Fal l 2 0 1 8  Vol ume 1 1 0 /N umber 2

Delving into the past... Let’s stay connected:

A
Facebook.com/seamenschurch
As dazzling and exciting as modern Twitter @seamenschurch
technology may be, many of us still feel
Instagram @seamenschurch
drawn to the past. We love old stories—they
give us glimpses into a bygone age, fill us
with nostalgia, and spark our imaginations In this issue
in a way that the fanciest apps, the newest
Digital
iPhone, and up-to-date trends cannot.
Archives
Often, the most striking thing about delving
into the past is how much still resonates Director’s Log

5
with us today.

2
“When you are on duty, the time passes, but
it’s the off-duty hours at sea that can get you
down. You just can’t take a walk through Special Events
Calendar
the park like when you are on land.” Chaplain
Baldridge
These words could have been spoken by
at USMMA
6
any one of the seafarers who have visited 2018–19
our Port Newark International Seafarers’
Center over the last week, but in fact, this
is a quote from a mariner visiting the old
SCI headquarters at 15 State Street in
3 Return of the
Mountain
Challenge
NYC in October 1968. It appeared in the Shore Leave
Lookout newsletter fifty years ago! Survey
Publications like this, and many more, can
be found on SCI’s new digital archives 6
4

site which gives an exciting look into
our rich history, detailing much more than just our work serving CAS @ 120
mariners. The archives—a rich tapestry of documents, oral histories
and striking photos—paint a picture that tells the story of SCI,
New York Harbor and life at sea. Many of the materials have not
been previously available to the public. See the full article on the 7
archives on page 5.
This same edition of The Lookout from 1968 features great photos of Founded in 1834, the
the gym facilities that were located in the 15 State Street building.
This amenity was hugely appreciated by seafarers because few ships Institute is a voluntary,
had such facilities and they had longer stretches of time shoreside. While many of today’s
ecumenical agency
vessels have workout facilities onboard, focusing attention on overall health and wellness has
been a longstanding tradition at SCI and one that continues to this day. Our International affiliated with the
Seafarers’ Center in Port Newark is equipped with a modern gym, outdoor basketball courts,
Episcopal Church that
green space, and relaxation area—all designed to help seafarers make the most of their shore
leave—which, as that old quote suggests, is so important in helping them through the difficult provides pastoral care,
times at sea.
maritime education, and
What resonates as you sift through the archives is that the mariners of today face the same
underlying challenges and issues that they did all those years ago. Due to technological legal and advocacy
continued on page 7 services for mariners.

The Seamen’s Church Institute seamenschurch.org

 Executive Director’s Log
For thousands of years, human factors have impacted the success of voyages and quality of
life for those who crew ships on behalf of the vessel’s owner. Since 1834, SCI has served
the maritime world to promote and improve the safety, dignity and working conditions for
the men and women serving in North America and international maritime communities
through pastoral care, training, advocacy and thought leadership. Our 19th century
forebears addressed issues like crimping and wretched health conditions aboard ships.
Today’s SCI continues to serve the daily needs of mariners while also tackling timely
modern day issues like “fear of missing out,” bullying, sexual harassment and suicide.
At sea and along our inland rivers, unique workplace stressors can jeopardize
physical health, psychological wellbeing and morale. These challenges include:
long deployments away from family, friends and community resources; the
stark reality of crewing 24/7 that impacts one’s work-life balance; a prevalent
masculine culture that may increase isolation and one’s willingness to ask for
assistance; various cultural, social and language dynamics on board; and close
quarters which can lead to a lack of privacy that may increase frustration,
incidents of harassment or in some cases assault.
SCI chaplains visit vessels every day to check on the welfare of crews and
address their individual needs. From these visits, we pool our lessons learned
and share them with industry leaders, articulating our insights and facilitating
collaboration with others. Currently, SCI is working in partnership with
the American P&I Club to publish a monograph on mariner mental health
advocacy this October; presenting on mariner health and suicide prevention at
a U.S. Coast Guard medical advisory
committee meeting and a maritime

A brand new
physicians’ international conference;
SCI SUSTAINING leading the conversation on prevention
SPONSORS of bullying and harassment with SUNY
Maritime College; and hosting another vehicle thanks
ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention
Skills Training) workshop in the
to the ITF
Houston area. Seafarers Trust
At SCI, we value the synergy that Thanks to a grant from the ITF Seafarers
is created from taking our daily Trust, SCI has a brand new 15-passenger
experiences with mariners and turning van that will help transport seafarers
them into conversation with industry comfortably to our International
© Fall 2018 Volume 110/Number 2 leaders around the world in a way Seafarers’ Center, local shopping areas
that impacts mariners’ lives. It is your and other destinations!
Published by
generous financial support and fervent
The Seamen’s Church Institute This generous gift is much appreciated by
prayers that enables us to pursue this
advocacy mission with passion. On our Chaplains and Ship Welfare Visitors
seamenschurch.org as well as the seafarers we serve.
behalf of our Board of Trustees and
staff, I thank you and invite
212-349-9090
you to read the other SCI
fax: 212-349-8342
happenings in this Lookout.
sci@seamenschurch.org
Yours faithfully,
Bruce G. Paulsen, Esq.
Chairman, Board of Trustees
The Rev. David M. Rider
President and Executive Director
The Rev. David M. Rider
Editor, Naomi Walker President & Executive Director
Design & Production, Bliss Design
The Lookout is printed on recycled paper.

2 • The Seamen’s Church Institute The Lookout Fall 2018

T
SCI’s Senior River Chaplain Kempton D. Baldridge at
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Chaplain Kempton D. Baldridge recounts his recent time supporting incoming freshmen at the U.S. Merchant Marine
Academy, Kings Point, NY

From June 28–July 18, 2018, I had the privilege of serving at the United States Merchant Marine Academy
(USMMA) at Kings Point, NY on eighteen days of special active duty in support of the Academy’s command
chaplain, Lieutenant Commander Jerry Durham (Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy.)
My presence was the result of a meeting between SCI and USMMA Kings Point in early 2018 which flowed
from SCI’s recently-adopted strategic plan for greater outreach to U.S. maritime academies. On a visit to the
Kings Point campus, I met with Chaplain Durham and we thought creatively about how an SCI chaplain could
be a help to the midshipmen there. The “Indoc” period stands out as a crucial point in the journey of these
exceptional future mariners, and so arrangements were made for me to perform ‘ministry to mariners’ more than
a thousand miles from Paducah, KY, working alongside two active duty Navy chaplains and an enlisted religious
program specialist.
“Indoc” is the term for the orientation period (“Indoctrination”) undergone by the incoming class at USMMA,
or Kings Point for short. Upon completion, the future officers go from being a “plebe candidate” to fully-fledged
“plebe,” and are accepted into the Regiment of Midshipmen. It is, by
design, an intensive experience, quite unlike any these young scholars
would have faced before or will likely encounter elsewhere. One of its
main aims is teaching midshipmen to cope with stress.
Joining Chaplain Durham and me to form this year’s Plebe Indoc ministry
team was Chaplain Dave Pahs, who relieved Chaplain Durham as
USMMA command chaplain on August 3rd, 2018, and Religious Program
Specialist 3rd Class Nelson Cancel, an Ohio reservist and SCI volunteer
crisis responder. The four of us soon became known in the barracks as the
“Kings Point God Squad.”
The Class of 2022 began their Indoc orientation on June 29. For the
next seventeen days, the 280 candidates spent the training period
learning the basics of maritime and regimental life at USMMA. The
training emphasized military discipline, teamwork, physical fitness,
basic seamanship, and an introduction to college-level academics.
Candidates experienced weapons familiarization firing, Waterfront Safety, Sexual Assault Response and
Prevention training, Honor training and an introduction to the industry-wide Standards of Training in Crew
Watchstanding, to name but a few.

continued on page 8

seamenschurch.org The Lookout Fall 2018 • 3

 SCI’s 2018 Shore Leave Survey presented to
U.S. Coast Guard

O
On August 16, 2018, Douglas B. Stevenson, Esq., Director requirement that shipowners must pay for seafarers’ visas
of SCI’s Center for Seafarers’ Rights (CSR), presented Charts
is a factor in this higher percentage of seafarersand Graphs
possessing
the findings of the 2018 Shore Leave Survey to the visas. According to the United States Department of
USCG’s RADM John P. Nadeau, Assistant Commandant State, very few (only 2.27%) applicants for crewmember
for Prevention Policy, at Coast Guard Headquarters in visas were denied a visa in 2017.
Washington, D.C. Seafarers' Nationality
When ships arrive at a port in the United States from
CSR began conducting shore leave surveys annually in abroad, their crews are inspected by Customs and Border
2001 at the request of the U.S. Coast Guard. The surveys Otherwho determine whether the
Protection (CBP) officers
have provided a responsible and objective assessment seafarers will be allowed
13%to enter the United States. CBP
Not Specified
of foreign seafarers’ ability to go on shore leave in the denials accounted for 7.5% of the shore leave denials.
United States. During the survey week, port chaplains 11%Seafarers who are authorized entry into the United States
from ports around the United States keep records of by Customs and Border Protection officers are issued a
seafarers’ shore leave on the ships they visit. They Crewman’s Landing Permit, commonly called a shore
then share their data with the Center for Seafarers’ pass. Shore passes are valid for up to 29 days. Seafarers
Rights. This year chaplaincies at 23 United States ports who could not go ashore because their shore passes
visited 338 vessels with 6,444 seafarers on board at over expired after 29 days accounted for 10% of the denials.
133 terminals.
Shore leave restrictions imposed by shipping companies
The 2018 Shore Leave Survey revealed that 90.9% of thePoland or vessels were the reasons for 6.3% of the denials. One
foreign seafarers on ships calling at ports in the United 1%shipping company prohibited seafarers from Indonesia,
States during the survey week were allowed to go ashore. Bangladesh, Madagascar and the Philippines from going
This data indicated a trend of gradual improvement Greece ashore in the United States.
in
seafarers’ access to shore leave in U.S. ports: 90.5% were
2% When seafarers join vessels in U.S. ports they enter the
allowed ashore in the 2017 survey and 89.7% in 2016.
United States on Transit visas. Authorization to enter
U.S.A.the United States on a Transit visa expires once seafarers
3% arrive on their vessels. They cannot re-enter the United
States until after their vessel returns to the U.S. from a
Myanmarforeign port. Expired Transit visas were the cause of 5.8%
of the reported shore leave restrictions.
3%
Port Chaplains also reported any obstacles imposed by
terminals on seafarers’ and chaplains’ transits through
Russia China
the terminals. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of
5% terminals to provide a system that enables
4%2010 requires
Ukraine
seafarers and chaplains to transit the terminal in a India
5% to the individual. While most
timely manner at no cost
14%
terminals have initiated procedures in the spirit of the
2010 statute, some terminals remain challenging for
The above chart displays
seafarersthe nationality breakdown of all seafarers
to transit. w
the survey week. Mr. Stevenson and RADM Nadeau shared a productive
meeting. RADM Nadeau stated, “The United States
Douglas B. Stevenson, Esq., Director of SCI’s Center for Seafarers’ Coast Guard greatly values our relationship with the
Rights, presents the findings of the 2018 Shore Leave Survey to the USCG’s Seamen’s Church Institute and other organizations
RADM John P. Nadeau, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy, at dedicated to seafarer welfare. The annual survey
Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Reasons for Denials
provides valuable insight regarding access for shore
9-Year Trend: Percentage of Seafarers Denied Shore leave Leave and highlights some of the current challenges and
Seafarers are required to have a valid United States visa opportunities. As leaders in the maritime community, it is
to apply for shore leave, and their failure to have one
Unknown
incumbent upon each of us to recognize the importance of
continues to be the biggest reason for denying 17.30% shore
12% welfare organizations.
shore leave and access to seafarers’
leave. However, the percentage of seafarers without Company Policy
We must work together to facilitate crew morale,
visas dropped from 72.9% last year to 58.4% this year. 3% and personal well-being, while also remaining
readiness,
CSR believes that the Maritime Labour Convention’s steadfast in ensuring port security.”

11.20%
10.50%
11% Operational
10.30%
10% 4 • The Seamen’s Church9.10%
Institute The Lookout Fall 2018
4%
9.50% 9.10%
 A new home for SCI’s Digital Archives
SCI is rolling out a new platform to house its digital archives collection. Since

Doctoral
2010, SCI’s Archives team has worked to digitize more than 12,500 items from its
extensive archives, providing digital access to the Institute’s collection of historic
records and artifacts that document the history of the Port of New York and New
Jersey. The Digital Archives contain photographs, scrapbooks, annual reports, dissertation
back issues of SCI’s newsletter The Lookout, and many other ephemeral artifacts
from the Institute’s history. An online searchable database houses information
harnesses SCI’s
about these historic items with links to scanned images. extensive archives
Through historical photographs, we see SCI’s work evolve from caring for the This past spring, Johnathan Thayer, SCI’s
body, mind, and soul of the sailor from the grand premises at 25 South Street Senior Archivist, successfully earned a Ph.D.
(1913–1967), to serving a very different, more transient population of seafarers degree in History from the Graduate Center,
City University of New York. His dissertation,
who pass through the doors of the International Seafarers’ Center in Port Newark
titled “Merchant Seamen, Sailortowns, and the
for much shorter periods of time. SCI’s mission has remained constant, but the Parameters of U.S. Citizenship, 1828–1945”
outworking of it has necessarily changed with the times. How do the photos help tells the story of the history of merchant seamen
us understand this? What will the archives of SCI’s current work look like to in U.S. history, and draws extensively on SCI’s
people reviewing them 50 years from now? own archives.
Philippines When asked how his research enriched his
knowledge of SCI and its importance through
39% As maritime commerce’s influence on history emerges from this collection, some the years, Dr. Thayer replied, “I find it
famous names appear in SCI’s storied past. Former president Franklin D. Roosevelt fascinating that virtually every aspect of
joined SCI’s Board in 1908 and served in different capacities until his death in SCI’s current work has origins in the early
April of 1945. Names like Astor, Vanderbilt, and Morgan swayed the direction of history of the Institute. From ministry, to
the Institute and solidified its presence on the New York City landscape. legal advocacy, to maritime education,
and even the Christmas at Sea program,
SCI has a sustained history as a leader in
The archives also contain several scrapbooks of photographs documenting voyages providing services to mariners for more
that provide windows into the lives of sailors during the first half of the 20th than 180 years. That’s a remarkable track
record. Even more remarkable are the
century. Through these scrapbooks, we see shifts in technology: gaff rigs giving
ways in which SCI has evolved over the
way to bermuda sails, the last vestiges of sail giving way to steam, and even a years to cater to the changing landscape of
few suggestions of diesel appearing in the most recent images. Just as notable in the Port of New York and New Jersey, and
these scrapbooks are keepsake photos of families ashore and candid shots of close the state of maritime shipping in general. It
colleagues aboard vessel. is an achievement that SCI and
its supporters should be very
proud of.”
From open-air tent services
on downtown piers in the
1860s, to housing survivors
from torpedoed vessels during
World War II, SCI’s archival
records capture a remarkable
history. “The archives tell the
who were visited by chaplains during
story of real people and an
extraordinary past,” says SCI
Senior Archivist Johnathan
Thayer. “Within the collection
are the voices of the waterfront
… from merchant seamen to
chaplains to boardinghouse
keepers. By preserving and
publishing these records we are
ensuring that these voices can
be heard again.”

The new Digital Archives site can be found at seamenschurch-archives.org, or on the homepage of
our website, seamenschurch.org, under the “For Historians” menu.

seamenschurch.org The Lookout Fall 2018 • 5

Special Events 2018–19
Calendar
Maritime Training
Benefit Luncheon
Thursday, October 25, 2018
St. Regis Hotel
1919 Briar Oaks Lane
Houston, TX 77027
Keynote Speaker:
RADM Paul F. Thomas, Commander,
Eighth Coast Guard District

Giving Tuesday
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Support SCI at: smschur.ch/scidonate

19th Annual River Bell

Awards Luncheon The Return of the
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Paducah McCracken County SCI Mountain
Convention and Expo Center
Paducah, KY
Challenge
Honorees: A test of endurance
inspired by mariners
River Bell Award
Mr. John P. Eckstein, Marquette Transportation September 26–29, 2019
River Legend Award
Sunday River, Maine
Mr. Gregory Thorp, Photographer
Distinguished Service Award The countdown
RADM Dave Callahan, has started for the
U.S. Coast Guard (ret.) 2019 SCI Mountain
Challenge! Each
working day, mariners
42nd Annual Silver Bell push themselves in a
Awards Dinner race against time and
Thursday, June 6, 2019 nature to deliver the
Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers world’s commerce. At
New York, NY SCI’s biennial event next fall, competitors join us
6:00 pm Cocktail Reception in solidarity with mariners as teams take on harsh
7:30 pm Awards Dinner environments to test physical limits, racing up steep summits and paddling
rivers in a fight to the finish line.
2019 SCI Mountain Challenge The funds raised by participating teams strengthen SCI’s valuable support
Thursday–Sunday, services to mariners. The SCI Mountain Challenge parallels many of the
September 26–29, 2019 hardships mariners confront at sea: the elements (facing northern New
Sunday River England’s notoriously unpredictable weather), isolation (teams work self-
Bethel, ME sufficiently on the mountain race courses) and physically demanding work
Registration opens January 2019 (participants ascend nearly 3,000 feet each day).

More information can be found Registration opens January 2019. If you’re up for the challenge or want
at seamenschurch.org/special-events to learn more, contact Viveka Jahn, SCI’s Special Events Coordinator at
vjahn@seamenschurch.org for more information.
Follow us on Instagram @scievents

6 • The Seamen’s Church Institute The Lookout Fall 2018

 Christmas at Sea
celebrates its 120th year!
It’s been an exciting year so far for the Christmas at Sea program. To
commemorate our 120th anniversary, we launched the 1898 Society.
This special legacy society honors knitters and CAS volunteers who
include SCI in their estate plans and notify us of their intent. As
120 years
s at Sea
C h r i ma1898-2018
st
of

an expression of our gratitude, 1898 Society members will receive a

one-of-a kind, commemorative Christmas at Sea ornament to treasure
for years to come!
Additionally, we welcomed Joanne Bartosik as Program Manager
for Christmas at Sea. Joanne joined the team at Port Newark over
the summer, and is already gearing up for the Christmas packing
and giving season.
For more information about Christmas at Sea or the 1898 Society
email cas@seamenschurch.org.

continued from page 1 Joanne Bartosik

Program Manager, Christmas at Sea
Delving into the past...
advances, the way we carry out
our services has been tweaked, but
underneath it is quite similar. For
instance, instead of housing a “ship’s
library” stocked with books and magazines
for distribution to crews, more and
more mariners have used our free WIFI
to download books and movies to take
onboard. They often “stock up” in this
way while visiting SCI, and it serves the
crew well when out at sea again with little
to no internet connection.
Looking back 100 years to an issue
of The Lookout from 1918, we find an
update on SCI’s “navigation school,” the
precursor to today’s Center for Maritime
Education and its technologically
advanced simulation training.
This is a wonderful
testament to the
longevity of SCI’s
programs and how
relevant our work is For over 180 years, SCI has relied
for those we serve. We on the generous support of friends
hope you enjoy reading like you. As we celebrate our past
this latest copy of achievements, we look forward to
The Lookout, and that continuing our ministry of presence
and service to mariners near and far.
you’ll take the time to
delve into our archives The gift you make today is
to explore stories from
our history.
an investment in our future!

seamenschurch.org The Lookout Fall 2018 • 7

THE SEAMEN’S CHURCH INSTITUTE
NONPROFIT ORG.

SCI
The Seamen’s Church Institute U.S. POSTAGE
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New York, NY 10004 PAID
PERMIT #99
NEW HAVEN, CT
SCI CENTERS: Port Newark, Paducah, Houston

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Ways to Give to SCI 
Use the envelope in this Volunteer Follow
Support the people who deliver the edition of The Lookout or mail
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goods that make our modern way
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Donate Call 212-349-9090 and make
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Remember:
a contribution over the phone Collect @seamenschurch
with your credit card. and @scievents.
Many companies match employee In addition to handknit scarves
donations to eligible nonprofits. Sponsor and hats, SCI’s Christmastime Check out our photos
at flickr.com/photos/
Ask your employer about SCI provides prominent recognition to gift to mariners includes
increasing the value of your gift items found at most ordinary seamenschurch.
its underwriters. Become a corporate
to support mariners. sponsor and link your company’s supermarkets donated by people
like you. To find out more, contact Remember SCI in your estate

Donate online at philanthropy with North America’s
cas@seamenschurch.org plans. Email legacygiving@
donate.seamenschurch.org/ largest and most comprehensive or visit our website. seamenschurch.org for more
give. mariners’ service agency.
information.

continued from page 3

SCI’s Senior River Chaplain Kempton D. Baldridge at United States Merchant Marine Academy
As a Chaplain, my Indoc responsibilities
involved very long days of teaching
classes of plebe candidates about the
chaplaincy and chapel community,
preaching at Sunday chapel service,
pastoral counseling with both plebe
candidates and upperclassmen, and
participating in the plenary sexual
assault resistance programs’ “Bystander
Intervention Training.”
Our “ministry of presence” required
setting the alarm clock for 4:30 am to be
visibly present and engaged with plebe
candidates and the cadre from 5:00 am
reveille and 5:10 – 6:00 am physical
training on the football field, throughout
the various training evolutions (students
work to a regimented schedule of
30 minute increments) until Taps,
“lights out” at 9:30 pm.
I found that this ministry of presence
and availability is not unlike what we
do daily on the river as SCI Chaplains.
At Kings Point, as well as when visiting
towboat crews, it’s hard to overestimate
the importance of a listening ear and
a kind word. I believe the simple
presence of the chaplains was helpful to
reassure the plebes that this was a time
of training and transition. We sought
to be a grounding influence, showing
confidence in the plebes that they can
and will get through a tough
and stressful time.
We watched an amazing transformation
take place in Kings Point’s Class of 2022,
having seen them the moment they first
walked on campus until the night they
formed in front of the War Memorial
at Wiley Hall and administered the
Honor Oath some two weeks later. I’m
hugely impressed by what I saw in these
young people, and I couldn’t help but
be enormously encouraged about the
future of the maritime industry—and
our world—after living and working
amongst them during such a crucial time
in their journey.

8 • The Seamen’s Church Institute The Lookout Fall 2018