Fal l 2 0 1 5 

Vol ume 1 0 7 /N umber 3

Preparing for the Unknown?

People have explored a lot of places in boats. The Vikings came to America thanks to
specially designed vessels that allowed them to go long distances. In 2013, fishermen off the
coast of Japan found three baby giant squidsmysterious, almost mythical creatures we know
so very little about. New terrains, new species things wed never have found if not for the
way of the sojourning mariner.
Our planets waterways set a stage for adventure, but with adventure comes risk. News of the
disappearance of MV El Faro brought this fact home to millions of Americans. People who
work on maritime vessels operate at the worlds extremes and face the formidable forces of
nature. Ajourney to unknown parts of the earth means mariners dont always know where
theyll wind up or what theyll encounter.
Mariners must expect the unexpected. But is that possible? How can you prepare for
the unknown?
Mariners start with training, drilling emergencies on board over and over again so that when
something does happen, theyre prepared. Mariners travel with stores of reservesfood, fresh
water and emergency generators. And when the ultimate test of endurance comes, safe vessels
contain lifeboats that allow mariners to abandon a sinking ship as a last resort.
Yet even with taking every precaution, one cannot guarantee safety.
One simply cannot prepare for every eventuality on the water, and
mariners can only do so much on a boat. When things dont go
according to plan, mariners need a safeguardone based in the
shelter and security of dry land.
Service agencies like the Seamens Church Institute (SCI)
anchor mariners to the shore-side assistance that makes discovery
and exploration possible. We offer a pastoral care network that
makes it manageable for mariners to put on hold home and family life
for months at a time. We use computer simulators to give mariners experiences of dangerous
situations, without risking their own personal safety. And when things at sea need improving,
SCI advocates for mariners rights in courts and to governments on land.
This world needs mariners to continue going on adventures. Their journeys bring us so much.
To enable them to do that safely and effectively, we
must equip them with a system that helps and
defends them on land. So when mariners
brave new uncharted waters or run into
challenges theyve never encountered
before, theyll know exactly what to
expect: our support.
Use the enclosed
donation envelope
to make a financial
contribution to SCI, and
support mariners on their
unpredictable adventures
around the world.

The Seamens Church Institute

In this issue
Directors Log

Rising to
the Challenge

Shore
Leave Survey

Port Newark
Director

Seafarers
Health

Stevenson
Honored

Houstons
New Simulator

Founded in 1834, the

Institute is a voluntary,
ecumenical agency
affiliated with the
Episcopal Church that
provides pastoral care,
maritime education, and
legal and advocacy
services for mariners.
seamenschurch.org

Executive Directors Log

Dear Friends,
Batten down the hatches! Give a wide berth! Go by the board!
Look for some
interesting word
histories in your
email inbox over the
coming months, as
SCI uncovers some
of the maritime
phrases that shape
our modern language. Not on
our email list? Send a note to
sci@seamenschurch.org, and
well make sure you receive timely
communication from SCI.

SCI SUSTAINING
SPONSORS

We probably hear or use phrases like these regularly. At the very least, we know what
they mean. But do we really know? Do we really understand where these phrases have
their roots?
The truth is we can trace a lot of our words and catchphrases to the sea. Nautical terms
come from a time when the maritime world shaped many peoples way of life. Hold on! I hear you
say. Surely, the maritime world has just as much influence on our lives today!
Indeed, more than ever, our economyour way of liferelies on international maritime trade.
It underpins our modern lifestyles. The trouble? We dont always make the connection. We dont
always trace the origins of phrases or items we use on a daily basis back to the source.
Threads of maritime commerce weave throughout our
livesfrom consumer electronics to American grain
exports. Day in and day out, mariners are at work in
our world, and we take advantage of their
frequently unrecognized labor. Like the
language weve inherited from mariners,
the origins of the goods and essentials we
receive can go unnoticed.
Its worth taking a look at how the
maritime world affects our land-based
one. Next time you use a colloquial
maritime phrase, think about where it
came from. And next time you use an
imported good or see a towboat heading
up river, think about its origin, too.

Fall 2015 Volume 107/Number 3

Published by
The Seamens Church Institute

Give thanks for our

maritime connections.
Yours faithfully,

seamenschurch.org

El Faro
Relief Fund
In response to the tragic loss of
the MV El Faro with all hands in
October 2015, SCI established
the El Faro Relief Fund to
provide financial assistance to
the families and dependents of
the seafarers lost at sea from the
El Faro and other U.S. merchant
vessels that may be lost at sea
in the future. Thanks to the
generous support of financial
contributors like you, SCI can
administer this fund without
taking any fees.

212-349-9090
fax: 212-349-8342
sci@seamenschurch.org
Richard T. du Moulin
Chairman, Board of Trustees
The Rev. David M. Rider
President and Executive Director
Editor, Oliver Brewer-Lennon
Design & Production, Bliss Design
The Lookout is printed on recycledpaper.
2 The Seamens Church Institute

The Lookout

Fall 2015

2015 Seafarer Shore Leave Survey

A 2015 survey reveals why some seafarers cannot obtain shore leave in US ports.
by David C. Gibbons, Intern, Center for Seafarers Rights

SCI

s Center for Seafarers Rights, with the assistance

of the North American Maritime Ministry
Association (NAMMA) and other seafarer ministries
throughout the United States, conducted its fourteenth
annual Seafarer Shore Leave Survey during the week of
May 2329, 2015. The survey aimed to identify difficulties
encountered by seafarers in accessing shore leave. Survey
administrators recorded data from nearly 9,500 seafarers on
over 400 vessels in 27 ports, reporting that 1,642 seafarers
(17.3%) from 128 vessels (29%) were denied shore leave.
An overwhelming majority (79%) of these seafarers were
denied shore leave because they did not have valid visas.
Other reasons for shore leave denials included seafarers
who remained on their vessels in United
States waters for more than 29 days
(7%), vessel operations (5%), terminal
restrictions (4%), Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) restrictions (1%), and
seafarers who entered the United States
on C-1transit visas and were detained on
board after joining their vessels (1%).

seafarers to transit through a terminala necessity to

utilize shore leavevaries from terminal to terminal. For
safety reasons, many terminals do not permit pedestrian
traffic. Some terminals rely on seafarer welfare organizations
to provide shuttle transportation through the terminal;
however, if chaplains are not available, seafarers might
not have any other options. Other terminals allow private
security companies to escort seafarers through the terminal
at a cost anywhere from $50 to $500. Some terminals
allow seafarers to use the same shuttles as longshoremen;
however, if there are no longshore operations, seafarers may
not be able to leave or return to their vessels. And some
terminals continue to deny transit to seafarers and chaplains

Compared to last years survey, this years

data shows an increase in shore leave
denials for both percentage of ships with
at least one seafarer denied shore leave
and in the percentage of seafarers denied
shore leave. In 2014, approximately 23.3%
of the ships had at least one crewmember
denied shore leave, and 11.2% of seafarers
on the surveyed ships were denied
shore leave.
The United States requires non-American
seafarers to obtain crewmember visas
in order to apply for shore leave. This
directly conflicts with the Convention
on Facilitation of International Maritime
Traffic (FAL)of which the United States is a member
which prohibits visa requirements for seafarers. Of the
1,642 seafarers denied shore leave in this years survey, 1,300
(79%) did not have a valid visa. The Maritime Labour
Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), which came into effect
two years ago, requires shipowners to pay for seafarers
visas. Of the 1,300 seafarers denied shore leave for lack of a
valid visa, at least 418 (32%) were from countries that have
ratified the MLC, 2006 and have an obligation to ensure
seafarers have visas. The survey also reveals flag states
who have not held shipowners accountable. Of the 1,300
seafarers without visas, 1,044 were on vessels registered in
MLC, 2006 member states.
Currently, terminal restrictions present an obstacle for
seafarers looking to obtain shore leave. The ability of
seamenschurch.org

altogether. On December 29, 2014, the United States

Coast Guard proposed a new rule, which, if implemented,
would require terminals to provide timely transit through
the terminal at no cost to seafarers. If the Coast Guards
proposed rule is implemented, it will significantly improve
the quality of life for seafarers, while allowing individual
terminals discretion on how best to implement the rule at
their location.
Shore leave is not only critical for the health and wellbeing of seafarers but also for productive and safe vessel
operations. Seafarers live out their professional lives on
board a ship; they work, live, eat, sleep and socialize with
the same twenty-some other crewmembers for the duration
of their contract. Their only respite from these confines
comes at the opportunity for shore leave.
The Lookout

Fall 2015 3

Advocating for Seafarers Health

A new Seafarer Wellness Program, made possible by a grant from the New York Community Trust,
continues the Institutes efforts of providing seafarers with exceptional support services in port.
In 2014, SCI began collaborating with
two prominent American medical
institutions to focus on preventative
medicine and healthy lifestyles
for seafarers. At the International
Seafarers Center in Port Newark,
students from Rutgers University
School of Nursing provide health
assessments, preventative medicine and
healthy living advice for seafarers. Data
collected from their measurements
contributes to a Yale University School
of Medicine study on seafarers health.
Many jobs present challenges and
hazards to their employees. Living and
working on board an international
cargo ship affects seafarers health in
various ways. Like any job, seafarers
must take certain precautions,
combating vulnerabilities that result
from the type of work they do. When
armed with the right know-how,
seafarers lead normal, healthy lives, but
not all seafarers have the information
they need. That comes as no surprise,
as knowledge about seafarers health
remains largely undocumented and

under-evaluateda fact SCI seeks

to change.
Seafarers must take care of
themselvesmentally and physically
in ways that match their busy
work schedule and isolated work
environment. SCI, along with other
seafarer welfare agencies around the
world, recognizes the importance of
making sure seafarers feel supported
and stay knowledgeable about issues
related to their wellbeing. SCI aims
to give seafarers a safe place to consult
a health professional about questions
or areas of concern. In addition, the
Institute seeks to collect data that
could give a clearer picture of seafarers
health worldwide.
Everything seafarers do is for someone
else, notes nursing student Jackie
Bundock, pointing out why seafarers
might need advocates. Jackie worked
as part of a team of student nurses
who set up shop at SCIs Port Newark
International Seafarers Center on
Tuesdays this year. Student nurses

like Jackie help seafarers obtain

information on their weight, blood
pressure, BMI and blood glucose
things not easily monitored while
alone at sea for months on end.
Student nurses also give information
on medical issues like hypertension,
hyperglycemia and insomnia. For
times outside of clinic hours, SCI has
installed a HealthCENTER Kiosk,
which seafarers can use to obtain
standard health screenings anytime.
Aspart of this program, SCI offers its
fitness center free of charge to seafarers.
Yale University uses the medical data
collected by the nursing students and
the health kiosk to conduct valuable
research on seafarers health. Martin
Slade, MPH and Dr. Rafael Lefkowitz
from Yale University Medical Schools
Department of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine are leading
the study. SCI anticipates this
collaborative effort will yield new
insights, increase seafarer wellness and
help support the industry as a whole.

Below: Students from Rutgers University School of Nursing consult with seafarers at SCIs Port Newark International Seafarers Center

4 The Seamens Church Institute

The Lookout

Fall 2015

Houston Gets Ready for New Simulator

SCIs Houston Center for Maritime Education prepares for upgrades to provide innovative
educational opportunities for professional mariners.

fter major refurbishment of SCIs simulator training facility in Paducah, KY, the Institute turns its attention
to the sister facility in Houston, TX. Over the coming months, construction teams will transform the
interior of SCIs Gulf Coast Center for Maritime Education (CME) campus to prepare for the installation of new
simulator technology.
Since 2001, CMEHouston has
trained over 10,000 mariners
with a unique mix of classroom
teaching, peer learning and
interactive simulations. Each year,
hundreds of US mariners bolster

seamenschurch.org

their leadership, navigation and

safety skills in order to reduce
risk to life, property and the
marine environment.
Major remodeling of SCIs Center
in Houston began September 8
with the start
of a series of
updates that
will transform
training for
professional
mariners for years
to come. These
renovations
precede the
replacement
of the existing
simulators.
Maritime
simulator
manufacturer
Kongsberg plans
to install new
equipment in

The Lookout

December, with full operation

scheduled for the end of the first
quarter of 2016.
With the upgraded technology,
mariners can engage in simulations
with high-definition visuals,
andfor the first time at SCI
participants can gain experience
running nighttime simulations. The
system features new boat models
and tow configurationsincluding
a model with Z-Drive capability
in addition to the extensive list of
vessel models already in place.
The simulation infrastructure
and facility refurbishment budget
totals $2.95 million, including new
simulator equipment, civil works,
and upgrade of the adjacent Transas
simulator for individual instruction
and assessment. All this helps
mariners advance their professional
skills and enhances safety on
Americas waterways.

Fall 2015 5

Special
Events Dates
The 16th Annual River Bell
Awards Luncheon
Thursday,
December 10, 2015
The Paducah McCracken
County Convention
andExpo Center
Paducah, KY
Check-In & Networking
11:00 am
Awards Luncheon
12:002:00 pm
Christmas at Sea Gala
December 2016*
New York, NY
* Event alternates years with
SCI Mountain Challenge;
no Christmas at Sea Gala
in 2015
The 39th Annual Silver Bell
Awards Dinner
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers
New York, NY
Cocktail Hour
6:007:00 pm
Awards Dinner
7:30 pm

Rising to the Challenge

SCIs recent outdoor adventure race, the SCI Mountain
Challenge, raised over $500,000 in support of the
Institutes valuable services to mariners. The event posed
a test of endurance inspired by mariners, with competitors
facing unpredictable elements, isolation and physically
demanding work to complete the challenge over two days.

Forty-five teams drawn from various sectors of the maritime industry vied for the top spots. They
contended in a race through 25 miles of wilderness, ascending over 3,000 vertical feet each day.
A major component of the event included fundraising for SCIs mariner support services. Those
crossing the finish line with the fastest time and with the largest payload of donation dollars
ranked highest in the standings.
To see the complete list of finish times and philanthropy, visit scimountainchallenge.com; and
to view photos from the event, check out SCIs Flickr account at http://smschur.ch/sci-albums.

2015 Race Results

VARSITY AWARDS
Course Completion & Philanthropy, Varsity
1. Team #42 Baere Maritime: Warren Hansen,
Nils Hansen and Murat Koksel
2. Team #38 Cooper/Consolidated: Wendell
Landry, Erik Cooper and Chris Blanchard
3. Team #22 AWO 2: Jennifer Carpenter, Brian
Vahey and Anne Fazzini

Fastest Course Completion, Varsity

1. Team #42 Baere Maritime: Warren Hansen,
Nils Hansen and Murat Koksel
2. Team #5 Teekay Spirit: James Pippard, Colin
Gray and Paul Roberts
3. Team #25 ACL 2: Scott Poindexter, Matt
Kazunas and Brian Patterson

JUNIOR VARSITY AWARDS

Course Completion & Philanthropy, JV
1. Team #29 AWO 3: Mark Wright, Caitlyn
Stewart and Mary Anastacio
2. Team #17 DNB 2: Jim Cirenza, Edward
DeCastro and Henrik Ullner
3. Teams #16 and #19 DNB 1: Ole Martin Bsen,
Christian Astrup and Linnea Munthe &
DNB4: Tor Ivar Hansen, Kristoffer Braaten,
Phil Kurpiewski

Fastest Course Completion, JV

1. Team #16 DNB 1: Ole Martin Bsen,
Christian Astrup, Linnea Munthe
2. Team #17 DNB 2: Jim Cirenza, Edward
DeCastro and Henrik Ullner
3. Team #19 DNB 4: Tor Ivar Hansen, Kristoffer
Braaten, Phil Kurpiewski

FUNDRAISING AWARDS*
Top Team Fundraisers
(Top fundraising teams)

Nils Hansen and Murat Koksel, $45,850

2. Team #45 Ridgebury Tankers Team Burke:
Robert Burke and John Burke, $21,426
3. Team #7 Bernhard Schulte Summiteers: Jens
Alers, Ron Young and John Nee, $17,485

Top Individual Fundraiser

1. Warren Hansen, Baere Maritime, $22,805
2. Robert Burke, Ridgebury Tankers Team Burke,
$20,800
3. Jens Alers, Bernhard Schulte Summiteers,
$7,525

Top Corporate Fundraiser

(Top fundraisers from an overall organization)
1. Team #42 Beare Maritime, $45,850
2. Teams #6, 22, 29 Team AWO, $35,000
3. Teams #23 and #45 Ridgebury Tankers, $27,901

PEAK AWARDS
Moran Towing Peak Award: Knot Tie
Relay Challenge
Team #21 Q88/Chembulk: Catherine Mancuso,
Marlene Boyer and Beau Campfield

Tidewater Peak: Geocache Challenge

Team #18 DNB 3: David Lawrence, Maria
Ruud Dingstad and David Zazula

Genesis Marine Peak: Peak-toPeak Challenge

Team #42 Baere Maritime: Warren Hansen,
NilsHansen and Murat Koksel

Navios Maritime Holdings Peak: King of the

Mountain Challenge
Team #42 Baere Maritime: Warren Hansen,
NilsHansen and Murat Koksel

Cargill Peak: Peak-to-Peak Challenge

Team #5 Teekay Spirit: James Pippard, Colin
Gray and Paul Roberts
* Calculations based on Sep 26 standings at noon.

1. Team #42 Baere Maritime: Warren Hansen,

6 The Seamens Church Institute

The Lookout

Fall 2015

Stephen Lyman, newly appointed

Director of SCIs International
Seafarers Center in Port Newark

New Director
for Port
Newark Center
SCIs Port Newark facility
gains new leadership at
the gateway into and
out of the East Coasts
largest port.

SCI

announces the appointment of a new head of its

International Seafarers Center in Port Newark,
an 18,000-square-foot hospitality center for maritime workers
in the Port of New York and New Jersey. On August 7, 2015,
Stephen Lyman became the Centers Director, after four
years of working with SCI, most recently as the Centers
Operations Manager. Stephens expanded role includes port
relations, facility management and coordinating services for
the thousands of seafarers, truckers and port workers who use
SCIs Center each year.
Lyman brings a 14-year tenure in not-for-profit work. He
graduated in May from Montclair State University with
a degree in Operations Management and Sociology and
currently pursues a Masters in Public Administration from
Rutgers University in Newark. Lyman describes a crossroads
of passions: an interest in business and the people doing
business. This combination positions him as an ideal
candidate for SCIs Center, where the trillion-dollar industry
of maritime commerce comes together, with men and women
from all over the world.
Added to his background and training, Lyman has soaked
up port life and maritime industry operations during his
time at SCI. Working in a variety of capacities at the
Institutes Centerfrom dealing one-on-one with seafarers to
coordinating complex port relationsLyman has his finger
on the pulse of activities. Responding to requests from port
workers, he played a major role in establishing a popular new
fitness center on the first floor of SCIs renovated Center.
seamenschurch.org

Lyman oversees a critical point of intersection for seafarers

coming into the Port of New York and New Jersey. Many turn
up for free Wi-Fi, computers, wellness counseling and easy,
quick access to services available only on land. In 2014, SCI
provided free in-terminal transportation to 16,242 seafarers.
The Center also serves as the means by which the land-based
side of the industry connects with port operations. Truckers
and port workers use business services offered at the Center
(e.g., fax, money orders and wire transfers), as well as the
facilities for rest and relaxationlike SCIs basketball courts
and the ports only green space. Additionally, maritime
industry companies and organizations use SCIs centrally
located conference facilities for meetings and other events.
An ideal place to introduce non-maritime folk to the world
of global commerce, SCI welcomes hundreds of shoreside visitors each year. The Center hosts individuals and
groups, including volunteers, community organizations and
businesses. Under Lymans leadership, SCI anticipates an
increased engagement with the area surrounding the port,
building a local community in the midst of an enormous
global one. Although our buildings name says it, says
Lyman, it isnt just for seafarers. We welcome all the players
in maritime commerceeveryone who benefits from the work
of mariners.
To inquire about the Center and make arrangements to visit,
contact Stephen Lyman, Director of SCIs International
Seafarers Center, at +1 973-589-5828.

The Lookout

Fall 2015 7

THE SEAMENS CHURCH INSTITUTE

SCI

NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT #99
NEW HAVEN, CT

The Seamens Church Institute

50 Broadway, Floor 26
New York, NY 10004

SCI CENTERS: Port Newark, Paducah, Houston, Bay Area

seamenschurch.org
Ways to Give to SCI


Use the envelope in this
edition of The Lookout or mail
your check to TheSeamens
Church Institute,
50 Broadway, Floor 26,
New York, NY 10004.

Support the people who deliver the

goods that make our modern way
of life possible.

Donate
Remember:
Many companies match employee
donations to eligible nonprofits.
Ask your employer about
increasing the value of your gift
to support mariners.


Call 212-349-9090 and make
a contribution over the phone
with your credit card.

Sponsor

SCI provides prominent recognition to

its underwriters. Become a corporate
sponsor and link your companys
philanthropy with North Americas

Donate online at
donate.seamenschurch.org. largest and most comprehensive
mariners serviceagency.

Volunteer

Follow

SCI offers many ways volunteers

can contribute to the work of
the Institute. Call one of our
centers or email volunteer@
seamenschurch.org.

Collect
In addition to handknit scarves
and hats, SCIs Christmastime gift
to mariners includes items found
at most ordinary supermarkets
donated by people like you. To
find out more, contact cas@
seamenschurch.org or visit
ourwebsite.

Go to http://facebook.com/
seamenschurch and
clicklike.
Follow @seamenschurch
on Twitter.
Check out our photos
at http://www.flickr.com/
photos/seamenschurch.
And, watch videos from our
work at http://vimeo.com/
channels/scitv.
Remember SCI in your estate
plans. Email legacygiving@
seamenschurch.org for more
information.

Stevenson Honored by AMC

by Chester D. Hooper, Esq., Board
Member (Honorary)

merican Maritime Cases (AMC)

has dedicated its 2014 volumes of
maritime cases to Douglas B. Stevenson for
his work with SCIs Center for Seafarers
Rights. AMC has published maritime
cases since 1923. Its familiar yellow-bound
volumes can be found in maritime law
offices around the world, as well as
electronically on the AMC website.
Each year, its publishers laud a
distinguished industry leader.

There they presented him with copies of

maritime court cases from 2014, a set of
hardbound volumes dedicated to him.
With this dedication, AMC recognizes the
work Doug has accomplished and is still
accomplishing for the benefit of seafarers.
Although the Center for Seafarers Rights
is based in the United States, its work has
global impact. Doug assists seafarers with

We are pleased that Dougs work

has been recognized and honored
by AMC.

AMC honored Doug at their annual

luncheon at the Century Association
in New York City on May 1, 2015.

8 The Seamens Church Institute

a variety of legal issues and works with

port chaplains who encounter seafarers in
need of information across the globe. Doug
strives to improve the laws that protect
seafarers by playing an active role with
the International Maritime Organization
(IMO), an agency of the United Nations,
which negotiates regulations to improve
the safety and security of shipping and thus
seafarers welfare.

Left: Douglas B. Stevenson, Esq., Director of

SCIs Center for Seafarers Rights

The Lookout

Fall 2015