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WTC Disaster SCI: Disaster Relief on the Fly On Tuesday, September 11, New Yorkers — and the world — were jolted into a day of terror and tragedy as two com- mercial jetliners plowed into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center, leaving more than 6,000 missing persons. Seamen's Church Institute (SCI), a perennial source of strength and support for the International maritime commu- nity, went into action immediately, set- ting up a 24-hour relief effort that, over the course of the days following, has served as a safe haven Jor rescue work- ers, New York City police officers, fire- fighters and members of the Army National Guard. By Regina P. Ciardiello, senior editor With its 175-year tradition of respond- ing to mariners in need. Seamen's Church Institute (SCI), which is located at 241 Water St., in the heart of New York's "Maritime District," near the South Street Seaport, has, on many occasion, taken on the role of a "safe haven" during some of the most historic as well as tragic, incidents on the high seas. According to the Rev. Canon Peter Larom, SCI's executive director, the Uji that just days earlier this is the same spot where the Institute holds its Simu- lator Training classes as the entire area was covered with boxes filled with everything from food to socks, to work boots and toothpaste. These items, which were received by the Institute through donations from various church organizations, coupled with the constant flow of volunteers who provided the workers with food and drinks, rounded out what SCI's director of communica- tions, Debra Wagner, dubbed, "emer- gency relief on the fly." According to Wagner, more than 500 The Rev. Canon Peter Larom, (at left), execu- tive director of the Seamen's Church Institute, with members of a fire company from New- port, R.I., who had visited SCI's 24-hour relief center. (Photo credit: Debra Wagner, SCI). Institute offered to put up the crews of both the Titanic and the Andrea Doria following their doomed voyages. More recently however, the Institute came through for the City of New York in 1993, when the World Trade Center was hit with by terrorism when a car bomb exploded in its parking garage. The Institute allowed the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey, whose offices were located in the Towers, to use some of their office space for six months while they rebuilt. This time, however, in reaction to a tragedy of much greater magnitude, SCI put its efforts into high gear as a central relief station for rescue workers. Upon entering the ground floor of the SCI, it is inconceivable to believe DOLPHIN RUS3SR FENDERS ALL TYPES / ALL APPLICATIONS Pneumatic Fenders DockFenders Ship Fenders Q Engineered & Manufactured by: KUMNAM CHEMICAL, INC. 348-3, Chung Chun-Ri, Chillye- Myun Kimhae, Kyungnam, Korea E-mail: kumnam@kumnamkorea.com Tel: 82 (55) 346-3131 Distributed in the Americas bv: DOLPHIN RUBBER USA 2241 Barraud Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504 Tel: (757) 625-3200 Fax: (757) 625-3300 E-mail: network@sybercom.net Fax: 82 ( 55) 346-3137 www.kumnamkorea.com Circle 279 on Reader Service Card or visit www.maritimereporterinfo.com EVAC—6,500 marine applications, 48 reps worldwide Standard design. Standard components. EVAC toilets: • Use only 3 pints per flush • Is not affected by the pitch and roll of the vessel • Use small 1.5" - 2" diameter piping • Allow flexibility in pipe routing and vertical lifts • Reduce sewage volume by 90% • Reduce holding tank size by 80% • Eliminate toilet vents • Reduce material and labor costs • Cut topside piping weight USCC/IMO and EC certified. ISO 9001 registered. On-staff marine engineers for technical assistance. ORCA" IIA sewage treatment systems* • Offer a choice of 6 standard pre-engineered models • Have improved level floats • Have a new chlorine pump • Have a redesigned pressure relief valve • Are fully automatic • Use microprocessors for control, monitoring • Are compact, lightweight • Are easy to operate and maintain • Operate in fresh, salt or brackish water • Available with automatic chlorine generators • Large ORCAs are modular EVAC, developing vacuum technology in the U.S. since 1979. NEW! EVAC VT-900 TOILET For a FREE color brochure including dimensions, technical specifications and enhanced system features, contact EVAC or an EVAC representative. ENVIROVAC INC. 1260 Turret Dr. Rockford, IL 61115 U.S.A. 888-GET-EVAC (438-3822) • 815-654-8300 Fax: 815-654-8306 E-mail: marine@evac.com Web site: www.envirovacinc.com Circle 280 on Reader Service Card or visit www.maritimereporterinfo.com October, 2001 44E
