Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky visits SCI Paducah

Members from the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, including Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Terry Allen White (pictured, far right) on a vessel visit with SCI to the Ingram Barge Company in Paducah, Kentucky.

On October 16, 2025, the Seamen’s Church Institute’s (SCI) Center for Maritime Education (CME) office in Paducah, Kentucky, hosted a special visit from the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, including Bishop the Rt. Rev. Terry Allen White, which was coordinated and facilitated by the Rev. Grace Pardun, Supervisory Chaplain for SCI’s Ministry on the River.

The day began in the lecture hall, where Pardun introduced participants to the Seamen’s Church Institute’s ongoing mission to support mariners and their families, and also shared ways their parishes can partner with SCI’s ministry.

Afterward, the group moved to CME’s ship simulator rooms for a hands-on lesson in navigating the waterways—steering virtual vessels through the bridges that traverse the rivers around Pittsburgh. Some guests handled the challenge like seasoned pilots, while others discovered just how tricky it can be to keep a tow boat and barges in line! William “Buck” Viniard, an SCI Simulator Operator, added additional excitement by programming in the simulator unpredictable weather, helicopters, and even other vessels on the water.

Following lunch, the group toured Ingram Barge Company’s nearby facility, where they met shoreside staff and learned about the logistics of managing large fleets. The visit concluded with an onboard tour of the M/V Mark Duley, where guests explored the engine room and learned about Tier 4 engines, chatted with the cook and mate about daily life aboard, and met the captain in the pilothouse to hear how he leads his crew and navigates challenges on the river.

The visit offered the Rt. Rev. Terry Allen White and the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky an immersive look into the inland maritime world, and the vital work SCI does to support those who live and work on the water.