in New York.

SCI Image Gallery

Highlights from the Log of SCI (1834-2006)

1834: First meeting of the Young Men's Auxiliary Education and Missionary Society, consisting of 42 charter members, the Rev. Benjamin J. Haight, president.

1842: The idea for a seamen's mission was favorably reported and a committee was formed to develop "the most advantageous plan for a floating chapel."

1843: The group's first church service for seamen was held at the corner of Pike and South Streets, over a grog shop.

1844: The Floating Church of Our Saviour for Seamen, in use until 1866, entered service at Pike Slip, East River.

1846: The Floating Church of the Holy Comforter, in use until 1868, was completed and towed to the foot of Dey Street, North River. The first service was held here on October 11.

1868: A house at 34 Pike Street was purchased and fitted up as a mission house. It was used until 1906.

1897: The Society's committee on legislation, led by J. Augustus Johnson, joined other seamen's societies in giving crucial support to the passage of federal statutes that marked the beginning of the real fight against crimping, shanghaiing and general exploitation of seamen.

1898: The Christmas at Sea Program began with the collection of knitted gifts. Today, 4,500 knitters represent every state, and in 2007, over 16,000 Christmas gifts were distributed.

1906: The Society was authorized to change its name to Seamen's Church Institute of New York, effective April 5.

1913: Seamen’s Church Institute was opened at 25 South Street. It had dormitories and bedrooms, dining and lunch rooms, soda fountain, barber, baggage and mail facilities, chapel, reading and game rooms, auditorium, savings department, lost and found, employment bureau, etc.

1914: Nautical training started for seamen at the Institute's Merchant Marine School, helping thousands of seamen earn higher ratings.

1921: Institute-sponsored legislation was passed requiring first aid certification for merchant seamen of the rank of master, pilot, mate or engineer.

1937: Shipboard services started, providing books, magazines, cards and games for shipboard use. During World War II, the pay of thousands of seamen has been protected by the sale of traveler's checks and through bank deposits made for them.

1939: First torpedoed crew of World War II welcomed at the Institute.

1961: The International Seafarers’ Center in Port Newark is dedicated. Today, staff and volunteers offer seafarers, port workers, and truckers a safe, friendly environment for relaxation, recreation, and spiritual refreshment.

1982: The Center for Seafarers’ Rights is established to provide a central source for research, education, and assistance with the problems of seafarers’ legal rights and to work with the international community to eliminate abuses

1991: Dedication of the Seamen’s Church Institute’s present headquarters at 241 Water Street.

1997: Dedication of the Center for Maritime Education – Paducah, the first training facility for America’s river mariners.

1998: Ministry on the River begins the only centrally organized pastoral service to mariners working along 2,200 miles of America’s inland waterways from Pittsburgh to Houston.

2001: SCI’s Center for Maritime Education – Gulf Region opened in the Port of Houston.

2004: The Seamen’s Church Institute and Ukrainian officials sign a ground-breaking agreement to protect and strengthen the rights of Ukrainian seafarers.

2005: SCI raises and distributes over $155,000 for mariners affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

2006: SCI celebrates its new Hospitality Center at the recently $56 million Brooklyn Cruise Ship Terminal. This Hospitality Center along with its sister Center at the Passenger Ship Terminal in Manhattan means that over 93,000 cruise ship workers have access to SCI’s social and pastoral care services.

2006: SCI’s bridge simulation saves Kentucky $50 million in construction costs. Data collected by State officials, the Coast Guard, and engineers using SCI’s Paducah simulator capabilities changed the I-65 bridge span requirements, saving the Commonwealth significant time and money.

Pastoral Care and Services, Port of New York and New Jersey

SCI, serving seafarers throughout the Port of New York & New Jersey, respond to mariners’ personal and pastoral needs by visiting 90% of all vessels entering annually and assisting thousands of seafarers reaching out to loved ones far away. The International Seafarers’ Center hosts thousands of seafarers annually for recreation, relaxation, and spiritual refreshment.

Pastoral Care and Services, Cruise Ship Terminals in Manhattan and Brooklyn

SCI chaplains are on hand to welcome cruise ships entering Manhattan and Brooklyn where thousands of cruise ship workers have easy access to pastoral care and such services as wire transfers, phone cards, Internet, and products unique to their homelands. [ [http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_93931_ENG_HTM.htm NEW YORK: Seamen's Church Institute delivers close to 500 gifts to Queen Victoria crew, Episcopal Life Online, January 15, 2008, http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_93931_ENG_HTM.htm] ]

Maritime Education and Training

SCI instructors provide professional development and educational programs for inland, coastal, and deep-sea mariners using simulator training facilities at the SCI-Paducah Center (KY) and the SCI-Houston Center (TX). SCI counselors provide licensing and counseling service feasibility studies using database and digital media services offered at SCI’s headquarters in New York.

Ministry on the River

Ministry on the River, SCI’s outreach program for inland mariners and their families, was created in 1998 to provide pastoral care, counseling and emergency response; it is the only network of pastoral care along 2,200 miles of America’s inland waterways. [ [http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_90892_ENG_HTM.htm New SCI chaplain covers waterways from Texas bayous to Florida Everglades, Episcopal Life Online, October 11, 2007 http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_90892_ENG_HTM.htm] ]

Policy, Advocacy and Law

SCI attorneys serve as a worldwide resource on seafarers’ rights and provide free legal advice to any merchant mariner. SCI attorneys give expert testimony to US and foreign government officials developing maritime policies, and provide internship opportunities.

Christmas at Sea

With more than 4,500 knitters drawn from all 50 states, SCI’s Christmas at Sea provides over 17,000 hand-knitted gifts to merchant mariners working on Christmas Day. Begun during the Spanish America War, SCI expanded this program to include river towboat crews and cruise ship worker in the Port of New York & New Jersey and along American inland waterways. [ [http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_81373_ENG_HTM.htm Episcopal News Service, Mariners receive record number of handmade Christmas gifts, January 19, 2007, http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_81373_ENG_HTM.htm] ]

Notes

Other References

[http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_94721_ENG_HTM.htm Seamen's Knit 4 Lent initiative to serve mariners working in Gulf Coast, Episcopal Life Online, February 07, 2008 http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_94721_ENG_HTM.htm]

[http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_90629_ENG_HTM.htm David M. Rider named president, executive director of Seamen's Church Institute, Episcopal Life Online, October 02, 2007 http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_90629_ENG_HTM.htm]

[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4442/is_200703/ai_n18705171 McLaren, Robert T, Seamen's Church Institute, The, Mar 2007 http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4442/is_200703/ai_n18705171 McLaren]

[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/22/nyregion/22sailors.html COREY KILGANNON, Men of the Sea, Marooned at the Ramada, The New York Times, New York and Region, January 22, 2005]

[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9502EFDC153FF937A15754C0A9659C8B63 DANIEL J. WAKIN, Marooned, Just Feet From Shore; Tighter Security Keeps Foreign Crews on Ships , The New York Times, New York and Region, July 24, 2003]

[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03E3DA163CF936A35751C1A9679C8B63 JEAN SMITH (Rev.), A Seaman's Plight, The New York Times, Opinion, December 5, 2001]

[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE7DE153CF936A2575BC0A965958260 TOM TOOLEN, New Jersey Q & A: The Rev. Jean Smith; Helping the Troubled at the Waterfront, The New York Times, New York and Region, August 15, 1993]

[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7D7173EF93AA1575BC0A967958260 C. GERALD FRASER, John Mulligan Dies; A Priest, 79, He Led Seamen's Institute, The New York Times, Obituaries, August 29, 1991]

[http://www.harpers.org/archive/1917/12/0031485 George Harding, On Admiralty Service, Harpers Magazine, December 1917]

[http://www.harpers.org/archive/1910/12/0027819 Norman Duncan, Youngsters of the seven seas, Harpers Magazine, December 1910]

Public sources that have written about Seamen’s Church Institute of New York & New Jersey

*The New York Times
*The New Jersey Star Ledger
*The Waterways Journal
* [http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife/ Episcopal Life Online]
*Listed at [http://www.guidestar.org GuideStar.org]
*Listed at [http://www.idealist.org/en/org/110771-210 idealist.org]

External links

*http://www.seamenschurch.org/
*http://blogs.seamenschurch.org/cas
*http://chaplainsblog.seamenschurch.org