David M Rider News

A shared passion and concern brought together a diverse group of people from several segments of the maritime industry to celebrate the milestone achievements of three careers and to raise funds to support mariners served by SCI. More than 770 individuals assembled on Thursday, June 4, 2015, at the Seamen’s Church Institute’s (SCI) 38th Annual Silver Bell Awards Dinner in New York City to honor the maritime industry contributions of three individuals. SCI presented Angeliki Frangou…

A YouTube video series describing pirate attacks. Among discussions of anti-piracy measures in the Gulf of Aden and special courtrooms in the Seychelles and Mauritius, the maritime industry has begun to broach a gentler, less politically hot topic in the wake of 237 pirate attacks off coast of Somalia in 2011. What happens to seafarers, held often for months on end, after release from a pirate hijacking? Their untold stories comprise part of a video interview compilation by the…

On May 17, 2011, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) hosts the Grand Reopening of its International Seafarers’ Center in Port Newark, NJ. SCI undertook a major renovation of the Center, completing construction late last year, to establish a first-rate facility for the global shipping industry working in the Port of New York and New Jersey, the East Coast’s largest port. “The welfare of international trade in the Port of New York and New Jersey hinges on this Center,” says the Rev. David M. Rider, President & Executive Director of SCI.

Taking over the reins from Eric K. Larsson, former Director of the Seamen’s Church Institute’s (SCI) Center for Maritime Education, Captain Stephen Polk now commands SCI’s advanced training program for mariners. SCI appointed Polk, a USCG Licensed Captain and US Navy veteran, to begin work as Director earlier this month. Captain Polk has logged thousands of hours on SCI’s advanced simulators training professional mariners and in the classroom helping them evaluate complex situations.

Taking over the reins from Eric K. Larsson, former Director of the Seamen’s Church Institute’s (SCI) Center for Maritime Education, Captain Stephen Polk now commands SCI’s advanced training program for mariners. SCI appointed Polk, a USCG Licensed Captain and US Navy veteran, to begin work as Director earlier this month. Captain Polk has logged thousands of hours on SCI’s advanced simulators training professional mariners and in the classroom helping them evaluate complex situations.

Beginning April 1, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) welcomes a new chaplain dedicated to serving mariners and other workers in the offshore exploration and production industry. The Rev. Winston Rice, a former offshore worker and maritime lawyer, joins two current chaplains for SCI’s Ministry on the River, the nation’s only full-time pastoral care ministry on the Ohio and Lower Mississippi River systems, extending the Institute’s inland ministry efforts into the Gulf of Mexico. SCI’s new chaplain understands the challenges faced by offshore mariners and workers.

On March 1, the Rev. Michael Christopher Nation begins work at the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) as a chaplain for Ministry on the River, the nation’s only full-time pastoral care ministry on the Ohio and Lower Mississippi River systems. Operating from Vicksburg, MS (where Nation served as rector of a local parish for over 9 years), the new SCI chaplain ministers to mariners working in the Lower Mississippi River region. He succeeds the Rev. Michael Hammett who left SCI last year. Living and working in the city of Vicksburg has wrapped Nation up in the maritime industry. On the Mississippi, Vicksburg functions as a hub of river commerce with several river transportation companies operating in the area. Not surprisingly, Nation already knew about SCI.

This month, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) begins reopening its renovated International Seafarers’ Center in Port Newark, N.J. In addition to a substantial hospitality center for the Port’s maritime workforce, the three-story building presents a new home for several important SCI programs, closely integrating them with the activity of the largest container terminal complex on the East Coast. Attorneys for SCI’s Center for Seafarers’ Rights, who provide professional legal services for seafarers around the globe, will now operate from the third floor of SCI’s new International Seafarers’ Center in Port Newark. SCI also moves its Christmas at Sea “Knitting Room…

In response to recent, high-profile incidents of piracy off the coast of the East African nation of Somalia, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI), an ecumenical agency affiliated with the Episcopal Church, launches new efforts to increase awareness of the effects of piracy on its mariner victims post-attack. These efforts include the submission of a resolution to the International Maritime Organization earlier this month, a church-relations campaign, and the draft of an open letter to international governments and the maritime industry. “SCI is concerned that the effects of pirate attacks on seafarer victims and their families are not well understood and that few resources exist to care for piracy victims,” said Douglas B.

In 2009, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) celebrates 175 years of service to the maritime community, assisting the world’s over 1 million mariners with programs and services. From early days as a small, grassroots mission of the Episcopal Church, SCI has grown to be the largest and most comprehensive mariner’s agency in North America. To celebrate the significant heritage, the Institute hosts several special events in 2009, giving insight into the unique work of SCI. “The organization remains committed to its mission and continued work on behalf of mariners,” said John McGrath, Senior Development Officer at SCI. McGrath says that the events planned for the Anniversary celebrate a record of achievement and also showcase the importance of maritime commerce to the world.

In January 2009, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) assumes the administration of the 160-year-old Life Saving Benevolent Association (LSBA), an organization rewarding heroic individuals involved in lifesaving water rescues. The LSBA, independent and with its own Board of Directors, has been closely tied to SCI for years, holding its annual ceremonies at SCI’s Headquarters. Previously, The Atlantic Companies managed the LSBA, processing applications and assisting the Board. Last year, the LSBA approached SCI, North America’s largest mariners’ service agency, about continuing these administrative responsibilities in the future. SCI agreed to deepen its relationship with the LSBA, according to the Rev. David M. Rider, President and Executive Director of SCI.

Some important announcements were made during the 9th Annual River Bell Awards Luncheon at the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) Center in Paducah, KY. Leaders from Ingram Barge Company and AEP River Operations revealed that their companies would lead the effort to fund important upgrades to the simulators in Paducah. Upgrades to the Center’s simulation Center come on the heels of significant funding from West Kentucky Workforce Investment Board in August of this year. All computer hardware, software and radars will be replaced and the geographical databases will be updated.

Members of the commercial community of the Port of Houston, America’s second largest Port in terms of total tonnage, met last week in support of the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI). At the Fourth Annual Maritime Training Benefit Luncheon, the area’s leading maritime transportation companies assembled for a fundraiser at the Institute’s training center in Houston. The October 22nd event raised over $77,000 for SCI’s Center for Maritime Education, which provides training for thousands of professional inland captains and pilots. An area hit in September by destructive Hurricane Ike, many operations in the Port sustained damage from the powerful storm, including SCI’s Center located within the 25-mile-long complex.

The Board of Trustees of the Seamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey (SCI) has called the Rev. David M. Rider to be the organization’s ninth President and Executive Director. Rider succeeds the Rev. Dr. Jean R. Smith, who retires after 17 years of service. Rider comes to SCI after ten years with The Church Pension Group, where he served as Managing Trustee of the Episcopal Church Medical Trust and Senior Vice President (Claims) of The Church Insurance Company. Since 2001, Rider has served as interim leader of two large Episcopal Churches, Grace Church in New York City and St. Mark’s Church, New Canaan, CT. Already, Rider is getting his feet wet as he prepares to take the helm.