Houston Center News

On September 24, 2016 the Houston International Seafarers Centers will host their Annual Maritime Gala . Niels Aalund, Senior Vice President, West Gulf Maritime Association, will be honored as the " Bronze Anchor Award” recipient. Niels Aalund, serves as an Officer and as Senior Vice-President, West Gulf Maritime Association, with primary responsibility for advocating on behalf of member companies (steamship agents, vessel owners, and industry stakeholders) with local, state and federal agencies. From organizations such as Washington, D.C, based, National Maritime Association, to the commercial sector, Aalund has provided leadership for a variety of maritime related positions. He has extensive strategic planning experience in both operations and commercial maritime activities.

What does a new year of training look like at SCI? With a new simulator in full operation, SCI helps individual mariners complete assessments previously only available in large class settings or in the real world when exact conditions could be met on the water. The Seamen’s Church Institute’s (SCI) Center for Maritime Education puts mariners in real-life situations using high-tech simulation equipment. Most days, SCI classrooms host groups of six to eight students as part of training sessions sponsored by maritime transportation companies…

Additional simulator in SCI’s Houston Center for Maritime Education enlarges capacity for specialized assessment and training. This month, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) completes construction of an environment tailored for one-on-one mariner skill appraisal. SCI’s new Houston simulator manufactured by Transas provides a dedicated tool for assessments, corrective action implementation and company human resource evaluations. The new simulator suite contains a single full-mission bridge pilothouse…

The Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) recently enlarged the staff of licensed instructors at its Center for Maritime Education in Houston, adding to its ranks Captain Christine Shank, a former Kirby Inland Marine captain. Shank joins two other staff members working from SCI’s training facility, which the Institute recently equipped with new state-of-the-art computer simulation technology. Along with the improvement of infrastructure, SCI–Houston’s new expert hire reflects the Institute’s commitment to enlarge training to meet the needs of maritime industry professionals. Originally from California, Shank attended Texas A&M University at Galveston. Although intent upon studying marine biology, she explored other options after encountering the A&M Corps of Cadets.

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.

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.

The Seamen’s Church Institute announces that Captain Henry E. Cummings and Captain Stephen Polk have joined the teaching staff at the Institute’s simulator training center located in the Port of Houston. Since May of 2001, the SCI – Houston Center staff has provided advanced training for deep-sea, inland, and coastal mariners. Captain Henry E. Prior to joining SCI in January of 2008, Captain Henry Cummings was Senior Port Captain and an Operations Officer at XL Marine in Paducah, KY. For two years, he was responsible for managing Navigation and Crewing concerns, supervising chemical tows on the Ohio River, and investigating all vessel incidents and reporting findings to management.

Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) welcomes Pamela Stephens as a new full-time chaplain based in the Port of Houston for its Ministry on the River program. In July, Chaplain Stephens joined Ann Mills in Paducah (KY) and the Rev. Jim Wilkinson in Louisville (KY) to coordinate SCI’s pastoral care network along 2,200 miles of America’s inland waterways. “Pam’s home base at SCI’s Houston Center will mean that the resources of the Institute are available to her as she provides pastoral care to more river and coastal mariners working in this region. A ministry of presence in the Gulf Region will take her from the bayous of Texas and Louisiana to the everglades of Florida,” said the Rev. David Rider, SCI's Executive Director.

Marlink, a supplier of integrated satellite communications equipment and network services has opened an expanded regional operations center in Houston, Texas to meet growing demand from it's maritime and offshore industry customers. Marlink's expansion of its Houston center follows closely the opening of business facilities and support centers in Oslo, Dubai, and Singapore in the second half of 2006. The new business offices and technical facilities in Houston will also serve as Marlink's regional headquarters responsible for coordinating company business activities throughout North and South America. The new Americas headquarters will provide both North American and Latin American markets with a comprehensive suite of satellite services that will evolve with customer requirements…