The Seamen's Church Institute (SCI) of New York & New Jersey, founded in 1834 and affiliated with the Episcopal Church, serves mariners through education, pastoral care, and legal advocacy. With a budget of over $6 million, SCI is the largest, most comprehensive mariners’ agency in North America. Headquartered in New York, NY, the Institute operates a seafarers’ center in Port Newark, and maritime education facilities in Paducah, Kentucky, and Houston, Texas. Annually, its chaplains visit more than 2,000 vessels in the Port of New York and New Jersey and along the American inland waterways system. SCI provides free legal advice for merchant mariners worldwide and advocates for their rights to the United States Government, including the United States Congress, the Department of Homeland Security and the US Coast Guard, as well as other governments, the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization, the International Labour Organization, and maritime trade associations. SCI instructors provide professional development and educational programs for inland and coastal mariners using simulator training facilities at SCI-Paducah and SCI-Houston. SCI's Christmas at Sea program annually provides more than 20,000 hand-knit gifts to mariners at the holidays. CAS was founded in 1898 during the Spanish–American War. SCI is led by the Reverend Mark S. Nestlehutt, President & Executive Director. Mr. Nestlehutt is an Episcopal minister who previously served in maritime parishes and as a naval officer. Historical Highlights of SCI (1834–2020) 1834: SCI is founded as the Young Men's Church Missionary Society 1844: SCI builds the Floating Church of Our Savior at the foot of Pike Street on the East River to provide a place of worship where seafarers could feel comfortable and welcome 1846: SCI builds the Floating Church of the Holy Comforter at the foot of Dey Street on the North Hudson River to accommodate seafarers and local residents 1868: SCI builds its first mission house at 34 Pike Street in the bustling New York sailortown 1896: The Joint Conference for the Protection of Seamen, a consortium of seafarers' missions and maritime law practitioners, was founded under the leadership of SCI administrators J. Augustus Johnson and the Rev. Archibald R. Mansfield. 1898: The Christmas at Sea program begins, supporting mariners during the Spanish–American War 1899: The beginnings of Maritime Education at SCI 1906: The Society formally changes its name to the Seamens Church Institute of New York 1908: Franklin D. Roosevelt joins SCI's Board, on which he remained