The Seamen's Church Institute, under the current leadership of Executive Director the Rev. Jim Von Dreele and Operations Director Jack Mudge, has been ministering to seafarers in the Philadelphia area since 1843. In all seasons and weather, throughout the year, an SCI staff member or volunteer associate makes every effort to visit each ship. Ship visitors bring with them pamphlets and maps of the area, reliable phone cards to sell to the seamen, as well as religious literature. They bring Christian solace, mediate conflicts, and listen to pastoral and work-related problems. They also arrange free SCI transportation for seamen from the many isolated docks to the warm hospitality and club-like atmosphere of SCI's new Seamen's Center, as well as to medical clinics, shopping areas, and historic sights.

St. Peter's Church in the Great Valley
visits the
MV "Ice Flake"
June 19, 2004

by Roger Thorne

After a week of rain, 90º temperatures and an equal humidity, the dampness departed and the skies cleared as St. Peter's undertook its monthly visit to the Seamen's Church Institute. Under the leadership of coordinator Lloyd Reynolds, new volunteers David & Trudi Graves and veterans Tom & Pam Nelson and Roger Thorne were welcomed on Saturday morning at the Seamen's Center by Operations Director Jack Mudge. After a brief newcomer's orientation, the group boarded one of SCI's 15-passenger vans for the 20-minute ride across the Ben Franklin Bridge to the waterfront of Camden and nearby Gloucester, New Jersey.

The first thing that became apparent was that the already high security enforced in the dock areas had been heightened. Despite our transport in the familiar SCI van, the security guards demanded photo identification from each volunteer before we were allowed to pass into the berthing areas. We arrived alongside the first ship on our visitation agenda, the 17,930 dwt MS "Atlantic Trader" only to find her in final preparation for departure later that afternoon. Jack decided to drive to our next 'target' at the nearby Gloucester Terminal.

Our objective was the MV "Ice Flake", a relatively small refrigerated cargo ship 360 feet long with a gross tonnage of 5,996 (by comparison, last month's visit was to the MS "Barbet Arrow", a 39,218 dwt general cargo carrier). The "Ice Flake", built in 1987, registered in the Cayman Islands, and part of the DFM fleet, was in the final stages of unloading thousands of cartons of Argentinean apples and pears. The ship has a crew of 18 officers and ratings, principally from Poland with two from Russia.

Because there is no guarantee that a particular SCI on-board visit will be convenient on a working ship (we are always invited guests on any vessel), Jack went ahead to inquire whether a short visit would be appropriate. Jack was fortunate to be warmly welcomed by the ship's Third Officer Michal Bogusz who offered his invitation to escort our volunteers for a ship's tour. Michal, a veteran Polish merchant seaman, has recently completed the maritime cadet program qualifying him to assume the responsibility as a merchant marine officer. In fact he had flown into Philadelphia from his home in Poland just a few days before to fill the vacancy of the previous Third Officer, whose contract had expired, for the continuing journey of the "Ice Flake".

Michal led us through the ship, answering our questions as we walked from the cargo deck to the ship's bridge and navigation spaces and on to the mess area where we met the ship's cook Peter. Because the "Ice Flake" was scheduled to depart that evening, and Michal was currently Officer of the Watch with other responsibilities besides that of tour guide, we thanked him profusely, disembarked and returned to the Seamen's Center. We realized yet again that acts of kindness by our volunteers are almost always returned in full by good and kind people such as Third Officer Michal Bogusz.

To get some glimpses of our day, and the opportunities for service that we witnessed, click on the thumbnails below:

Jack Mudge (in blue shirt) provides a welcome briefing to (R to L) Lloyd Reynolds, Tom & Pam Nelson, and David & Trudi Graves.	We're off for the waterfront in one of SCI's large vans.	The multi-use cargo carrier MS "Atlantic Trader", unloading the last of its lumber payload before departing Camden in the afternoon.
A stern view of the MV "Ice Flake".	After receiving permission to come aboard, Jack Mudge returns for the volunteers.	The Third Officer of the "Ice Flake", Michal Bogusz.
Michal patiently answers many questions about the ship and its cargo, as well as his life in Poland and his life at sea.	Pam Nelson, standing on the cargo deck, looks aft toward the giant insulated hatch covers with the unloading process below.	A cutaway view from one of the hatches of the four decks of refrigerated storage are, now mostly unloaded.
Just one of the thousands of cartons of Argentine pears, now comprising a pallet to be lifted ashore.	A view of the unloading process from the high bridge of the "Ice Flake".	Michal obviously takes pleasure showing off the ship's bridge and its navigation equipment to the volunteers.
Third Officer Michal Bogusz and David Graves enjoy a final conversation before our departure from the "Ice Flake".