Yesterday, the Seamen’s Church Institute of New York & New Jersey (SCI) sold its 241 Water Street facility to the Blue Man Creativity Center School. At the same time, SCI commits itself to remain a New York-based institution, as it has been since its founding in 1834.
Amid terms of sale, SCI retains its corporate offices at 241 Water Street. In addition to Water Street and Port Newark, SCI administers seafarer hospitality and education sites in Paducah, Ky., Houston, Texas, and Oakland, Calif.
“This transaction provides SCI with the best of both worlds,” stated SCI President and Executive Director David Rider. “SCI remains in the heart of lower Manhattan, where we have been since 1834 and which remains an indelible part of our mission and identity. At the same time, with this building sale we rebalance our endowment and architectural portfolios to better harness our four mission-centered facilities and strengthen our financial basis for another generation of service to seafarers.”
Over the past eighteen months, SCI has overhauled its maritime simulators in Paducah, Ky. and Houston, Texas. Now among the best multi-bridge hydrodynamic simulators in the world, SCI can more effectively serve its river transportation customers while expanding to coastal towing, harbor fleeting, pilotage and offshore supply vessel companies. To lead these initiatives and take advantage of its newly renovated facility, SCI Director of Maritime Education Eric K. Larsson, Ph.D. relocated his office to SCI’s Houston Center for Maritime Education in January 2011.