Seamen's Church Institute of Philadelphia and South Jersey

06/15/2026

HAPPY SHOPPERS AT PIER 122

A successful outing at local South Philly stores for the for the crew of MORNING CONDUCTOR before heading back to Korea for another vessel load of automobiles.

06/10/2026

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY!

Happy crew out for sun and shopping in Concordville from LPG tanker MANTA ANKA berthed at Marcus Hook. But first, a treat for the SCI driver: hot Turkish coffee and a beautiful sweet.

06/04/2026

SOUTH PHILLY SHOPPERS

Happy crew of the tanker DAT VENUS out for an afternoon of serious shopping from their berth at Eagle Point Terminal.

05/30/2026

PEDRO'S DELIVERY

Philadelphia is by far the most important US port for importing and handling cocoa beans.

Mark Staples, who is a former ship visitor and longtime friend of SCI, has written a book called Pedro‘s Delivery, chronicling the adventures of a young Filipino seafarer on a vessel bringing cocoa beans to the US from the Ivory Coast in Africa.

Author Mark Staples recently visited Pier 84, dedicated to cocoa beans and cocoa products, along with SCI Executive Director Helene Pierson and CEOJeff Wheeler and his staff at Dependable Distribution (DDS). These pictures give a sense of the operations at that terminal.

Pedro’s Delivery has been chosen to launch Granum Kids, a new children’s initiative of Ingenium Books, Toronto, ONT. and will be available in late July. More information available at https://www.marlynpublishing.com/.

05/26/2026

SPECIAL DELIVERY

This note (including a very generous donation) was recently sent to SCI by a highly appreciative seafarer who had been eagerly awaiting delivery of some personal packages.

His ship arrived in port midday, and the seafarer was signing off and scheduled to fly home just a couple of hours after that. This presented us with a very tight window to deliver the items (including a guitar!)

Well, SCI loves a good challenge, and we are happy to report that the seafarer successfully received his packages, and he is now making beautiful music wherever he goes!

05/24/2026

New Jersey operates on exactly two settings: “Perfect Shore Day” and “Why Is Traffic Not Moving Anywhere?” 🚗🌊💀
January is cold wind, gray skies, and everyone pretending they don’t miss summer while scraping ice off windshields before sunrise.
February is winter dragging its feet. One sunny 48° day has people wearing hoodies outside like beach season is two weeks away.
March is pure Jersey chaos. Rain, wind, pollen, freezing mornings, and somebody already talking about heading Down the Shore.
April is false hope season. One beautiful warm day tricks everyone into grilling outside before temperatures crash again overnight.
May is New Jersey finally waking up. Boardwalks get busy, diners stay packed, and the Shore starts calling everybody home.
June is summer officially loading. Beaches fill up, bagels hit different in the morning, and traffic near the Parkway starts testing relationships.
July is peak Jersey happiness. Boardwalk nights, fireworks over the ocean, beach weekends, and everyone arguing about where the best pizza is.
August is hot, loud, and pure Garden State energy. Shore towns packed, diners full, and somebody definitely missed their Parkway exit again.
September is local summer. Tourists fade, beaches calm down, and Jersey people quietly enjoy the best weather of the year.
October is perfect hoodie weather. Fall colors show up, apple cider flows, and weekend drives suddenly feel like therapy.
November is the start of gray season. Leaves disappear, temperatures drop, and people mentally prepare for winter while still wearing shorts somehow.
December is holiday lights, cold nights, diner coffee, and Parkway traffic that somehow still makes no sense.
New Jersey time isn’t measured in months. It’s measured in Shore weekends, toll booths, diner runs, Parkway exits, and whether you say Taylor Ham or Pork Roll. ❤️

05/23/2026

ATTENTION SEAFARERS

Our office will be closed on Monday for Memorial Day, honoring those who have served in the U. S. Military.

We will be open on Sunday from 1300 to 2200 and re-open Tuesday at 1000.

05/21/2026

SUPPORTING SEAFARERS

Seamen's Church Institute of Philadelphia and South Jersey is proud to be partnering with South Jersey Ports to help seafarers cope with stress and loneliness that can be part of life at sea. We want crew members to know that there are resources available to them, including virtual or in-person visits with a chaplain or mental health professional.

During Mental Health Awareness Month we are visiting ships, taking pizza or other treats, distributing information about resources, and encouraging crew members to reach out to each other to ask for help or to support someone who needs it. It's vital to be aware, to remember to check on each other, and to access more help when needed. No one should be struggling alone.

We very much appreciate this initiative on the part of South Jersey Ports!

Pictured here are four of our ship visits to date: MARMOR, OSLO BULK, OCEAN ROYAL, and SIMURGH.

05/19/2026

It All Adds Up! -

05/15/2026