Stephen Polk News

The Training & Consultancy division of KOTUG International (KOTUG) and U.S. maritime education and maritime training provider the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) entered into a strategic partnership to offer exclusive training of tug masters, ships’ crews, river barge shippers, and pilots by certified KOTUG trainers at SCI training facilities across the United States. The partnership was officially kicked-off by hosting Moran Towing Corporation for a week of ASD operator training assisted by Riven Marine founder Captain Jay Rivera.Since 2019…

San Jacinto College and the Seamen’s Church Institute will host e-Navigation Underway (North America) 2016, the third in the annual North American series of conferences focusing upon the development and application of e-navigation. The event will be held at the San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center, La Porte, Texas, a new facility that opened in Spring of this year. e-Navigation is an initiative of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the goal of which is to provide a decision support environment for the maritime community.

Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) launched an initiative on December 10, 2014 aiming to transform training for America’s inland mariners at its Center for Maritime Education in Paducah, KY. The day before its 15th Annual River Bell Awards ceremony, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) pushed the proverbial boat out on a new era of maritime education. In prior months, SCI had installed new simulators and renovated the hospitality areas at its Center for Maritime Education in Paducah, KY. The official dedication of the refurbished Center on December 10 revealed SCI’s blueprint for preparing a new generation of mariners for safe operations on American waterways.

On December 10, 2014, SCI launched a major initiative to transform training for America’s inland mariners at its Center for Maritime Education in Paducah, KY. The day before its 15th Annual River Bell Awards ceremony, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) pushed the proverbial boat out on a new era of maritime education. In prior months, SCI had installed new simulators and renovated the hospitality areas at its Center for Maritime Education in Paducah, KY. The official dedication…

The Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) recognized two inland maritime industry leaders at an annual awards luncheon Thursday, December 11, 2014, in Paducah, Ky. The 15th Annual River Bell Awards Luncheon, hosted by SCI, raised more than $270,000 to support mariners served by the Institute’s Ministry on the Rivers and Gulf program. SCI presented the River Bell Award to Peter H. Stephaich, Chairman and CEO of Campbell Transportation Company, Inc.; and to the Chairman of J. Russell Flowers, Inc., J. Russell Flowers, SCI conferred the River Legend Award.

SCI begins a massive rebuild of its Paducah, Ky. simulators used to train mariners for safety on the water. The Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) has signed a contract with Kongsberg Maritime for a complete overhaul of important maritime simulator technology at its Center for Maritime Education campus in Paducah, Ky. Installation begins in August to replace existing wheelhouse architecture with entirely new mechanisms and navigation tools that more closely mirror contemporary equipment and construction of modern vessels. The new simulators strengthen SCI’s service to American mariners.

On November 12, 2013, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) and SafeMARINER, LLC will host “Zero Incidents through Training, Competency & Continual Improvement,” an industry conference for key players in inland American maritime transportation. The forum at SCI’s training center in Houston, Texas invites mariners, industry executives and regulators to the table to discuss critical issues surrounding safe transportation on the water. “Various individuals operating from different angles in transportation possess valuable knowledge unique to their roles,” says Captain Stephen Polk, Director of SCI’s Center for Maritime Education. As North America’s largest mariners’ service agency, SCI hosts forums like this one to address concerns facing men and women who work in the industry.

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…

With skilled craftsmen in short supply in U.S. coastal areas, many shipbuilders turn to their own, sometimes extensive, internal training. Because fewer young people are entering shipbuilding out of high school, the industry is faced with an aging workforce that will soon have to be replaced. As good jobs for shipfitters and welders go begging, industry leaders say it's way past time to spread the word about these opportunities. Pascagoula, Miss.-based John Lotshaw directs Operations Workforce Training and Development at Huntington-Ingalls Industries (HII).

Beginning May 2012, The Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) will enter into partnership with Consolidated Digital Publishing Inc. (CDP) to provide e-learning resources for companies and employees in the maritime industry. SCI’s online course offerings build on more than a century of the Institute’s legacy of continuing maritime education, adding effective, proven tactics in online learning to help maritime industry employees prevent injuries and accidents at work. SCI’s new e-learning opportunities give access to training that helps employees meet industry requirements with clear…

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.

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.