In truth, this inland fleet is the U.S. Merchant Marine of today. SCI realized this sea change and opened a center in Paducah, KY to serve this industry. Since opening in 1997, CME-Paducah has trained more than 6,000 mariners. There was a need for fire fighting training specifically designed for inland towboats and in 2000 SCI, through donations and grants was able to erect a towboat top designed to simulate specific types of fires that could be encountered on board. More than 1,500 mariners — the volunteer fire fighters on their vessels whether they like it or not — have passed through our U.S. Coast Guard approved courses. This involvement in the inland sector led to a Ministry on the River program that stretches the length and breadth of our 2,500-mile inland waterway. Literally thousands of U.S. mariners are reached through our training and our ministry.

A second inland center was opened in Houston in 2001. We have trained more than 3,500 mariners in that location in 4 years time. These two centers not only responded to "sea change" in the industry, but it also created a "sea change." In the 8 years since these centers opened, there has been a tangible improvement in the level of professionalism on the river and a constant decline in accident rates.