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Volume 54, Number 2
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Bush Speech Clouds
Seaman Tax issue
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Congress Barraged with Protests from Seafarers
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Seafarers Prepare for 1992 Primary and General Elections
A • •
The president, one-third of the Senate and all of Congress are up for election first step is registering to vote, using Board of Elections forms brought aboard
this year, ^1of whom m^e decisions on an almost daily basis that affect the by Port Agent Kermett Mangram (third from left) during a payoff. Pictured
^te of U.S. sfiipping and the job security of Seafarers. SlU members aboard here are Pedro Uboy, Jim Hockman, William Babbit, William Cooper, Benito
the Sea-Land Integrity plan to make their voices heard on election day. The Santos and j^ngto Bae. Page 10.
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SBAFARBtS LOG
President's Report
Trade Must Be a Two-Way Street
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Fresh on our minds are images of our nation's president in Japan beg
ging for a tiny opening for U.S. goods in that country's trade policies.
During the president's visit to Japan last month we woke up every morn
ing to news reports citing the nation's trade deficit. It
stands at over $100 billion today- -most of that in the
area of manufactured goods.
The president's trip to Japan should serve as a nation
al warning that our trade po icy is in trouble. The
management of trade between nations should not be
reduced to the spectacle we witnessed last month.
Trade is a vital part of the world economy and of every
individual nation's economy. With the crumbling of
the communist government in the Soviet Union, its
Michael Sacco satellites and its transformation from an aggressor na
tion to one focused on rebuilding itself in a democratic fashion, trade be
comes the single most important aspect of American foreign policy.
For those of us who earn our livelihoods by going to sea, we have al
ways been aware of the significance of trade. Trade is the lifeblood of
our industry. Talk to any seaman. The conversation will be about trade,
except it will be presented in very personal terms. We remember the
cargo on our ships and the various runs—household appliances to South
America, coal to Europe, cars to the United States, construction equip
ment to the Middle East, fruit from the Caribbean, monkeys from India,
liquid fertilizer to Russia.
Seafarers have a stake in world trade, both as participants in the U.S.
shipping industry and as American citizens. We have a stake in having
lots of world trade. But we recognize two important points. First, there
must be cargo for both trips—outbound and inbound. Exports and Im
ports. Second, trade must be conducted in the nation's interest. Trade
should not result in lots of unemployed Americans and a few more rich
American corporations.
Proposed Mexico Agreement a Raw Deal
Take for instance the discussions currently being conducted by the
Bush administration on a proposed North American Free Trade Agree
ment—a pact that in theory is aimed at increasing the flow of goods and
services between Mexico, the United States and Canada. But this deal is
not what trade should be about.
First, it will drastically increase imports to the United States from
Mexico without any evidence of a corresponding increase in the flow of
U.S. exports to Mexico. As a forewarning, we can look to the "Maquiladora" program—a policy that allows American companies in parts
of Mexico to produce goods for export to the United States that are not
subject to certain tariffs. This program has increased imports to the U.S.
as would the proposed trade deal which is structured along the Maquiladora lines.
Second, the U.S./Mexico trade deal as laid out by the administration
will be a disaster for American workers and for American communities.
It will inevitably lead to job losses. There are some academics and
economists, who are usually paid by governments or businesses, who dis
pute this. But it doesn't take a genius to figure this one out. The mini
mum wage for Mexican workers is 59 cents an hour. The work week for
Mexican workers is 48 hours. As AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer
Thomas R. Donahue pointed out in testimony last year before the Senate
Finance Committee: "Mexico's single comparative advantage is the
poverty of its citizens and their willingness to work for subsistence
wages. The skill, productivity and contributions of American workers
become irrelevant in this context... No matter how productive, U.S.
workers cannot compete with labor costs of less than $1.00 a day."
Aside from wages, U.S. companies in Mexico enjoy the absence of
many laws which exist in the United States to protect communities and
citizens from environmental abuses and from industrial-related deaths
and illnesses. The American companies located at Mexican border towns
are allowed to pollute to their heart's content This lack of regulation has
tragic consequences. It recently was reported in the Baltimore Sun
(1/18/92) that pollution from American factories in Matamoros, Mexico
was the most likely cause of a rare defect in infants bom in the
Matamoros/Brownsville, Texas area. An unprecedented number of
babies are being bom with open skulls and no brain tissue.
U.S. Should Promote Exports
For the past decade, under the Reagan and now Bush administrations,
imports to the United States have been greatly encouraged by American
govemment policy. The United States is now taking a disproportionate
share of the world's manufactured imports—in steel, in textiles, in autos.
The United States has a trade deficit with most of the industrialized na
tions of the world. It is time for the United States to make trade a two
way street once again. U.S. govemment policy must encourage a
manufacturing capability and economy that will produce exports. The
govemment has a vital role to play in trade negotiations. The role in
such fomms is not to give away the store, as the Reagan/Bush administra
tions have been inclined to do, but to establish mechanisms for a level
playing field in the arena of world commerce.
To encourage exports, U.S. policy must encourage investment at
home and in new plants and equipment, tax loopholes that encourage
American comp^es to invest abroad must be closed. Critical industries
must be viewed in the context of the national interest and as such sup
ported and developed through govemment policies.
APL Lines, Sea- •Land Team Up
To Bolster U.S.'-Flag Siiipping
Two major American liner com
panies are coordinating their ef
forts to seek a U.S. govemment
policy that will allow U.S.-flag
ships to compete in the intemational shipping trade.
American President Lines
(APL), a west coast-based company
with 23 containerships under the
U.S. flag operating between North
America and Asia, and Sea-Land,
which operates more than 41 U.S.flag containerships serving 80 ports
in 70 countries and territories around
the world, have prepared a draft
proposal urging that steps be taken
quickly to encourage investment in
the American fleet.
SIU President Michael Sacco,
in response to the news of the liner
companies' initiative, said he was
encouraged by the fact that the two
largest U.S.-flag shipping com
panies have put aside their dif
ferences in order to launch an
effort to revitalize American ship
ping. In communicating with the
two companies, both of which are
signatories to collective bargaining
agreements with the SIU, Sacco
pledged the union's cooperation in
seeking policies that will promote
a U.S.-flag fleet.
While the two companies have
not issued a final formal proposal,
among the possible mechanisms
that can be instituted to support
U.S. shipping are: accelerated
depreciation for ships (a practice of
most nations), a favorable invest-
Families Are Welcome at the Seattle Hall
Manuel Bases (right), a popular chief cook on the West Coast, recently
brought his wife. Luce, and their new daughter, Samantha, to the Seattle hall
before catching the Overseas Alaska, a West Coast tanker. Bases and his
family live in Tacoma, Wash.
Volume 54. Number 2
Communications Department Director and Editor, Jessica
Smith; Assistant Editor, Daniel Duncan; Associate Editors,
Jordan Biscardo, Max Hall; Associate Editoi/Production,
Deborah Greene; Alt, Bill Brower.
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February 1992
The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 0160-2047) is published monthly
by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Aulh Way; Camp
Springs, Md. 20746. Telephone (301) 899-0675. Second-class
postage paid at MSC Prince Georges, Md. 20790-9998 and at
additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs,
Md. 20746.
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ment climate for putting money
into ships, standardization of Coast
Guard ship building regulations
with world standards, making
govemment procurement policies
including those of the militarymore effective and streamlining
methods for booking PL 480 and
other aid cargoes.
The carriers are looking towards
tax policies which mirror those of
other foreign countries that have
adopted measures to assist their na
tional fleets compete with flag-ofconvenience operations.
In the area of manning, the ship
ping companies are seeking
programs to increase productivity
and have suggested adopting pro
cedures similar to those of Aeir
international competition.
Sacco noted that while the SIU
could not agree with all aspects of
the program, there was certainly
enough in the APL/Sea-Land draft
proposal which made the union's
cooperation possible.
In pointing to the need for new
govemment policies, APL and
Sea-Land note that the number of
privately-owned freighters has fal
len from 656 in 1957 to 171 today.
These U.S.-flag vessels transport
only 19 percent of American im
ports and exports. Other nations
carry a much greater share of their
cargoes. South Korea, for ex
ample, carries 54 percent of its
commercial shipping on South
Korean-flag ships.
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fWRUARY1992
'Work Tax' Status Unclear in Bush Reg Review
SIU Presses Fight Against Z-Card User Fee, Seamen Urge Action by Legislators
The status of the Coast Guard's proposed work tax on
seamen and boatmen is unclear as a result of a call by
President George Bush for a 90-day moratorium on any
new federal regulations
Coast Guard had "no firm
and a review of all existing
guidance yet" on how to handle
rules to determine if they
pending and proposed regula
hinder the ability of American
companies to be competitive.
The Seafarers International
Union (SIU) has recommended to
the Coast Guard that, in light of the
regulatory review, the so-called
user fees for the processing and
issuance of merchant marine docu
ments, licenses and certificates of
registry be scrapped. The union,
which has filed suit in Federal Dis
trict Court to have the fees blocked
on the basis that they are uncon
stitutional, pointed out to the Coast
Guard that the levy on seamen is
exactly the kind of regulation that
should be tossed out under the
president's review.
Review of Regulations
In his state of the union address
to the nation on January 27, the
president said, "I have this evening
asked major Cabinet departments
and federal agencies to institute a
90-day moratorium on any new
federal regulations that could
hinder growth. In those 90 days,
major departments and agencies
will carry out a top-to-bottom
review of all regulations, old and
new, to stop the ones that will hurt
growth and speed up the ones that
will help growth."
in its request to the Coast
Guard that the user fee on docu
ment proposal be withdrawn in
the regulatory review process, the
SIU pointed out that the "mer
chant marine industry is strug
gling in an increasingly difficult
economic time to maintain a
declining market share in the very
competitive world transportation
market.
'The assessments at issue in this
case will adversely affect
American workers and U.S.-flag
vessel owners and operators ahke.
The Coast Guard regulations at
issue thus seem well suited for
prompt rescision; job protection
and creation certainly appear more
important a goal than any marginal
revenue enhancement possible
through the Coast Guard's
worker levy," the SIU statement
. said.
Impact on User Fee Unknown
The Coast Guard, contacted by
the Seafarers LOG the day follow
ing the president's state of the
union address, has not determined
how the moratorium will impact on
their proposed regulation which
establishes a fee regime for the is
suance of merchant marine docu
ments, licenses and certificates of
registry.
A representative of the
agency's Office for Regulations
and Administrative Law said the
THE PROPOSED WORKER TAX
BcickcjiOLirid
In the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
Act of 1990, Congress recinded a 1886
statute prohibiting the government
from collecting fees forseamdn's licen
ses and for the service of inspecting
vessels. As part of a last-ditch effort to
raise revenue for a deficit-ridden
federal treasury, the Congress enacted
a series of Coast Guard user fees,
among which is a charge to seamen and
fcioatmen for the issuance of merchant
marine documents, licenses and certifi
cates of regisby. The president signed
flie bill into law in late 1990.
tions.
Meanwhile, the SIU continues
to press its fight through the courts
and in the halls of Congress to en
sure that the punitive user fee
scheme does not come to fruition.
The SIU's court case asks that the
plan to charge seamen and boat
men z-cards, endorsements and
marine licenses, first aiinounced
by the Coast Guard in June 1991,
be set aside. In its court brief, the
union labels the scheme "a tax"
and consequently charges it is un
constitutional. The SIU cited the
fact that the Coast Guard con
sidered seamen's ability to pay in
determining the fee schedule.
The Coast Guard was then charged
with developing a rulemaking on the
user fees. On June 20,1991, the agen
cy issued a notice of proposed
rulemaking in the Federal Register,
outlining its a fee regime and explain
ing how those numbers had been cal
culated. The agency established a
comment period on the proposal which
was open until August 5. During this
comment period, the Coast Guard
received more than 500 communica
tions. The great majority of those
strongly opposed the levy.
The SIU case also notes that the
Coast Guard fees cannot be ac
curate and as such do not pass the
Administrative Procedures Act.
The SIU contends that the studies
used by the agency to determine
the fee regime are rife with gross
inaccuracies and guess work.
Congress
As Congress has within its power the
ability to amend existing laws, elected
officials can repeal the seamen's work
tax. Seafarers have been sending their
elected representatives in both the
House and the Senate petitions and
etters outlining their strong opposition
:6 the user fee for seamen's papers
and marine licenses.
SIU Members Send Petitions
Seafarers around the country
are writing their congressional rep
resentatives and submitting com
ments to the Coast Guard.
Boatmen in the gulf collected
hundreds of signatures on a cir
culating petition. Great Lakes
seamen drafted a letter to go to
Congress and distributed it to the
men and women on all the Lakers.
As a result, individual seamen wrote
letters to their congressmen.
C6
tation fees and the user fees for
seamen's documents and licenses.
Additionally, the Coast Guard said par
ties responding in the original com
ment period had asked that time be
extended to affford those mariners
away from home a chance to submit
their opinions.
Any individual or organization wishing
to send the Coast Guard comments
should address them before February
18 to; Executive Secretary; Marine
Safety Council (G-LRA-2/3406) (CGD
91-992): U.S. Coast Guard Head
quarters; 2100 Second Street, SW;
Washington, D.C. 20593-0001.
Seafarers Law Suit
In December, the SIU moved to block
the fees through court action. The
Seafarers' law suit charged that the
so-called user fees for the issuance of
marine documents and licenses was
nothing more than a tax and as such
was unconstitutional. The union also
said the fees did not pass muster under
federal guidelines because they were
based on inaccurate and muddled in
formation. The Coast Guard has not
responded to the SIU's suit as yet.
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Fees Proposed
The Coast Guard proposed fees which
range from $135 to $330. They are as
follows:
Upper Level License . . . . , $330
Lower Level License. . . . . 180
Radio Officer. . . ..... . 80
Renewals or Endorsements
135
Merchant
Marine
Document
To communicate with congress, ad
Endorsed with Qualified
dress letters to members of the House
Rating .
}y putting their name and Merchant Marine Document $135
"Washington, DC 20515. Letters tothe Without Qualified Rating . .
35
Senate should list the Senator's name Certificate of Registry
and "Washington, DC 20510."
Chief Purser, Purser,
Senior Assistant Purser. , $80
Coast Guarrl Comment Period
Certificate of Registry
The Coast Guard has re-opened the
Junior Assistant Purser,
comment period on the proposed rule
Doctor or Nurse
35
until February 18. The agency said the Duplicate or Replacement Fee $35
comment period had been extended in
order to allow the industry to submit In addition, the Coast Guard is propos
data on the cumulative effect of all the ing to tack on a $17 charge for an FBI
rimii record check if the application
user fees being slapped on the criminal
is
for an original license, certificate of
maritime sector. These include agricul
registry
or document.
tural inspection fees, vessel documen
m
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Rethwes Baaene Expomm
Final rules limiting seafarers'
exposure to the dangerous chemi
cal benzene went into effect
January 15. The Coast Guard is
seeking to afford mariners, many
of whom handle products which
contain benzene such as crude oil,
gasoline and other kinds of
petroleum products, the same level
of protection and exposure limits
the Occupational Safety and Heath
Administration (OSHA) gives to
land-based workers. Benzene is a
known carcinogen and can cause
death if inhaled in large quantities.
These rules apply to all chemi
cals and products containing as lit
tle as 0.5 percent benzene,
although OSHA standards apply to
all liquids containing 0.1 percent or
more benzene. Because of the high
toxicity of this chemical, exposure
limits are set at one part of benzene
per million parts of air (1 ppm)
averaged over an 8-houf period.
The short term exposure limit,
which cannot be repeated over four
times a day, is 5 ppm averaged over
a 15-minute period. Employees
must wait at least an hour between
such exposures.
Coverage of these rules includes
all inspected vessels including
tank ships and barges which cany
benzene and benzene-containing
products in bulk. Not covered are
terminals and uninspected vessels.
However, temiinals, governed by
Environmental Protection Agency
rules, are required to have vapor
removal systems. Further, the
Coast Guard requires that ships in
stall vapor-tight storage and spe
cial transferring equipment
without which terminals will not
be allowed to load.
Crowley Issuing Cards
Many SlU-contracted com
panies, such as Crowley Maritime,
currently are developing or have
had already in place guidelines set
out to comply with these new
Coast Guard rules. For example,
Crowley is developing a card for
its employees which will on one
side provide proof that the
employee has been fitted with all
three of the different typies of
respirators required for different
exposure levels. On the other side
will be space to fill in dates on
which he or she received the requi
site medical check-ups.
Training in handling dangerous
materials such as benzene, as well
as the dangers it poses to health, is
mandated by these new regula
tions. Classes in such topics are
offered at the Lundeberg School.
Lundeberg School instructors have
been qualified to conduct training
on benzene handling under the
OSHA rules. They now have in
corporated the new Coast Guard
rules in many of the existing cour
ses.
Under
the regulation,
employers are responsible for
determining both compliance with
all new rules, as well as ensuring
the appropriate monitoring of ex
posed workers occurs in order to
determine the exposure levels for
different jobs during routine opera
tions. However, the rules state that
"monitoring one vessel of a class is
sufficient for all vessels of that
class provided the procedures,
equipment, work practices, cargo.
Continued on page 8
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�SEAFARBtS LOG
MEBA Members Dissolve Merger; Become D1 -PCD
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The marine engineers that had
been part of District No. 1
MEBA/NMU have voted to dis
solve the 1988 merger that had
relegated them to the status of a
powerless "division" within their
union.
In special membership meet
ings held around the country last
month, by a vote of 823 to 46, the
members of the former Licensed
Division voted to undo the merger
with the National Maritime Union
(NMU) and to become District No.
1 - Pacific Coast District, Marine
Engineers Beneficial Association
(MEBA) once again.
In the move to control their own
destiny, the MEBA marine of
ficers, through their union—Dis
trict No. 1 - PCD, MEBA—are
now running their own affairs,
Gordon M. Ward, who had been
elected by the marine officers to
head their organization in balloting
late last year, said in a communica
tion to the rank-and-file concern
ing the special meeting vote: "As a
result of the action by the MEBA
membership, the contracts and
benefits will be administered by
Dl-PCD. We will continue to
operate the hiring halls, enforce
and negotiate our collective bar
gaining agreements with
shipowners and other employers,
and represent your interests on the
Board of Trustees of the MEBA
Benefits Plans."
The MEBA members at the
January 15 meetings set an atten
dance record, giving an indication
of how strongly the licensed ship
board officers felt about the situa
tion of their union. The members
enacted a resolution which not
only called for dissolution of the
merger, but also established a
referendum on the matter and
called for election of officers to
take place in the fall of this year.
Seamen's Unions Add Support
A declaration of support for the
action came from the heads of five
unions representing American
merchant seamen. The statement
noted: "Organized labor has sel
dom witnessed more insidious ac
tivities, maneuvers, designed to
thwart the will of a membership
than those perpetrated on the
seagoing membership of the
Licensed Division, under the guise
of constitutional prerogative.
Though the membership has
spoken, officials defeated in an
election refuse to relinquish the
control denied them by a vote of
the membership."
The statement was signed by
SIU President Michael Sacco,
Sailors' Union of the Pacific Presi
dent Gunnar Lundeberg, Marine
Firemen's Union President Henry
"Whitey" Disley, District 2 Marine
Engineers Beneficial Association Associated Maritime Officers
President Raymond T. McKay and
International Organization of
Masters, Mates & Pilots President
Timothy A. Brown. (Sub
sequently, the MM&P General Executive Board has adopted a
position of neutrality.)
The statement concluded: 'The
members of the Licensed Division
are good and honest union
brothers. They are heirs to a long
labor history and a tradition which
impels them to act in defense of
their rights. We agree with their
decision and stand firmly with
them in solidarity. We support the
decision of the Licensed Division
of District No. 1 to declare the
1988 merger invalid and return to
their former status as District No.
1-PCD, MEBA."
Fraudulent from Beginning
In seeking the end of the merger,
the resolution adopted by the
MEBA membership at their
January 15 special meetings
pointed out that the results of the
joining of the two organizations
had been hidden from the rankand-file at the time of the referen
dum vote on the creation of District
No. 1 — MEBA/NMU. Addition
ally, the resolution cited the
widespread shenanigans of union
officials in the 1988 merger
referendum which were designed
to ensure a positive outcome of the
vote. For example, the resolution
noted that numerous PCD, MEBA
members who voted against the
merger had their ballots changed
by PCD, MEBA officials who
marked them in favor of the
merger.
At the time of the merger
referendum vote, PCD, MEBA
members were not advised that
their officials were taking $2 mil
lion from the union's treasury and
calling it "severance pay."
"PCD, MEBA members were
told that Ae MEBA and NMU pen
sion funds would not be merged
but shortly after the merger, PCD,
MEBA officials acted to merge the
pension funds," said the resolution.
MEBA members also were not told
that the structure of the union
would be changed in such a way as
to give shore-side workers control
over the organization. And, the
seagoing members were never advis^ that the rights and privileges
they enjoyed in PCD, MEBA would
be dismantled and overrun.
A Year of Struggle
The action taken by the MEBA
membership to become PCD,
MEBA again^ takes place after a
year of struggle to gain control of
their own affairs. In balloting for
the top posts and convention
delegates of the then Licensed
Division within the merged union.
District No. 1—^MEBA^MU, in
late 1990, the rank-and-file voted
in a slate of members running
under the auspices of a group
called Members Advocating
Democracy (MAD). As a result, all
of the officials aligned with incum
bent president C.E. "Gene" DeFries were voted out of office. The
rank-and-file engineers elected to
head their division assumed office
in early 1991. With Ward, a chief
engineer who sailed with Puerto
Rican Marine Management
(PRMMl), heading the group, the
new officers mov^ to secure the
union trustees to the MEBA
benefits plans. In February the
courts upheld the right of the Ward
group to appoint the trustees.
Throughout the 1991, the parent
structure of the Licensed
Division—District No. 1—
MEBA/NMU—took actions to
take away the majority vote and the
power the Licensed Division had
within the union. The Ward group
charged that the District unilateral
ly established new divisions, new
branches and made up new rules as
it went along, reinterpreting the
constitution to suit its own pur
poses.
The action by the membership
on January 15 preceded a special
convention scheduled for January
16 called by the District which the
MEBA group believes had as its
purpose adopting several amend
ments to the constitution and
resolutions designed to cement
their hold over the licensed ship
board officers, whose dues make
up close to two-thirds of the
union's income. After the conven
tion, the District put the Licensed
Division in trusteeship and fired all
the officers. However, the position
of the MEBA men is that the
Licensed Division is not them—
the action of the January 15 mem
bership stands—and District No. 1
— PCD, MEBA will continue to
operate.
NMU Dissident Gets New Vote
In this same time period, a
federal district court judge in New
York has ruled that a new merger
referendum vote must be con
ducted. The decision is a result of
a suit filed by NMU dissident Al
bert Jackson, who objected to the
1988 merger that created District
No. 1 — MEBA/NMU on the basis
that it put unlicensed seamen in a
role of second-class citizens within
their own union. (The merged
organization's original constitu
tion prevented NMU seamen from
being able to hold either the
president's or treasurer's job, and
also allocated voting strength to
dues received as opposed to mem
bership.)
The ballots to the new merger
referendum are supposed to be
mailed this month.
Persian Gulf Redeployment Continues
The redeployment of U.S. military equipment and ammunition used in the
Persian Gulf War is continuing, with Ready Reserve Force (RRF) and
conunercial chartered vessels being laid up steadily as more cargo comes
home. As of the end of Janu^, the Milita^ Sealift Command (MSC), the
military's sealift transportation agency, was using 19 RRF vessels and 14
U.S.-flag conunercial charters.
Nearly all of the U.S. unit equipment has been brought back to the United
States from Saudi Arabia. Roughly half of the armnunition sent to the
Middle East for the battle against Iraq has been shipped back.
Great Lakes Ships Lay Up
The Great Lakes shipping season came to an erid last month, and all
SlU-contracted vessels were docked by the first week of January. Hie Soo
Locks closed in mid-January.
The weather was unusually mild in 1991-92 on the Great Lakes, and there
was no ice in the rivers until late January. Reports indicate the Great Lakes
shipping companies were able to fill all their stockpiling orders.
If the current weather trend continues, no problems are expected for fitout,
which could start any time from mid-March to mid-April.
Mild Weather Helps Mississippi Tow Fleet
Mild weather with plenty of rain during the fall and early winter months is
allowing pushboats to sail at full capacity along the Mississippi River. Many SlU-contracted tugs are supplying coal to the power plants.
Because the Coast Guard rescinded its voluntary load restrictions, the upper
Mississippi and Ohio River tugs are handling 15 barges, while those sailing
south of the Moore's Landing, Mo. staging area are pushing to 40 barges.
Coast Guard Proposes Vessel inspection Fees
The Coast Guard is proposing to levy fees for the agency's inspecti^
procedures directed at foreign and U.S.-flag vessels. In a December If
Federal Register notice, the agency said it was establishing a rule that woulc
set fees for the issuance of vessel Certificates of Inspection, Certificates of
Compliance and related documents.
The agency is accepting comments on the proposal until February 18.
Comments can be submitted to the Executive Secretary, Marine Safety
Council (G-LRA-2/3406) (CG D 91-030); U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters;
2100 Second Street, SW; Washignton, DC 20593-0001.
The proposed vessel documentation fees accompanied the Federal Register
notice on an extension of the comment period on the agency's plan to charge
for the issuance of marine licenses, merchant marine documents and cer
tificates of registry.
Fish Vessel Operators to Be Licensed
The Congress received a Department of Transportation and U.S. Coast
Guard proposal to require fishing vessel captains to be licensed. The Coast
Guard Tecominended the plan after a two-year study on marine accidents
involving fishing vessel. Congress had mandated the plan when it passed
the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act.
The agency proposal allows Coast Guard-certified private sector facilities
to conduct the required training and to allow those institutions to certify that
fish vessel operators who take their course comply with federal professional
competency standards.
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�FEBRUARY 1992
Rover Rescues 22 from Sinking Korean Ship
Chief Steward Ernest Harris of
the MV Rover described the rescue
of 22 Korean seamen in the South
China Sea on November 23 as one
of the "most interesting" in which
he had participated.
"I was in my room at my desk
around 0900 when the captain
knocked on the door and told me to
make some extra food for lunch
because a ship is sinking and we
should be there around 1100 to res
cue them," the 63-year-old steward
recalled in an interview with the
Seafarers LOG.
The Rover, loaded with jet fuel
under a Military Sealift Command
charter, had received a distress call
from the Hanjin Karachi, a
Korean-flagged vessel which was
sinking approximately 60 miles
north of the Philippines. Within
three hours, the Rover arrived at
the rescue site and was joined by
three other ships, including an
SlU-crewed LNG vessel operated
by Energy Transportation Corp,
Harris said. Reports noted the sea
had 15-foot swells, and winds were
from the east at 25 to 30 knots.
The Korean crewmembers al
ready had boarded themselves as
well as their gear in a lifeboat and
raft tied near the gangway of the
sinking vessel. "It wasn't even list
ing or leaning," Harris remem
bered. "It was going down level."
Half of the Hanjin Karachi crew
came over in the lifeboat. How
ever, the rudder of the lifeboat
broke and none of the Koreans
knew how to rig a sweep oar.
Bosun Doyle Ellette and Chief
Mate Sean Kearney manned the
lifeboat, rigged a sweep oar as a
Inset shows exact location of rescue of 22 Korean seamen by SlU-crewed Rover.
Shipmates Recall SIU Member
Killed Aboard Transglebe In 'Nam
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With the drive launched by the
Marine Firemen's Union (an
SIUNA affiliate) to build a
memorial to native California mer
chant mariners who lost their lives
sailing in Vietnam comes word of
another SIU member who died as
a civilian in combat.
Ernest Goo was a 13-year
veteran of the deck department
when a Viet Cong rocket exploded
in his fo'c'sle abo^d the Transglobe on August 30,1968. Brother
Goo, 39, died almost immediately.
George Boomgaard, who
sailed as the first engineer on the
Transglobe, read about the Califor
nia memorial in last month's
Seafarers LOG. He called the LOG
to ask if anyone was aware that
aboard his vessel a union member
had been killed in action in Vietnam.
Boomgaard, now sailing as the
chief engineer aboard the Cove
Liberty, recalled a deck depart
ment member losing his life when
an armor-piercing shell exploded
in the crew's quarters aboard the
Hudson Waterways vessel.
The LOG was able to locate and
contact the captain of the Transglobe, Leon Jean, who recounted
the events of August 30, 1968
aboard the converted C-4 vessel.
The Transglobe was on its
regular shuttle run between
Okinawa and Saigon, ^e rollon/roll-off ship was sailing in the
Long Tau shipping channel 14
miles south of Saigon when it came
under attack.
"Goojust had finished his watch
rudder and returned to the sinking
freighter to rescue the remaining
I I. As the remainder were loading
themselves into the lifeboat, the
Hanjin Karachi began drifting
toward the Rover. AB Gavino Oc^
tavio witnessed Ellette and Kear-
(4 to 8)," Jean told the LOG. "He
was in his room washing for break
fast when a rocket came through
the hull and exploded in his room.
"It scared the hell out of me. I
ran aft and found his room loaded
with blood. I remember calling the
Navy and saying we were under
attack.
"We wrapped him up and tried
to get the ramp down for the
helicopter to land. It only took a
couple of minutes (for the chopper
to arrive) but it seemed like hours.
He was DOA (dead on arrival)
when they got him to Saigon."
Both Jean and Boomgaard said
Goo was a hard worker and wellliked by his fellow crewmembers.
"You don't forget about somebody
like this," Jean said of the deck
dep^ment member more than 23
years after the attack.
Goo joined the SIU in April
1955 in the port of San Francisco.
According to his obituary in the
October 25, 1968 edition of the
LOG, he was buried in a military
cemetery in his native Honolulu.
Shortly before word reached the
union of Goo'sdeath, the LOG had
published a story in its September
27, 1968 issue about the Trans
globe coming under attack. The
story reported a warning from the
Military Sea Transportation Ser
vice (Ae forerunner of today's
Military Sealift Command) that the
Viet Cong was employing "more
effective weapons ... in die hope
of disrupting the prompt flow of
vital supplies."
ney maneuver the lifeboat while
the Rover shifted to keep a greater
disaster from happening. "The
men in the lifeboat could have been
killed if the ships had collided,"
Octavio told the MSC's Sealift
journal.
Harris noted the rescue took lit
tle more than an hour. With all 22
Koreans safely on board, the Rover
set sail for its original destination
of Okinawa.
"All of them were happy to be
on board," said the galley gang
member who joined the SIU in
1951. "They said they had sprung
a leak in the engineroom around
0200 and couldn't stop it. I remem
ber looking back as we sailed away
and saw the ship still was afloat."
In a letter reporting the incident
to Rover's operators, Vulcan Car
riers, Master Dimitrios Katsogiannos offered special
commendations for both Ellette
and Kearney.
The crew of the Rover received
a message of thanks from K.H.
Lee, senior vice president of Han
jin Shipping, "I would like to
tender my heartfiil thanks to you
and all your crewmembers for your
successful rescue operation on our
vessel... in distress in spite of bad
weather and hard situation. With
your considerate care and
hospitality, our 22 crew(members)
could arrive at their home safely."
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Jim Robinson, chief cook aboard the SlU-contracted Nosac Ranger, recently
senred these two New England lobsters to the ship's crew for dinner. Robinson
is from Louisiana and specializes in creole-style cuisine.
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U.S. Ship Gambling Biii Awaits Pres Signature
A bill that allows gambling to
take place on U.S.-flag passenger
ships now awaits approval by
President Bush.
The House of Representatives
on January 28 gave unanimous
consent (passage without a hear
ing) to a bill which would allow
gaming activites aboard U.S.
ships. Already passed by the
Senate, the bill, H.R. 3866, now
goes to President Bush. Barring an
unforeseen veto, the bill could be
come law within a few weeks.
H.R. 3866 was one of three
separate pieces of legislation
wluch included the gambling lan
guage. Passage and enactment of
any of those three (including the
crime bill and the original gambUng bill, H.R. 3282) would legalize shipboard gambling on
U.S.-flag cruise ships. If President
Bush signs H.R. 3866 in the up
coming weeks, then legalized
gambling on U.S.-passenger ships
will become law.
The gambling legislation has
the strong support of the SIU and
others in the U.S.-flag shipping in
dustry because, if enacted, the
measure could provide sufficient
incentive for investment in
American-flag passenger ships.
This would lead to thousands of
new American jobs.
Currently, two federal laws (the
Johnson Act and the Gambling
Ship Act) prevent U.S.-flag cruise
vessels from offering gambling.
Foreign-flag ships are not subject
to the same restrictions, even
though most sail from U.S.
ports.
More than 85 percent of all
cruise passengers worldwide are
Americans, but only two of the
more than 120 deep-draft cruise
ships in the world fly the U.S. flag
(the SlU-crewed Independence
and Constitution).
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Bill Rights a Wrong
Keeping scabs employed after a
strike ends is a phenomenon which
began in the 1980s. The loophole
allowing employers to permanent
which offered gambling on the
high seas were little more than
casino barges operated to evade
state anti-gambling laws.
H.R. 3866 passed the House and
was amended by the Senate before
the December adjournment.
Labor Panel Prolesis GATT Treaty Changes
The U.S.rflag merchant marine
would be harmed by the proposed
revision of the Generalized Agree
ment on Tariffs and Trade
(GATT), the AFL-CIO said
January 22 in its response to the
compromise document being cir
culated by Arthur Dunkel, the head
of the world trade talks. The docu
ment seeks to build a consensus to
revive the world trade negotiations
after they broke down close to a
year ago over the issue of farm
, subsidies.
The AFL-CIO, speaking on be
half of a labor advisory group on
trade, also said the proposed
revisions would undermine U.S.
environmental regulations, limit
the ability of U.S. lawmakers to
promote economic growth and
place U.S. industry and workers at
a competitive disadvantage.
In a letter to U.S. Trade Repre
sentative Carla Hills, AFL-CIO
Secretary-Treasurer Thomas R.
Donahue urged U.S. rejection of the
proposal, drafted by Dunkel, be
cause it would "result in layoffs, in
creased unemployment, a further
weakening of this courttry's in
dustrial base, and a serious loss of
Senate to Take Up Anti-Scab Bill
Legislation which would make
it illegal for employers to fire strik
ing workers and then permanently
replace them with scabs is ex
pected to be considered by the
Senate this spring.
The Workplace Fairness Bill
last July was passed by the House
of Representatives by a 65-vote
margin. However, the battle for
enactment in the Senate will be
difficult. The legislation has 36
Senate cosponsors; 60 are needed
to prevent a filibuster, and 68 are
required to override the expected
veto from President Bush.
The anti-scab bill was intro
duced by Senator Howard Metzenbaum (D-Ohio). It would close a
loophole which allows employers
to hire permanent replacements—
scabs—who have crossed a picket
line to assume jobs of striking
employees.
The measure also would bar
employers from offering preferen
tial treatment and benefits to strik
ing workers who cross the picket
line and return to work. However,
the bill would not change current
practice which allows employers
to use temporary workers as well
as managers and supervisory per
sonnel during a strike.
This problem exists largely be
cause the Gambling Ship Act and
the Johnson Act were enacted
when transportation was the
primary service of passenger ships.
The concept of the cruise ship had
not yet been developed, and ships
ly replace striking workers was
created by a 1938 Supreme Court
decision known as the Mackay
Radio ruling, but few businesses
used the tactic until the decade of
the Reagan administration,
Workplace Fairness legislation
would prevent situations such as
those at Eastern Air Lines,
Greyhound and the New York
Daily News. Greyhound replaced
9,000 union bus drivers with 6,000
scabs (and watched its accident
rate increase sharply); Eastern
locked out its employees and hired
scabs before folding; and the
Chicago Tribune Company,
owners of the Daily News, spent
$24 million to force a strike and
then hired scabs before selling the
paper to a pro-union owner.
The U.S. is virtually alone
among world powers when it
comes to the issue of hiring scabs.
Canada, for example, adopted the
National Labor Relations Act as a
model for its labor laws but rejected
the Mackay rule as inconsistent with
free collective bargaining.
Major economic competitors in
cluding Japan, France and Ger
many also categorically prohibit
the dismissal of striking workers.
Employers in these nations recog
nize the importance of investing in
human resources and have no
desire to rid themselves of the
skilled and loyal workforces they
have assembled.
the ability of the Congress and
state legislatures to regulate
economic activity.
"You have frequently stated that
no agreement is better than a bad
agreement, and we agree. The
Dunkel draft is a bad agreement,
and it is difficult to conceive of an
outcome based upon this text that
will be beneficid to the United
States....
'The Dunkel draft final act rep
resents the realization of our worst
fears. Little of value has been
achieved, while U.S. sacrifices
loom large. . . . The ability of the
government to defend the interests
of U.S. workers and industry will
be dramatically weakened if the
Dunkel text is adopted."
Donahue also pointed out that
the text "does not authorize trade
unions to bring cases and, indeed,
it appears to exclude them from so
doing
The committee is espe
cially disturbed by the absence of
any specific prohibition of the use
of temporary entrants as
strikebre^ers....
Donahue said the labor move
ment "believes that the surest way
to achieve greater discipline over
unfair trade practices is to maintain
strong U.S. trade remedy laws. The
draft text weakens U.S. law,
doesn't even promise greater dis
cipline, and should be rejected."
AFL-CIO Attacks Bush Agenda
The AFL-CIO expressed strong
opposition with the economic
proposals President Bush listed in
his state of the union address.
In a news release, the AFL-CIO
said Bush "has disappointed the
country once again. After months
of telling the suffering jobless to
wait patiently for his address.
President Bush has unveiled
another version of the same old
formula of tax cuts for the wellheeled."
From 1977 to 1992, the weal
thiest one percent of America ex
perienced a staggering average
wage increase of 136 percent.
Overall, the wealthiest 10 percent
gained at least 11 percent during
those years.
Conversely, the lowest 60 per
cent experienced marked drops in
average family income, some as
much as 13 percent.
Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO
pointed out the numerous flaws
and omissions in Bush's an
nouncement. First, the capital
gains cuts, real estate tax breaks
and investment tax credit Bush
seeks will not provide immediate
relief for the unemployed, nor will
any of these measures provide
needed investment in America's in
frastructure, education and future.
Even Bush's so-called "middleclass tax cuts" provide their greatest
benefits to wealthier Americans,
charged the Federation.
At a time when 16 million
Americans are totally or partially out
of work and thousands more are
being laid off, the time for fiddling
with the tax code has long since
passed. The AFI^CIO urges imme
diate development of a program to
create jobs by funding desperately
needed public works projects and
helping state and local governments
restore essential services.
Moreover, the president gave no
indication of moving toward a com
prehensive solution to America's
health care crisis.
"Finally, any economic
recovery program should include a
recognition that current trade
policies are exporting America's
jobs and industrial base," the AFLCIO said in its statement. "If the
president's goal is to generate con
sumer spending, what good does it
do if that spending is not for
domestic goods and services that
put Americans to work?"
The rich get richer...
Percent change in average family income before and after faxes - 19n to 1992 (in constant doiiats)
140%
-+136%-
LOW 20% 2nd 20%
$8,130
$20,090
MM 20%
$31,970
Family income gnups and average 1902 incomes
SOURCE: Citizens for Tax Justice
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FEBRUAItr 1992
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Ex-Soviet Shipping Companies Taken Over by Repubiics
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With a Soviet registry a thing of
the past, the commercial ships once
flying the Soviet flag on their
stems are now outfitted with the
baimers of Russia, Ukraine, Geor
gia or the three independent na
tions of Lithuania, Latvia and
Estonia.
The December 21 action of 11
former Soviet republics estab
lishing the Commonwealth of In
dependent States has thrown what
was once a mighty fleet controlled
by a strong-centralized govern
ment into many fragments.
But the process of re-organization actually began in the late
1980s, under Soviet President
Gorbachev's economic policies
that encouraged limited-privatiza
tion. After the coup in August,
which weakened the Soviet
government and strengthened the
hand of the republics, maritime in
dustry reforms were adopted by 14
Soviet republics and the Soviet
merchant marine ministry's con
trol was being dismantled. During
the fall of last year, the republics
began to make moves to control the
shipping fleets based in their areas.
liie independence of the Baltic
states and the break-up of the Soviet
Union has the new nations scram
bling at an even faster pace to as
sume control of the various shipping
companies that once made up the
Soviet merchant marine.
So far, Russia is the republic
with the largest fleet. The Journal
of Commerce reports (December
27,1991) that nine ex-Soviet ship
ping companies are now register
ing their ships with the state of
Russia, in its newly-formed minis
try of transport. The Journal of
Commerce article listed the fol
lowing nine shipping companies
that are now supervised by the
Russian Ministry of Transport:
Baltic Shipping, Northern Ship
ping, Murmansk Shipping,
Novorossisk Shipping, Far East
Shipping, Arctic Shipping, Kam
chatka Shipping, Primorsk Ship
ping and Sakhalin Shipping.
Black Sea Shipping Co. (Blasco)—which has a 260-ship fleet.
including passenger ships, tankers,
bulk carriers and container shipsis now in the hands of the Ukraine
government.
Sovcomflot, once a leading
Soviet ship owner, operator and
charterer, has transferred its entire
fleet to the Cyprus flag. Sovfracht,
the chartering company and
general agent for the ex-Soviet
fleet, is about to become a private
stock-holding company.
The government of Lithuania
has assumed ownership of 90 per
cent of Lithuanian Shipping Co.,
a bulk and general cargo carrier.
Status of Fleet
Many questions remain as to the
future of what was once the Soviet
fleet. Before the break-up, it had
been reported in the Soviet press
that more than $180 million worth
of debt to foreign companies had
been racked up by Soviet shipping
companies.
Additionally, the age of many
of the country's ships was quite
high—^with some 50 percent of the
Japan, Turkey, Poland, Yugos
lavia, Romania and other
countries. The Bank of the USSR
and the Soviet merchant marine
ministry had guaranteed more than
Number
in Fieet
Type of Ship
Tankers
Oil/Chemical Tankers
Chemical Tankers
LNG Carriers
General Tankers
Ore-Bulk-Oil
Ore-Bulk
General Cargo/Single Deck
General Cargo/Multi-Deck
General Cargo/Passenger
Container (specialized)
Fish Processing
Fishing
Passenger Ferries
Supply Vessels
Tugboats
^1
Dredges
Ice Breakers
Research
General
TOTAL
'
DWT
356
2
4
8
6
59
169
867
630
59
69
600
2,763
272
137
634
72
38
287
1,102
5,920,851
45,230
21,572
189,520
20,597
1,728,890
4,933,714
3,305,156
6,216,148
89,833
980,119
2,655,539
2,047,843
81,324
116,456
106,783
107,587
117,587
234,565
934,891
8,134
29,854,572
hands of Russia, now a recognized
country in and of its own right.
It is hoped that in the near future,
as matters begin to sort themselves
out and governments get organized
in the various former Soviet
Administration's Budget Caiis
For $1.2 Biiiion for Seaiift
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According to a story published
in the Joum^ of Commerce, Presi
dent Bush's 1992 budget proposal
calls for an additional $1.2 billion
dollars for seaiift capacity. With
previously allocated monies, this
would bring the total seaiift fund
ing available for buying or build
ing ships to over $3 billion.
Most pressing of the military's
needs it is thought are more fast
seaiift ships, roll-on, roll-off ves
sels and more pre-positioning
ships. The fast seaiift ships per
formed well during Desert
Shield/Desert Storm, as did the
pre-positioned ships, but the
military exercise demonstrated a
serious lack of RO-RO vessels
under the U.S. flag. Most Ro-Ros
chartered by the Military Seaiift
Conunand, the agency within the
armed forces responsible for the
waterborne transit of military
materiel, were operated under
foreign flags.
This budget reflects a change in
thinking on military matters as
these increases in sedift spending
accompany cuts in other military
items of around 25 percent. Most
of these savings are coming from
stoppage of big ticket weapon sys
tems, such as the B-2 Bomber. Apparendy, the Bush administration's
new nulitary philosophy relies on
quick response provided by the fast
ships and prepositioned vessels.
In other maritime related items,
the President has asked for no
funding for the loan guarantee pro
gram for conunercial vessel con
struction. Overall, however, the
Maritime Administration will
receive a slight increase in its
budget to $518 million, most of
which is slated for Ready Reserve
Fleet maintenance and operating
subsidies. The Coast Guard is
scheduled under the proposal to
receive $414 million, out of a total
budget of $3.77 billion, for capital
improvements to ships, buildings,
and aircraft.
The President's budget is now
being considered by Congress
which can accept or reject any
parts of the plan that they choose.
It is unclear at the present how the
maritime proposals will fare, al
though it is expected that the big
gest fights Congress will wage are
over other mhtters such as health
care insurance programs, the captial gains tax and other tax-spend
ing matters.
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SOURCE: ARGO (a Greek magazine); November 1991.
fleet over 15 years old. As of
November of last year, the Greek
magazine ARGO reported that 132
ships at a cost of $4 billion had
been ordered by Soviet shipping
companies. The shipbuilding
agreements were held with yards in
Spain, Portugal, South Korea,
$600 million.
Shipping industry sources es
timate it will take some time to sort
out the role of the republics and
their shipping companies. Among
the issues is the degree of govern
ment ownership and the status of
shipbuilding agreements and debt.
In US/USSR Ship Pact, Substance May Stay, Parttes May Change
The dismantling of the Soviet
Union into a commonwealth of independent states leaves the
bilateral maritime agreement
signed by the United States and
that former nation in 1990 in the
i
Composition of the Soviet-Registered Fieet
Asof June 26,1991
republics which are all now inde
pendent states, a new bilateral
agreement will be discussed with
Russia and Ukraine.
Most U.S. government sources
believe, however, that the content
of the current agreement will not
be altered dramatically. It is ex
pected that there will have to be
changes in the port lists designated
in the pact, which originally sought
to open 42 Soviet ports to
American shipping. Since their in
dependence from the Soviet
Union, the ports of Latvia,
Lithuania and Estonia have not
been considered "Soviet ports."
The Baltic states and the republics of
Russia, Ukraine and Georgia now con
trol what was once the Soviet mer
chant marine.
The majority of the 42 ports in
the agreement are in the states of
Russia, the Ukraine and Georgia.
However, the ports of primary con
cern to U.S. shipping are those of
Ukraine and Russia.
The former Soviet Ministry of
the Merchant Marine and
Transport Ministry are now in Rus
sian hands. In Ukraine, a Ministry
of Transport is being formed.
The U.S./USSR bilateral
maritime agreement was
negotiated in the first half of the
year in 1990. In addition to open
ing 42 Soviet ports to Americanflag ships, it established 42 ports in
the United States in which Soviet
ships could call. Since the original
agreement was signed, an addi
tional seven ports were added to
each list.
The agreement also established
a two-day arrival notice for Soviet
ships arriving at American ports
and allowed the Soviets to engage
in trade between the United States
and third nations, commonly
known as "cross trades."
Ex-Soviet republics established
the Commonwealth of Inde
pendent States on December 21.
The commonwealth replaced the
Soviet Union. Within the com
monwealth, the states have all the
rights of republics and can operate
as independent nations.
The
Washington
Post
(12/22/91) reported that a draft
agreement between the republics
suggests a structure that "en
visages a conference of heads of
state and government as the main
political institution of the com
monwealth. . ." The newspaper
said ministerial-level committees
have been set up to coordinate ac
tivity in the areas of transportation,
defense, econornics, foreign af
fairs and social security.
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�SEAFARBIS LOG
8
Coast GuanI Sets Benzene StamlanI GK'Maitimrs
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Continued from page 3
and control equipment are substan
tially the same."
Responsibility for ensuring
compliance with safe practices by
all employees and others carrying
out benzene-related activities falls
to the "Person in Charge" (PIC) of
the operation. SpeciHcally cited as
"operations involving benzene"
are: cargo transfer operations in
volving connecting or disconnect
ing liquid or vapor hoses; cargo
tank gauging or sampling, and
cargo tank venting, cleaning and
gas freeing.
Lives Saved by Rule
The Coast Guard claims this
rule is "expected to result in a 90
jercent lowering of the number of
eukemia deaths associated with
the inhalation of benzene vapors."
It is the vapors formed by this in
dustrial chemical which are most
harmful, although the liquid also
causes irritation to skin and eyes
which should be rinsed thoroughly
with water after contact.
Besides leukemia, benzene can
cause bone marrow disorders,
bronchiopneumonia and a host of
central nervous system disorders.
Although a colorless liquid, ben
zene has a distinctive odor which
should alert workers to its
presence. The vapor, in higher con
centrations, will cause irritations to
the eyes, cause headaches, nausea,
and, in the worst cases, convul
sions, unconsciousness and even
paralysis. Benzene is also extreme
ly flammable and explosive.
The new regulations state
employers "must provide, and the
employees must submit to, [a]
medical surveillance examina
tion." Companies are required to
schedule these examinations for all
workers who were exposed to
more than 10 parts per million of
air (ppm) of benzene, as a timeweighted average (TWA), for at
least 30 days in 1991 before Oc
tober 17, or those who can
reasonably be expected to be ex
posed to 1 ppm as a TWA for 8
hours on at least 10 days, or 0.5
ppm for an 8 hour period TWA for
at least 30 days, this year.
Exams Due by June 16
This first examination must be
completed by June 16, 1992 and
the licensed physician must then
provide both the employer and
employee with a written evaluation
of &e results.
These results will include all
medical conditions, if any, which
the examining physician believes
would subject the employee to a
"greater than normal risk" of harm
if exposed to benzene again.
Physicians also may suggest
Military's PacHIc neat
Te Mere RepaB Center
Military Sealift CommandPacific Fleet vessels will begin
using a Navy logistics and repair
support center in Singapore, pos
sibly within the next few months,
as the United States continued its
withdrawal from the Subic Bay
Naval Station.
Logistics Support Force. Navy
workers there will process the
supply and repair requests from
ships in the west Pacific and In
dian oceans and facilitate opera
tions for Navy and MSC supply
ships and oilers to get supplies to
the fleet.
The MSC Pacific Fleet is
crewed by members of the
Seafarers Government Services
Division. In discussions with LOG
reporters, these seamen expressed
mixed emotions about leaving the
Philippines. "It is hard to not come
back to a place we've been calling
on for years," said one mariner.
Meanwhile, the pullout from
Subic Bay (50 miles west of
Manila) should be more than half
complete by the end of June.
The closing of Subic Bay and
the other U.S. military base in the
Philippines—Clark Air Force
Base—comes about as a result of a
vote in that country's senate.
The 23-member senate defeated
the extension of the U.S. lease for
the bases by a 12-11 margin on
September 16. The administration
of President Corazon Aquino,
which had negotiated the lease
agreement extension, sought an
override of the vote; however,
Aquino fell five votes short of the
two-thirds majority needed.
"But we have heard good things
about Singapore," said another.
Transfer of militaiy personnel
from Subic Bay to Singapore could
begin by spring. The Subic station
must be vacat^ by December 31
of this year, since the U.S. and
Philippine governments could not
agree on an extension to lease the
base.
The Singapore shipyard can
dry-dock any U.S. warship except
aircraft carriers. Previously it was
home port and repair base for
Britain's Pacific Fleet (until 1971).
However, only a small percent
age of personnel from Subic Bay
will transfer to Singapore. The Sin
gapore facility is not as complex as
die old base, which had been East
Asia's largest U.S. military
facility.
The Singapore facility is offi
cially known as the 7th Fleet
The Subic Bay base had been
worth $203 million a year in lease
payments, and it generated ap
proximately $344 million in an
nual payroll for 37,000 Filipino
workers.
The Philippine bases have been
dogged with trouble for the past
year. In 1991, Clark Air Base was
hit particularly hard by the June 9
volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.
Ships dock^ at Subic Bay were
dumped with tons of volcanic ash
as a reuslt of the eruption.
limitations on future exposure to
benzene or use of respirators or other
personal protective clothing.
The new rules focus on what are
called "performance standards" or
measures which can be undertaken
by individuals, as opposed to en
gineering standards which involve
sometimes expensive mechanical
installations such as vapor removal
systems. This means that all
maritime workers who work in
designated hazardous zones,
marked by signs and other warning
devices, must wear companyprovided respirators and other
protective clothing such as rubber
gloves and boots.
The Coast Guard guidelines for
bid persons who have to be fit with
respirators from having facial hair
(which would impede a proper fit
of the protective gear). This may
include beards, sideburns and
goatees. Persons with glasses or
contact lenses might also have to
make adjustments. Soft or gas-per
meable contact lenses are not al
lowed to be worn under full-face
respirators.
These Coast Guard rules cover all workers on inspected vessels, as
well as any non-employees, such
as longshoremen, involved in ben
zene operations aboard ships.
Asst. VP G. Ripoll Retires
George M. Ripoll has
retired after 37 years of
service to the Seafarers
International Union.
Ripoll, 58, joined the
Seafarers after serving as
a ranger in the Korean
Conflict. He received
several Bronze and Silver
Stars for his service in the
Army.
After joining the union
in 1955 in the port of New
York, Ripoll sailed in the
deck and engine depart
ments. He returned to
New York in 1961 where George Ripoll at MTD Convention last year in Detroit.
became the trainer at the
Andrew Furuseth School.
Appointed a headquarters rep
He taught boxing, karate and other
resentative
in 1978, Ripoll moved
self-defense courses.
to Jacksonville, Fla. in 1983. He
Ripoll holds a sixth-degree
became an assistant vice president
black belt in karate, was the 1961
of the government services
world jujitsu champion and earned
division in 1988.
a gold medal in international com
While in Jacksonville, Ripoll
petition against the Soviet team in
was
involved with many local and
1965.
civic organizations, including
While in New York, he earned
Mayor J^e Godbold's economic
his GED, attended Staten Island
council.
College and later received his
Throughout his years of seryice
bachelor's degree at what is now
to the union, Ripoll was involved
St. John's University.
in many of its organizing drives.
Ripoll taught boxing and other self-defense courses at the Furuseth School in 1961.
�. ''f/"
FEBmumi992
Philadelphia Exhibit Honors WWII Morchant Mariners
-'-'I-
Merchant mariners who served
during World War II are remem
bered in a small but stirring exhibit
in Philadelphia. 'The Forgotten
The exhibit opened December 7, coin
ciding with the 50th anniversary of
America's entry into WWII.
War: A History of the U.S. Mer
chant Marine During World War
II" opened December 7 at the Na
tional Archives Mid-Atlantic
Region and will be displayed until
December 1992. The opening
coincided with the 50th anniver
sary of America's entry into the
war.
Unappreciated for decades,
WWII merchant mariners finally
are receiving overdue rights and
recognition. Four years ago, those
mariners officially became
veterans—although the status
exhibit, it evoked certain not-sopleasant memories. In 1945, his
last year as a Seafarer, "We came
under attack by three Japanese submarines," Sweeney recalled.
"They were chasing us and we
went right up on the beach, 20 feet
into the sand. We were pulled out
the next day... It seems like it all
happened just yesterday."
Pensioner Henry McCuUough,
a galley gang member for 40 years,
described the Archives layout as
"compact but well set up. It's very
informative."
"I liked what I saw, but it was
kind of short," added Joseph Bidzilya, a deck gang member who
retired in May. "You know, even
today most people don't know
what the merchant marine is."
Reminders of WWH
'The Forgotten War" begins
with a 1940 Philco radio apparent
ly blaring orders and conversations
which might have been heard on
any merchant vessel. To the left are
recruiting posters and ships'
blueprints. To the right are
mariners' medals, 50-year-old
photographs and wartime
newspapers.
In fact, use of the space has been
maximized. The spread includes
logbooks, signal flags, maps,
dishes and vintage film footage.
Visitors also may see uniforms, old
Coast Guard documents. Naval
Armed Guard reports, life rings
and various other equipment. For
the uninitiated, most items are ac-
The exhibit features authentic wartime photos, posters and certificates, as weil as
medais, safety equipment and various tools of the trade.
came with a big asterisk. The
secretary of the air force arbitrarily
set the seamen's cutoff date for
veterans' benefits as August 15,
1945, instead of December 31,
1946 (the date used for armed ser
vices personnel).
After seeing the display in
Philadelphia, several SIU pen
sioners noted the exhibit's excel
lent quality but also the irony of its
location and size. Like the veterans
status, the exhibit has a twist: It is
tucked away in a modest room in
side a large building. Even at a
leisurely pace, one would be hard
pressed to stretch a visit there to a
full hour.
"It brought back a lot of
memories, especially looking at
(replicas of) the Liberty Ships,"
said retired deck department mem
ber Joseph Sweeney, 75. Sweeney
joined the SIU in 1943 in New
York, then joined the Navy a few
years later. Though he enjoyed the
companied by explanatory text.
Shawn Aubitz, curator of the ex
hibit, said attendance has been
steady. "We have three or four
people in here at any given time,
and we've received lots of phone
calls," he said. "So far it's going
well. The merchant mariners seem
very appreciative, and we get to
hear a ot of interesting sea t^es.
"It truly seems like they were for
gotten, and some of thoseguys really
went through hell— We had a guy
recently who recognized (in one of
the photos) someone he had sailed
with during the war. Without exag
gerating, he started to cry."
Seafarers Take Active Role
World War II (1939-45)
claimed more than 50 million lives,
with two-thirds of the casualties
civilian. More than 1,200 Seafarers
lost their lives, aind overall 6,775
U.S. merchant seamen were killed
during the war. Only the Marine
Corps suffered a higher rate of
death among its forces than did the
American merchant marine.
Additionally, thousands of
other U.S. merchant mariners were
wounded or permanently disabled.
The Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor on December 7, 1941
marked America's official entry
into the war. But the merchant
marine traces its involvement in
resentment from members of the
armed forces. "I honestly believe
the other military organizations
thought we were overpaid," he
said. "I heard that talk a lot."
"A lot of people just considered
[the merchant mariners] civilians,"
McCullough added. "They^ were
able to get on and off any sldp, and
they could go into other work,
which many did after one trip.
•i
Retired Seafarers (from left) Joseph Sweeney, Joe BIdzilya and Henry McCullough
agree the display Is well done but small.
the international conflict to 1939.
As author John Bunker noted in
The Seafarers in World War II,
"Our merchant marine had its bap
tism of fire long before Pearl Har
bor. Before any of the nation's
armed services were ready for allout duty in World War n, the mer
chant mariners were on the front
lines of global action."
In 1939 the SS City of Flint, en
route to Norway, was captured by
a German battleship and charged
with carrying contraband. In 1940
the Charles Pratt, a tanker, was tor
pedoed off the coast of West
Africa. And on May 21, 1941 the
SlU-crewed Robin Moor was sunk
by a German U-boat.
During the war, more than 700
American-flag merchant vessels
were sunk—^more than half in U.S.
waters. But, as Bunker noted, "SIU
crews did their jobs with an ef
ficiency that saved the nation mil
lions of dollars. And they helped
man the nation's cargo carriers
long before there were guns or con
voys to protect them."
So why have merchant mariners
been overlooked? Pensioner
Sweertey theorizes it started with
Some guys, like my father, had to
have saltwater in their blood to go
back out there.
"As for the money, you came
back with all of it (from an entire
voyage) at once. That made it seem
like a lot, but we didn't make any
more than any civilians. Heck, the
guys in the shipyards made more
than we did."
Bidzilya agrees. "The first thing
everybody brought up was money.
It was a big payoff, but you spend
a lot of time out there. And show
me someone on the beach who
works seven days a week plus
overtime."
The National Archives Mid-At
lantic Region is located at the Wil
liam Penn Post Office Annex, 9th
and Market Streets, Room 1350 in
Philadelphia. Admission to "The
Forgotten War: A History of the
Merchant Marine During World
War II" is free. The exhibit is open
Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. and the first and third Satur
days of each month from 8 a.m. to
noon.
For additional information
about the exhibit, telephone (215)
597-3000.
'11:-'-i
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BACK TO
il.S.kfBRCIIANT MARiNi
•
MAN THE VICTORY FLEET
About 250,000 Americans answered the call of the merchant marine during WWII.
�SEAFARERS LOG
10
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1992 Electkms: A Chance to Vole for U.S. Ships
tion dates by state. It also lists
some of the elected officials
who are up for election this
year.)
Seafarers also participate
in the political process with
the entire American trade
union movement, brought
together under the banner of
the AFL-CIO, the federation
representing all of American
labor. On a state and local
level, the AFL-CIO, through
its political program—known
as COPE (Committee on
Political Education)—brings
information on candidates and
their records on behalf of
working people to millions of
trade unionists and their
families.
Working with the COPE
seafaring and shipping. The New York hall is one place SlU members can learn about registering to vote. Pictured above is program and the Maritime
Whether seamen will be sub- New York Port Agent Kermett Mangram (right) explaining the registration procedure to Eugene Perez, Trades Department (MTD),
jected to what amounts to a Bert Macary, Larry Brown, Jim Davis, Jim Thornton, Shaif Yafi and Ahmed Alfageh.
the AFL-CIO's department
work tax, known as a "user
which brings together all
giving money to the Seafarers
must face the American electorate
fee" for obtaining merchant marine
unions
with a membership that
Political Action Donation Fund
to be either retumed to office or put
documents and licenses, is an issue
works in maritime and maritime(SPAD), which in turn makes con
in the job for the first time. TTiis
that can be resolved by elected of
related
industries. Seafarers assist
tributions to candidates who sup
year, the top-elected job in the na
ficials. How a U.S.-flag shipping
in
grassroots
political activities.
port U.S. shipping on behalf of
tion is up for grabs—the presiden
company responds to a marine oil
This election year, with the
SIU members. Seafarers also
cy. Additiondly, one-third of the
spill now is determined by
president on the bdlot, the stakes
make their positions known by
100-member Senate face elections
guidelines set in an act of Congress
are high. On November 3—the
participating
in
the
electoral
in
1992
and
every
Congressman
and signed by the president known
general election date for 1992—
process.
will be on the ballot.
as the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.
and in primaries throughout the
To participate as a citizen in the
With the fate of the U.S.-flag
Issues affecting the American
year. Seafarers will have a chance
electoral process, an individual
merchant marine and the jobs of
maritime industry and the job
to cast their votes for politicians
must register to vote. Once
those who earn their livelihoods by
security of Seafarers are taken up
who support a strong U.S. shipping
registered with the local board of
working aboard American ships to
on almost a daily basis by Con
capability. Seafarers will have an
elections in the county, parish,
be determined by elected officials,
gress, the administration and its
opportunity to work with the rest of
township or city where one lives,
it is no wonder Seafarers have a
regulatory agencies and by state
the labor movement to elect offi
the individual can vote in any elec
tradition of being deeply involved
and local governments around the
cials
who support working people
in politics. This involvement has
tion. (The chart on the following
country.
generally.
page provides information on elec
taken the form of voluntarily
These directly elected officials
A strong national sealift
capability; policies which
make American shipping vi
able in the global
marketplace;
keeping
domestic waterbome com
merce on vessels owned,
operated and crewed by
Americans; having U.S.government generated car
goes transported on U.S-flag
ships—^these issues, which to
a large extent will determine
if the United States is to have
a strong merchant marine in
the future, are on the agenda
of the elected officials who
make up the U.S. Congress.
The policies of govern
ment, established by laws
enacted by elected officials,
are evident in every aspect of
Procedures for Registering to Vote and Voting Absentee
Deciding whom to vote for can
wait up to the last minute, but
registering to vote and requesting
absentee ballots are procedures
that require some planning.
To ensure that one can cast a
ballot on election day, an in
dividual must register to vote in
advance. Additionally, if an in
dividual will be away from home
on election day, an absentee ballot
must be secured. Waiting until the
last minute to register or to re
quest an absentee ballot could
mean not being able to vote on
election day.
Most states require that before
an individual can vote in federal,
state and local elections, he or she
must register with the local board
of elections. The registration
process varies by state.
"•ct-..
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Voting
Assistance
'92 • 93 Guicde
•IMUl.IMS • OMI
^
Merchant mariners are eligible to pat'
ticipate in the Department of Defense
voting program.
To cast a ballot in an election,
the individual can vote on the
designated day at his or her local
polling place. But if a registered
voter will be away from his or her
home on election day, as is often
the case with Seafarers, a vote can
be cast through the absentee voting
process.
Every local board of election
has a system for issuing absentee
ballots to individuals who will be
out of town on election day. To
find out how to request an absentee
ballot, individuals can contact their
local boards of election.
military ships, any U.S. base has a
designated voting assistance of
ficer who can supply the forms and
who has the guide.
Seamen who are shipping out or
who are already at sea or overseas
may use the DOD's form—^known
as a Federal Post Card Registration
and Absentee Ballot Request
(FPCA). For more information on
Procedures for Mariners
For individuals in the merchant
marine and the armed forces, the
process of registering to vote and
voting by absentee bdlot has been
simplifi^ through the voting as
sistance program of the Depart
ment of Defense (DOD).
DOD has developed a single re
quest form that is recognized by
every board of election in the
United States. The agency has pub
lished a guide on how to fill out the
form for every state. Copies of the
guide and the forms have been
mailed to every U.S.-flag ship by
the Maritime Administration. Ad
ditionally, the SIU is in the process
of sending the guide and forms to
every ship's chairman. The guide
and forms are also available at all
SIU halls. Also, for Seafarers on
the DOD FPCA program, the
agency has an information center.
The number is (703) 693-6500.
This is not a toll free number, nor
are collect calls accepted.
The officials at all SIU halls
have information on candidates.
Seafarers can consult their port
agents for information on the
voting records of candidates in
their area.
Seafarers, who have so much at
stake in the election process, owe
it to themselves and their industry
to participate in the electoral
process. With both the DOD
voting assistance program and the
traditional mechanisms available
for registering to vote and for
voting available to Seafarers, there
should be no barriers to full par
ticipation in the electoral process.
For registration
deadlines and polling
hours, see chart
on page 11.
�FBUIUARY1992
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1992 Election Inforniatioil by Ststs! Nov. 3 General Elections
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Used for oceanographic research, the USNS Bartlett occasionally is on display to the public.
From Science to Public Relations
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Bartlett Seafarers Wear Many Hats
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Oiler Enrique Crespo works on diesel engine.
The USNS Bartlett, whether at sea or
docked, always seems to have an interesting
mission which demands special skills of its
crewmembers, report Seafarers aboard the
oceanographic research ship.
At sea, while it can be a rough ride for the
208-foot, 1,600-ton ship, crewmembers
operate the ship land its special features for
teams of scientists and staff from various
universities and other research facilities as
sociated with the U.S. government. During
these assignments deck department mem
bers handle the ship's vast array of winches
and special over-the-side davits which are
used to handle the scientists' research equip
ment.
When at port, there is a good chance the
ship will be on display to Ae public or the
Cfiecking the engineroom gauges and dials Is one of the jobs OMU oceanographic research community. Last
D.A. Kinsler handles.
summer, during one of these public-relations
assignments, the ship was on display in
Baltimore's Inner Harbor, a waterfront com
mercial center which attracts thousands of
visitors every day.
Bartlett crewmembers served as guides,
escorting some 3,000 tourists through die
ship on a daily basis, explaining the duties of
the vessel and pointing out its interesting
features. During the fall, the ship was on
display in New Orleans to coincide with a
conference.
Classified by the military as a T-AGOR
ship, the Bartlett is one of two of its class of
research vessel in the military's fleet. The
ship, which was built in 1969, is sub
contracted to Mar Ship Operators (MSO) for
operation and maintenance. Crewmembers
report that the Bartlett spends a great deal of
time at sea, sailing primarily from east coast
ports.
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Purser Richard Lemon reviews his figures one more time AB Joseph Griffin checks the Bartlett's
before issuing pay to the crewmembers.
lifeboat emergency radio.
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D-MAC Fred Wrede comes up for some air while working beneath
the deck on the USNS Bartlett.
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Seafarers Tie Knot
At Country Hoedown
•A'sf
The newlyweds are joined by fellow SlU members. From the left (kneeling) are
Pumpman Delton Ard, AB Garvin Doyle, Electrician David Merida, Chief Cook Cathleen
Martin, AB David Gardutte, (standing) John Bodin, AB Shannon Downey, New Orleans
Port Agent Joe Perez, Groom Carlos Merida, Bride Hellen Mizell-Merida and ABUnieda
Laitinen.
! •'•' •-' 1-'"' •' '•' •
An antique horse-drawn wagon takes Chief The bride and her husband, an AB, lead the
Steward Hellen Mizell to her wedding. Her wedding guests to a reception following the
fattier, Calvin Coleman, is at the reins.
ceremony.
Chief Steward Hellen Mizell
decided she wanted to do some
thing different when she married
AB Carlos Merida. And different
it was—^a complete country-andwestem hoedown on her father's
Mississippi ranch.
"It was different," MizellMerida told a reporter for the
Seafarers LOG about the Decem
ber 15 wedding of the two SIU
members. "I thought it up. I was
raised in the country and this was
right down my alley."
But a western theme was not the
only aspect of the Mizell-Merida
wedding ceremony that made it
unique. The event also had a
Seafarer label. Besides the
daughters, who served as brides
maids, 10 fellow SIU members
served as witnesses to the
Gulfport, Miss, wedding.
The western flavor of the event
was evident in the couple's wed
ding-day outfits. Additionally, the
bride, who joined the SIU in 1985,
rode to the wedding in an antique
wagon driven by her father, Calvin
Coleman.
Mizell-Merida said of her hus
band, an SIU member since 1978,
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"I took a New Orleans boy and put
him in the country."
The couple met on the Overseas
Chicago two years ago. "Captain
William Harkness introduced us,"
the steward recalled. "We were the
only two single people on the ship.
The captain told me 'Here's a per
fect match for you.'"
The pair started dating after they
signed off. They tried to sail
together when they could, manag
ing to be together on three or four
ships since meeting. MizellMerida said they both realized they
would be on the beach over the
holidays and decided to hold the
wedding then.
Besides having shipping in com
mon, both are single parents, which
she admitted was hard for them to
handle while at sea. Chief Steward
Mizell-Merida's daughter, Desiree,
is 12 while AB Merida's daughter,
Holly-Lyn, is 15. "They're both my
daughters now," Mizell-Merida said
with pride.
"We still want to sail together,"
she said about the family's future.
"Our parents will help take care of
the children while we are gone."
Alpena Crew Gets Rare Visit from Bald Eagle
Shortly after dinner on Septem
ber 14, crewmembers of the SS
Alpena noticed their every move
was being observed from the
bridge. Not by an officer, but by an
adolescent bald eagle who decided
to make the bridge wing its perch.
A young bald eagle surveys the deck of the Alpena from its perch on the bridge.
The Alpena adopted this eagle as their
mascot after the bird adopted the
steamer as its home.
AB Watchman Jon L. Watson
provided the Seafarers LOG with
photographs of the bird as well as
a description of its brief visit to the
vessel.
"It was just after 1800 hours and
we were 35 miles off the Wiscon
sin shore around Milwaukee when
we first noticed we had picked up
an unexpected guest," Watson
wrote in his letter.
The eagle stayed on the bridge
for approximately 24 hours but
was disturbed by the commotion
created by the crew as the ship
prepared to dock in Alpena, Mich.
It returned a short time later and
made its home on top of the aftermast. "It stayed while we loaded,"
Watson continued.
Some crewmembers called a
local wildlife officer to examine
and capture the bird to return it to
the wild. The officer said the eagle
looked healthy, "but must be lost
and confused. He didn't think it
was safe to tiy and capture it," the
AB reported.
The eagle stayed aboard as the
Alpena set sail. "After rinsing
down the deck, the bird came off
the mast and stayed on deck where
we were able to feed and pet it,"
Watson reported.
Stan Wiemeyer, a research
biologist studying minatory birds
for the Patuxent Wildlife Research
Center in Maryland, said "it is rela
tively unusual" for an eagle to
perch on a vessel.
"My gut reaction is the bird may
have gotten too far off shore,"
Wiemeyer told a reporter for the
LOG, "It may have been weakened
and was unable to return to shore,
so it landed where it could."
When told the bird allowed
crewmembers to feed and pet it,
Wiemeyer responded, "This is
very strange. It might not have
been in good health or it may have
been accustomed to people. Very
strange."
The researcher noted birds of
prey, like eagles, may land on ships
in extraordinary circumstances.
"Birds of prey may have been at
tracted to smaller birds that could
be around a ship. They fly from
their perches to capture their
prey, then return to tear it and
feed on it.
"Bald eagles are more fisheating. They wiU take waterfowl, but
I don't recall seeing any ornithologi
cal literature or studies of them land
ing on ships," Wiemeyer added.
Watson's note about the
Alpena's eagle ended on a sad
note. As the bird was soaring off
the stem during its evening flight,
a wind gust caught it as it was
attempting to land on the bridge
and slammed it into the bulkhead.
The crew watched as the eagle fell
lifeless into the lake.
• • "v!• ; v".
Bald Eagle Makes Temporary Home on USNS Wilkes
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USNS Wilkes crewmembers also were treated to a rare visit by an adult bald
eagle. This ship's winged visitor rests on the aft-quarter deck while the vessel
was docked in Adak, Alaska in December.
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Cutoff for WWII Seamen
Blecked by Vet Panel
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The House Veterans Affairs
Committee continues blocking
progress on a bill providing World
War Il-era merchant mariners with
the same cutoff date for veteran
status as was received by other
members of the U.S. milit^.
Congress convened on January
28, and for the third straight ses
sion Veterans Affairs Conunittee
Chairman Sonny Montgomery (DMiss.) has not scheduled a meeting
for the bill, the Merchant Mariners
Fairness Act of 1991.
The legislation would extend
World War II veteran status to
American merchant mariners who
sailed between August 15, 1945
and December 31, 1946, the date
President Harry Truman declared
as the end of hostilities.
Seamen who sailed between
December?, 1941 and August 15,
1945 were declared veterans in
Januaty 1988 by the secretary of
the Air Force (the branch of the
Department of Defense which
oversees matters pertaining to
veterans). The recognition came
after seamen and their allies
fought for veteran status for
WWII mariners for more than 40
years.
But in selecting August 15,
1945 as the cutoff date, the Depart
ment of Defense excluded ap
proximately 2,500 living
seafarers who deserve WWII
veteran status.
Rep. Montgomery and other op
ponents of the bill (which also is
known as H.R. 44) say that after
August 15,1945, merchant seamen
were no longer subject to military
control. Yet while the mariners
technically were still civilians,
they were, in fact, subject to
military discipline. Moreover,
much of their work was similar to
the work of the armed forces.
Jack Fields (R-Texas) intro
duced the bill three years ago and
has helped to repeatedly push it
through the Merchant Marine and
Fisheries Committee, of which he
is a member.
Former Official Neira Dies at 74
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Louis "Blackie" Neira, retired
SIU official, passed away January
15 from cancer. He was 74.
Brother Neira joined the SIU in
his native New York in 1943. A
member of the engine depart
ment, he sailed during World War
II.
In the mid-1940s, Neira came
ashore to serve as an SIU patrol
man assigned to Mobile. He later
became Mobile port agent.
Neira, who spoke fluent
Spanish, was one of the cadre of
union officials who SIU Presi
dent Paul Hall could assign to
any beef. He played a big role in
the American Banner Lines and
longshoremen's beefs in the
'50s.
During the '70s, when the
union was conducting crew con
ferences, Blackie Neira was one
of the instructors, shuttling be
tween his port agent job in Mobile
and his instructor assignment at
the Lundeberg School. Neira
proved his worth as a versatile
and skilled official. He retired
from his union post in 1977.
Brother Neira lived in Mobile
for 50 years and was buried in
Mobile's Pine Crest Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife,
Rena; two daughters, Rebecca J.
Neira of Thomasville, Ala., and
Delores Neira Appling of
Lawrenceville, Ga.; a sister,
Josephine Flanagan of New
York; four brothers, Joe Neira
and Frank Neira, both of New
York, Orient Neira of Jersey City,
N.J., and John Neira of Parlin,
N.J.; two grandchildren, nieces,
nephews and other relatives.
m:,/'
The American Battlefield Monu
ments Commission has added
tributary words to the base of the
central pylon at its East Coast
memorial statue at Battery Park in
New York City.
The new tribute honors the 6,185
seamen of the U.S. merchant marine
and the 529 seamen of the U.S. Army
Transport Service who lost their lives
during World War II.
Charles Dana Gibson, the historian
arid author who specializes in
maritime and military history, helped
coordinate the effort.
The photo above shows the full
eagle statue from the front. The photo
below shows the new wording on the
base of the statue which pays tribute
to the WWII merchant marines.
MarAd Cbrilies fkilf Medal Process
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Mrs. Rena Neira (seated at right)
accepts condolences at graveside
service for her husband.
f'
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Tribute Paid to WWII Merchant Marine
This 1954 photograph shows Brother Neira handing shipping card to a Seafarer
at the conclusion of a longshore strike.
Last month's issue of the
Seafarers LOG stated that the
Maritime
Administration
(MarAd) will begin issuing the
Merchant Marine Expeditionary
Medal to those seamen who
qualified during Operation
Desert Shield/Storm.
Bmce J. Carlton, Director of that
department's Office of Maritime
Labor and Training, has issued a
clarification of that article. He notes
that distribution of the medals will
be handled directly by authorized
vendors, not by MarAd. The vendors
will order both the fiiU size and min
iature medals and the ribbon bars
fix)m die manufacturer very soon.
The Office of Maritime Labor
and Training is keeping the names
and addresses of all individual who
have inquired about the medal, and
each one will be notified promptly
by letter as to when the medals are
available for purchase from the
vendors.
Inquiries regarding the Mer
chant Marine Expeditionary
Medal and all other merchant
marine awards and decorations
should be address to the Office of
Maritime Labor and Training,
Maritime Administration, Room
7302, Washington, DC 20590.
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MarAd notes delay in ordering of
medals by authorized vendors.
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SEAEmEtlS
•mppmp
SPEOAL
A guide for Seafarers to refer to when
preparing 1991 tax returns due to the
Internal Revenue Service and state
governments on April 15,1992,
WPm
DeadEne tor
tSUhg
FOR SEAMEN April 15, 199R
^X.::K.P.-t
F
or seamen, the tax filing process can
become extremely complicated. The na
ture of seafaring work raises many is
sues at tax time that most shoreside workers
do not have to consider.
Among the concems raised by seamen
interviewed by the Seafarers LOG were ques
tions of claiming a residence for purposes of
filing state tax returns and the issue of what
is considered a work-related tax deductible
expense. One seaman questioned whether
maintenance and cure payments are consid
ered reportable income. Others simply asked
about the procedure for filing a request for
an extension and some wanted to know num
bers to call to obtain more information.
In preparing this guide of tax tips for
seamen, the staff of the LOG, working with
a certified public accountant familiar with
the maritime industiy, has attempted to gather
information that addresses the concems of
Seafarers.
WHERE TO FILE
Tax returns should be mailed to the Intemal Revenue Service Center designated for the area in which the
taxpayer lives. These addresses are listed below. No street address is needed for the IRS.
For Individuals living in the following states
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina
.•
General Information: 1-800-829-1040 can be called for
general information. IRS staff answer questions Monday
through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:15 pm. These times are
consistent throughout the country, no matter the time
zone.
1
Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee
All A.P.O. or F.P.O. addresses
Publications: 1-800-829-3676 operators will take orders
for publications. IRS Publication 553 entitled "High
lights of 1991 Tax Changes" and IRS Publication 552
called "Record Keeping for Individuals" are two fre^
quently-ordered publications.
Walk-In Help: IRS representatives are available in many
IRS offices around the country to help with tax questions
that cannot be answered easily by telephone. To find the
• .'rpr Sp
MF
Cincinnati, OH 45999
IRS
Austin,!^ 73i
IRS
Ogden, UT 84201
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BRs
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TCsno, CA
IRS
Memphis, TN 37501
iladelpmPA 1925;
Commissioner of
Revenue and Taxation
855 West Marine Dr.
Agana,GU 96910
PuertoRico (or if excluding income
under section 933), Vir^n Islands:
Nonpeimanent residents
. >,
Virgin Islands
pppoM-
Andover, MA 05501 U.?
IRS
Kansas City, MO 64999
Alaska, Arizona, California (counties of Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras,
Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake,
Lassen, Marin, Mendocino, Modoc, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas,
Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma,
Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba), Colorado, Idaho, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota,
Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
California (all other counties),,
The IRS is prepared to answer questions by phone.
Through the agency's tax-payer information service,
publications covering all aspects of tax-filing can be
ordered.
The "Tele-Tax" Service has recorded tax information
covering more than 140 topics. 1-800-829-4477 is the
IRS's automated Tele-Tax system. When calling from a
touch tone phone, the "#" button will repeat the topic and
the
button will stop the message. To listen to a
directory of topics after the introductory message fin
ishes, dial 3-2-3.
This telephone service is available from 7:00 am until
midnight when calling from a touch tone phone. Rotary
dial phone users can call the service between 8:00 am and
4:15 pm.
The status of an individual's refund can be obtained
through the Tele-Tax system as well. After a person has
submitted a tax retum, he or she can call this 1-800-8294477 to find out about the status of an expected refund.
When making this kind of call, the individual should have
the following handy: the social security number shown
first on the tax retum in question, its filing status and the
amount of the refund.
pp -
Use this address:
IRS
?
Atlanta, OA 39901if
IRS
Holtsville, NY 00501
New Jersey, New York (New York City and counties of Nassau,
Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester)
New Xork (all other counties), Connecticut, Maine, '
^ 1^^
Rhode Island, Vermont
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri
Wisconsin
Delaware, Distnct of Columbia,.
Maryland, Pennsylvaiua, Virgihil
Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio,
West Virginia
Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
INFORMATION BY PHONE
FOR MORE INFORMATION
•
Philadelphia, PA 19255
'"y.1 %•
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•''4J
V.l. Bureau of Intemal
Revenue
Lockharts Garden No. lA
St. Thomas, VI 00802
IRS
Philadelphia, PA 19255
location of an IRS office, look in the phone book under
"United States Govemment, Intemal Revenue Service."
Telephone Help: IRS representatives are available to
help with tax questions. If needed, call the IRS using the
toll-free number listed in the telephone directory.
Send IRS Written Questions: Written questions regard
ing the tax retums can be sent directly to an IRS District
Director. Include a social security number with the letter.
'.- •t- : J
SeafanrsLOG, FebniarY 1992 Suppkaeiit Page 1
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STANDARD DEDUCTION
This is the standard deduction chart for most people. It
should not be used if taxpayer is 65 or older or blind or
if a dependent.
is
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Filing Status
•'
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Standard
Deduction
Single ....•••••••••••....•••••••••••.••.rf.... $3^400
Married filing joint return
or
Qualifying widow(er)
with dependent childien......... ...$5,700
Married filing separate return. ,..$2,850
..$5,000
Head of household
W-R's, DEDUCTIONS AND
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TAX TIPS
FORSEAMEI^
REPORTED INCOME
In addition to wages, salaries, tips, unemployment compen
sation, ctq)ital gains, dividend payments and other income
listed on the federal tax return, the following kinds of
income must be reported:
• Jones Act settlements for lost wages.
• Amounts received in place of wages from accident and
health plans (including sick pay and disability pensions)
if employer paid for the policy.
• Life insurance proceeds from a policy cashed in if the
proceeds are more than the premium paid.
• Profits fix)m corporations, partnerships, estates and
trusts.
• Endowments.
• Original Issue Discount.
• Distributions from SEPs and DECs.
• Bartering income (fair-maricet value of goods or ser
vices received in retum for services).
• Tier 2 and supplemental annuities under the Railroad
Retirement Act.
• Lump-sum distributions.
• Gains from the sale or exchange (including barter) of
real estate, securities, coins, gold, silver, gems or other
property (capital gains).
• Accumulation distributions from trusts.
• Prizes and awards (contests, raffles, lottery and gam
bling winnings).
• Eamed income from sources outside the United States.
• Director's fees.
• Fees received as an executor or administrator of an
estate.
EMPLOYER W-2's: Employers are required to mail W-2
forms to employees by Januaiy 31. If an individual believes he or
she is missing W-2's, contact the employer. For seamen who
have ever used a union hall as a return address,check withthe SIU
port agent to determine if a W-2 has been sent to that address.
SEAFARERS VACATION PLAN W-2's: If a Seafarer has
received monies from the Seafarers Vacation Plan (SVP), he or
she should receive a W-2 from that fund. Seafarers who have
received SVPmonies but who have not received a W-2 from the
plan should contact their union hall or call Andy Marmo at the
SVP office in Camp Springs, Md.; 301-899-0675.
INCREASED DEDUCTIONS: The deduction for each ex
emption—^for the individual, his or her spouse and dependents
has increased to $2,150 per person.
STANDARD DEDUCTION HAS INCREASED: The stan
dard deduction has increased for most people. Because of this
increase, it may be to an individual's benefit to take the standard
deduction this year even if that person has itemized deductions in
the past.
PERSONAL INTEREST DEDUCTIONS: For 1991, per
sonal interest cannot be deducted. Personal interest includes
interest on car loans, credit cards and personal loans.
INTEREST ON SECURED LOANS DEDUCTIBLE: Inter
est paid on mortgages or secured loans is 100 percent deductible.
UNION DUES DEDUCTION: Union dues are only deductible
NON-REPORTED INCOME
if they exceed 2 percent of gross income. If they do, only the
The following kinds of income do not need to be
portion over the 2 percent is deductible. SPAD contributions
reported on the federal tax retum:
have never been deductible.
•
Benefits fix)m government welfare programs.
DEDUCTING WORK-RELATED EXPENSES: Expenses
• Jones Act settlements for injuries, pain, suffering,
associated with a seaman's work may be considered tax deduct
ible. However, no expense can be deducted for which a seaman
medical costs.
has been reimbursed by the employer. Travel to the union hall to
• Maintenance and Cure.
register or travel to the union's designated medical facility to take
• Workers' compensation benefits, insurance damages,
the required physical and drug test are examples of expenses
etc. for injury or sickness.
which are work-related but not reimbursed by the company.
Members of the galley crew may deduct the costs of knives and
• Veterans Administration disability retirement
other equipment they personally own but use when on a ship
payments (and other benefits).
performing their woric duties. The purchase of work-related
• Child support.
clothing and other gear, as long as it is truly for work and not paid
• Gifts, money or other property inherited or willed.
for by the employer, are likely to be considered tax-deductible.
• Dividends on veterans' life insurance.
DEDUCTING WORK-RELATED CAR EXPENSES: Use
• Life insurance proceeds received because of a
of a personally-owned automobile in woric-related travel can
result in deductible expenses. Two methods can be used to
person's death.
compute automobile expenses — either listing a standard mile
• Amounts received from insurance because of loss of
age rate or determining actual cost. On the tax return due April 15
the use of a home due to fire or other casualty to the
of this year, the IRS is accepting a standard mileage rate of 27.5
extent
the amounts were more than the cost of normal
cents per mile. Parking fees and tolls can be added when usingthe
expenses
while living in the home.
standi mileage rate. If using actual expenses, information must
be available on all operating-related costs for the vehicle, includ
• Certain amounts received as a scholarship.
ing interest, insurance, taxes licenses, maintenance, repairs,
depreciation, gas, oil, tolls and parking. In either the standard
ceived in about 3 weeks, or in 2 weeks if it is deposited directly
mileage rate or the actual cost method of determining car ex
into a savings or checking account. For a charge, many profes
penses, accurate records should be kept. The IRS recommends
sional tax retum preparers offer electronic filing in addition to
keeping a log book or diary listing all expenses related to travel.
their retum preparation services. If an individual prepared his or
Only woric-related expenses not reimbursed by an employercan
her own retum, a preparer or transmitter in their area can file the
be claimed.
retum electronic^ly. For a list of who can file a tax retum
DEDUCTING WORK-RELATED MEALS WHEN TRAV
electronically
in any given area, call the IRS toll-free number, 1ELING: Workers in transportation are allowed a special rate on
800-829-1040,
and ask for the Electronic Filing Office.
the meal allowance of $30.00 a day. Otherwise the IRS standard
DEPENDENT'S
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: If an indi
meal allowance is generally $26, in some locations it is $34 and
vidual claims an exemption for a dependent who is at least 1 year
in Hawaii and Alaska it iscomputed differently. Travel expenses,
old by December 31, 1991, he or she must list the dependent's
including meals, can only be deducted if directly related to one's
social security number on Form 1040 or Form 1040A. A social
work and if they have not been reimbursed from any other source.
security number requirement applies to all dependents (not just
LIMIT ON ITEMIZED DEDUCTIONS: Beginning in 1991,
children)
claimed on the tax retum who are at least 1 year old.
itemized deductions may be limited for an individual earning
GIFT TO REDUCE THE PUBLIC DEBT: An individual may
more than $100,000of federal adjusted gross income (or $50,(X)0
make a gift to reduce the public debt. To do so, enclose a separate
if married and filing separately).
check with the income tax retum. Make it payable to "Bureau of
KEEPING RECORDS: Keep records of income, deductions
the Public Debt." Do not add it to any tax owed.
and credits shown on the tax return, as well as any worksheets
CHANGE OF ADDRESS: If an individual has changed his or
used to figure them, until the statute of limitationsruns out for that
her address from the one listed on that person's last tax retum, IRS
return, usually 3 years from the date the return was due or filed,
Form 8822 should be filled out and filed with the agency.
or 2 years from the date the tax was paid, whichever is later.
However, it is re(X>mmended that all records be kept for about 6
EDUCATION SAVINGS BONDS PROGRAM: All or part of
years.
the interest for certain U.S. savings bonds can be excluded from
income if one pays qualified higher education expenses during
FAST REFUND: If a tax refund is expected for 1991, instead of
the year he redeems the bonds.
mailing the return to the Internal Revenue Service, it can be filed
electronically. When filed electronically, a refund will be reDEATH OF A TAXPAYER: If a taxpayer died before filing a
FILING
AN EXTENSION
IRS Form 4868 can be used to ask for a fourmonth extension to file IRS Form 1040A or Form
1040. An individual requesting an extension is under
obligation to explain why the additional time is needed.
Filing of the form gives an individual until August 17,
1992 to file his or her 1991 federal tax retum. The IRS will
only contact the individual directly if the request for an
extension is denied.
To be able to extend the period of time in which one
can file his or her tax retum, that individual must correctly
fill out Form 4868 and pay all of the tax monies due (as
noted on line 6 of the form).
If the filing of Form 4868 and the subsequent fourmonth extension to file does not provide the individual
with enough time, he or she can then file Form 2688,
known as "Application for Additional Extension of Time
to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Retum." Another
option open to the person seeking more time in which to
file is to write a letter to the IRS stating the reason the
extension is necessary and mailing it to the correct IRS
location (see "Where to File" on page 1 of this supple
ment).
An individual seeking an extension is advised by the
IRS to file Form 4868 before filing Form 2688.
To obtain an IRS form 4868, an individual can call the
agency's toll free number which is dedicated to tax form
requests. That number is 1-800-TAX-FORM
(1-800-829-3676). Also, Form 4868 is available from
all main IRS branch offices. If a Seafarer finds himself
or herself overseas, he or she can obtain the form from
any U.S. embassy or consulate.
It is important to bear in mind that the filing of
Form 4868 requesting an extension does not get one
off the hook from having to pay his or her taxes due.
Form 4868, when sent in, must be accompanied by all
tax monies due the U.S. govemment from the indi
vidual filing the extension. The deadline for filing the
form and the taxes monies due is April 15.
OVERSEAS?
Should a seaman find himself or herself overseas and
seeking IRS forms or IRS assistance, U.S. embassies and
consulates are equipped to provide some taxpayer-re
lated services. At a minimum, IRS forms are available at
all U.S. embassies and consulates. The U.S. embassies
and consulates located in the following cities can provide
IRS assistance: Bonn, Germany; Caracas, Venezuela;
London, England; Mexico City, Mexico; Nassau, Baha
mas; Ottawa, Canada; Paris France; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;
Rome, Italy; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Sydney, Australia and
Tokyo, Japan.
•' .;Y-VV
'""1- '^-1
required retum for 1991, the taxpayer's personal representative
(and spouse, in the case of a joint retum) must file and sign the
retum for that person. A personal representative can be an
executor,administratororanyone whois inchargeofthe taxpayer's
property.
ROUNDING OFF TO WHOLE DOLLARS: Cents may be
rounded off to the nearest whole dollar on the tax retum and
schedules. To do so, raise anlounts from 50 to 99 cents to the next
dollar. For example, $1.39 becomes $1 and $2.50 becomes $3.
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION: Unemployment
compensation (insurance) is fully taxable. By January 31,1992,
an individual who has received unemployment compensation
should receive a Form 1099-G showing the total unemployment
compensation paid during 1991.
Use line 20 on the tax retum to report unemployment compensa
tion.
EARNED INCOME CREDIT: To qualify for the earned
income credit, families must have an income of less than $21,250
and have at least one child living with them. The maximum credrt
for families with one child is $1,192. Families with 2 or more
children may receive up to $1,235. With a child bom in 1991, the
farnily may qualify foran additional $357 credit and if the family
paid for part of the premiums for a health insurance policy
covering a child an additional credit of $428 may be due. To apply
for the eamed income credit, a family must file use a Form 1040
or 1040A, but not a 1040EZ, and attach IRS Schedule EIC.
• ^ '.t.'
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S«almmF0bnary1992Siipplemmt Page 2
�PMMRINGA
Step 1. Get all records together.
• Income records, which include any W-2, W-2G and
1099 forms.
• Records for itemized deductions and tax credits.
• Medical and dental payment records.
• Real estate and personal property tax receipts.
• Interest payments records for items such as a home
mortgage or home equity loan.
• Records of payments for child care so an individual
could work.
Step 2. Get any forms, schedules or publications neces
sary to assist in filing the retum. IRS Publication 17
entitled "Your Federal Income Tax for Use in Preparing
1991 Returns" is the most comprehensive guide the
agency has issued this year. Most IRS offices and many
local banks, post offices and libraries have publications
designed to provide individuals with information on
correctly filing tax returns.
Step 3. Fill in the retum.
Step 4. Check the retum to make sure it is correct.
Step 5. Sign and date the retum. Form 1040 is not
considered a valid retum unless signed. A spouse must
also sign if it is a joint retum.
Step 6. Attach all required forms and schedules. Attach
the first copy of Copy B of Forms W-2, W-2G and 1099
to the front of the Form 1040. Attach all other schedules
and forms behind Form 1040 in order of the attachment
sequence number. If tax is owed, attach the payment to
the front of Form 1040.
TAX TIPS
FOR SEAMEN^
The law prohibits employers from withholding state and
local taxes from the wages of seamen working aboard
U.S.-flag ships.
Specifically, the law [46 USCA lllOSai)] provides
that "no part of the wages due or accming to a master,
officer, or any other seaman who is a member of the crew
on a vessel engaged in the foreign, coastwise, intercoastal, interstate, or noncontiguous trade shall be with
held pursuant to the provisions of the tax laws of any
State, Territory, possession, or Commonwealth, or a
subdivision of any of them, but nothing in this section
shall prohibit any such withholding of the wages of any
seaman who is employed in the coastwise trade between
ports in the same State if such withholding is pursuant to
a voluntary agreement between such seaman and his
employer."
The law; however, does not exempt seamen from
paying state and local taxes. A seaman, just like any other
citizen of any given state, must meet his or her obligations
to the government of the area in which he or she lives.
For some seamen, claiming a domicile is an elusive
matter because they spend much of the year sailing or
guidelines. However, each state
has determined a set of criteria to
determine whether an individual is a
resident of that state. A seaman should
check with a state tax office if he or she is
unsure as to his residency status.
For example, in California, in the early '70s, a case
before the California State Board of Equalization stated
that a merchant seaman—despite the fact that he was on
a ship for 210 days of the year—was a resident of thestate
for tax purposes. The board took into consideration the
fact that the seaman owned a home in California and
maintained a bank account in a California-based bank.
[Appeal of Bernard and Helen Fernandez, SBE, June 2,
1971].
Additionally, each state has established conditions
under which non-residentsof that state must pay a portion
of state tax if such an individual earned income from a
source based in that state.
Many states allow a credit in the amount an individual
must pay the state if that person has already paid taxes in
another state.
In this supplement are two charts for seamen to use if
questions arise on residency and state tax issues. The first
is a list of phone numbers of state tax boards and offices
to call for more information (see below). The second
provides information on what each state considers to be
taxable income for residents and non-residents (nonresidents). The chart indicates that seven states do not
require state taxes to be paid of its residents and three
states limit state taxes to profits earned from investments
but do not consider wages subject to taxation.
TAX
STATE
LOCAL#
Taxpayer's Assistance, P.O. Box 327410, Montgomery, AL 36132-7410
ALABAMA
Department of Revenue, Pouch SA, Juneau, AK 99811-0400
ALASKA
Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 29086, Phoenix, AZ 85038-9086
ARIZONA
Tax Administrator, P.O. Box 3628, Little Rock, AR 72203-3628
ARKANSAS
Taxpayer
Information, P.O. Box 942840, Sacramento, CA 94240-0040
CALIFORNIA
Taxpayer's Assistance, 1375 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80261
COLORADO
Taxpayer's Assistance, 92 Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT 06l05
CONNECTICUT
Taxpayer's Assistance, Ninth and French Streets, Wilmington, DE 1980f
^
DELAWARE
Taxpayer's Assistance, 300 Indiana Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
WASHINGTON, DC
Department of Revenue, Carlton BIdg., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0135
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
Revenue Information, P.O. Box 38007, Atlanta, GA 30334
HAWAH
Department of Taxation, P.O. Box 3559, Honolulu, HI 96811-3559
Tax Commission, P.O. Box 56, Boise, ID 83756
IDAHO
Tax Information, P.O. Box 19001, Springfield, IL 62794-9001
ILLINOIS
ilii
Taxpayer Infonnation, 100 N. Senate Ave., Rm. 209, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2253
INDIANA
*
Taxpayer Services, Hoover State Office BIdg., Des Moines, lA 50319
IOWA
Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 12001, Topeka, KS 66612-2001
!
KANSAS
Revenue Cabinet, 1266 Louisville Road, Frankfort, KY 40620
KENTUCKY
Taxpayer Information, P.O. Box 3440, Baton Rouge, LA 70823-0001
LOUISIANA
Bureau of Taxation, State Office BIdg., Augusta, ME 04332-1067
MAINE
Corapttpller of the Treasury, Income Tax Division, Annapolis, MD 21411-0001
MARYLAND
Massachuseils DepL of RevenUe, P.O. Box 7071, Boston, MA 02204
- "
MASSACHUSETTS
Taxpayer
Informatiori,
Treasury
BIdg.,:420
Walnut
Allegan
Streets,
Lansing,
MI,
.48^2',
MICHIGAN
Taxpayer's Assistance, Mailing Station 4000, St. Paul, MN 55146-4450
MINNESOTA
Tax Commission, P.O. Box 23050, J^kson, MS 39225-3050
MISSISSIPPI
t
Department of Revenim, P.O. Box 2200, Jefferson Ciiy, MO 65105-2200
MISSOURI
Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 5805, Helena, MT 59604
MONTANA
! ',- '
Taxpayer's
Assistance,
301
Centermial
Mall
South,
Lincoln,
NE
68509-4818
NEBRASKA
Itepartment of Taxation, Capital Complex, Carson City, NV 89710-0003
NEVADA
Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 637, Concord, NH 03302-0637
' fr •':[ J;
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Taxpayer Information, 50 Barrack St., CN 269, Trenton, NJ 08646-0269
'
NEW JERSEY
Department of Taxation & Revenue, P.O. Box 630, Santa Fe, NM 87509-0630
NEW MEXICO
Taxpayer's Assistance, W.A-Harriman Campus, Albany, NY 12227-0125
.
,, ,
NEW YORK
liiiiSP®
Department
of
Revenue,
Two
South
Salisbury
St.,
Raleigh,
NC
27602
NORTH CAROLINA
!aS{;Sj5
Taxpayer Information, State Capitol, Bismarck, ND 58505-0599
NORTH DAKOTA
State Information, P;0. Box 2476, Coluinbus, OH 43266-0076
OHIO
-SSHs-i
-• " - 'r^Taxpayer Information, 2501 Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73194^0009
OKLAHOMA
.
OREGON
ill! Tax Help Office, 955 Center St, NE, First Floor, Room 135, Salem, OR 97310
Taxpayer's Assistance, Department 280504, Harrisbuig, PA 17128-0504
PENNSYLVANIA
Taxpayer's Assistance, One Capitol HiU, Providence, RI 02908r5801
RHODE ISLAND
Public Assistance, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, SC 29214
SOUTH CAROLINA
Department of Revenue,TOOGovemors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501-2291
SOUTH DAKOTA
Taxpayer's Resource, 807 Andrew Jackson State Office BIdg., Nashville, TN 37242-0482
TENNESSEE
Taxpayer
Assistance, Capita! Station, Austin, TX 78774
TEXAS
Taxpayer Assistance, 160 East Third South, Salt Lake City, UT 84134-0201
UTAH
Tax Commissioner, Pavillion Office BIdg., Montpelier, VT 05609-1401
VERMONT
Taxpayer
Information, P.O. Box 1115, Richmond, VA 23208-1115
VIRGINIA
Taxpayer
Information
& Education, P.O. Box 47476, Olympia, WA 98504
WASHINGTON
wms
>?•'
Taxpayer
Services,
P.O.
Box 3784, Charleston, WV 25337-3784
WEST VIRGINIA
State Government Switchboard, 4638 University Ave., Madison, WI 53705
WISCONSIN
Department of Revenue, 122 West 25th Street, Cheyenne, WY 82002
WYOMING
* Some toll free numbers are only functional within that state and thus are not accesible from anywhere in the country.
(205)242-1175
(907)465-2320
(602)255-3381
(501)682-7250
(916)852-5711
(303)534-1209
(203)566-8520
(302)577-3310
(202)727-6103
(904)488-6800
(404)656-4188
(808)548-6515
(208)334-3660
(217)782-3336
(317)232-2240
(515)281-31141
(913)296-3051
(502)564-4580
(504)925-4611
(207)626-8475
(301)974-3981
(617)727-4545
(517)373-9419
(612)296-3781
(601)359-1140
(314)751-5600
(406)444-2837
(402)471-5729
(702)687-4820
(603)271-2191
(609)292-6400
(505)827-0700
(518)438-8581
(919)733-4147
(701)224-3450
(614)846-6712
(405)521-3146
(503)378-4988
(717)787-8094
(401)277-2905
(803)737-4660
(605)773-3311
(615)741-4877
(800)252-5555
(801)530-4848
(802)828-2865
(804)367-8031
(206)753-5525
(800)642-9016
(608)266-2772
(307)777-7962
(800)352-4090
(800)482-8811
(800)852-5711
(800)332-2097
(800)321-7829
(800)292-7826
.
s
'',
(800) 222-3229
(800) 732-8866
•'''
(800)452-1983
(800)638-2937
(800) 392-6089
(800)487-7000
(800)652-9094
. (800) 332-6103
(800)626-7899
(800)323-4400
(800)225-5829
(800)222-9965
(800)282-1780
(800)522-8165
(800)356-4222
iv'
(800)768-6611
(800) 252-5555
(800) 662-4335
SeahrenlOG,Febnary 1992Suj^^kmrnt Page3
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TAXABLE INCOME BY STATE
NON-RESIDENT
STATE
RESIDENT
NON-RESIDENT
Taxable on income from property
owned or business transacted in Ala
bama.
Minnesota
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income with certain modifica
tions.
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income allocable to sources
within Minnesota.
No state tax.
Missouri
Subject to tax on Missouri taxable
income.
Subject to tax on income derived
from sources within Missouri.
Subject to tax on entire net income.
A credit is only allowed for taxes
paid to another state on income de
rived from sources within that state
which are taxable under that state's
laws without regard to the residence
or domicile of the recipient. No
credit is allowed if the other state
allows residents of Arizona a credit
against taxes imposed by that state
for taxes paid to Arizona.
Subject to tax on net income derived
from sources within Arizona.
Mississippi
Subject to tax on entire net income.
Subject to tax on entire net income
from sources within Mississippi.
Montana
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income with certain modifica
tions. Credit for taxes paid to other
states is allowed.
Subject to tax on net income derived
from somces withiif Montana.
Nebraska
Subject to tax on federal, adjusted
gross income with certain modifica
tions.
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income derived from sources
within Nebraska.
Subject tostate income tax on entire
net income.
Subject tostate income tax on all net
income from sources within thestate
such asall property owned, and from
every business, trade or occupation
carried on in Arkansas.
Nevada
No state tax.
No state tax.
New Hampshire
Subject to tax on interest and divi
dends over $1,200.
New Jersey
Subject to tax on entire New Jersey
gross income and credit is allowed
for tax paid to another state on in
come subject to New Jersey income
tax.
Subject to tax on certain specified
categories of New Jersey gross in
come from New Jersey sources.
New Mexico
Subject to tax on federal taxable
income with certain modifications
and with the possibility of a credit
for taxes paid to another state.
Subject to tax on net income derived
from lyithin New Mexico.
New York
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income with certain modifica
tions.
I,
Subject to 'tax on federal adjusted
gross income derived from sources
within New York.
North Carolina
Subject to tax on net income with
the possibility of a tax credit for
taxes paid to another state.
Subject to tax on net income derived
from sources within North Caro
lina.
No state tax.
North Dakota
Subject to tax on federal taxable
income with certain modifications.
Subject to tax on net income from
sources within North Dakota.
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income less certain items.
Subject to tax on net taxable income
derived from certain specified ac
tivities within Georgia.
Ohio
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income with certain modifica
tions.
Subject to tax on adjusted gross in
come derived from sources within
Ohio.
Subject to tax on entire income and
a credit is allowed for taxes paid to
another state which are paid on in
come derived from sources outside
the state.
Subject to tax on income derived
from sources within Hawaii, with
the possibility of a credit for taxes
paid to other governments outside
the State.
Oklahoma;
Subject to tax on the federal ad
justed gross income with certain
modifications.
Subject to tax on federal adjusted'
gross income derived from sources
within Oklahoma.
Oregon
Subject to tax on federal taxable
income with a credit for income taxes
paid to another state or territory.
Subject to tax on federal taxable
income attributable to certa:in
sources within Idaho.
Subject to tax on federal taxable
income with certain modifications
and credit against Oregon income
taxes for taxes imposed by another
state.
Subject to tax on federal taxable
income derived from sources within
Oregon.
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income with certain modifica
tions.
Subject to tax on all incomeattribut
able to certain activities within Illi
nois.
Pennsylvania
Subject to tax on iiicome from
sources within Pennsylvania.
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income with certain modifica
tions and with the possibility of a
credit for state taxes paid in another
state.
, Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income derived from sources
within Indiana with the possibility
of a credit for state taxes paid in
another state.
Subject to tax on entire income with
a credit for taxes paid to another
state on income also subject to tax in
Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income with certain modifica
tions.
Subject to tax on taxable income
derived from sources within Rhode
Island.
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income with modificationsand
with the possibility of acredit against
Iowa tax for taxes paid to another
state on income subject to tax in
Iowa.
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income derived from sources
within Iowa, with the possibility of
a credit against Iowa tax for taxes
paid toanother state or foreign coun
try on income subject to tax in Iowa.
Tennessee
Subject to tax on dividends from
stock and interest on bonds.
South Carolina
Subject to tax on the entire net in
come.
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income with certain modifica
tions.
Subject to tax on that portion of
federal adjusted gross income de
rived from sources within Kansas.
Subject to tax on taxable income
derived from sources within South
Carolina.
South Dakota
No state tax.
No state tax.
Texas
No state tax.
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income derived from sources
within Kentucky.
No state tax.
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income with certain modifica
tions.
Utah
Subject to tax on federal taxable
income with certain modifications.
Subject to tax on taxable income
derived from sources within Utah.
Subject to tax on all net income
which is defined generally as gross
income of whatever kind minus the
deductions allowed.
Subject to tax on net income derived
from sources within Louisiana.
Vermont
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income with a credit for in
come taxes paid to another state or
territory upon income derived from
sources within that state or territory.
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income derived from sources
within Vermont.
Subject to tax on taxable income
with the possibility of a reduction of
taxes for taxes paid to another juris
diction.
Subject to tax on the portion of fed
eral adjusted gross income derived
from sources within Maine with the
possibility of a reduction in taxes
for taxes paid to another jurisdic
tion.
Subject to state income tax on entire
net income.
^W':-'
Subject to state income tax on entire
taxable income.
Subject to state income tax on all
taxable income derived from sources
within the state.
Subject to state income taxation on
federal adjusted gross income with
certain modifications.
Subject to state income tax on fed
eral adjusted gross income attribut
able to sources within Colorado.
Subject to tax on certain dividends,
interest and capital gains income.
Michigan
Subject to state income taxation on
federal adjusted gross income with
certain modifications.
Subject to state income tax on fed
eral adjusted gross income attribut
able to sources within Delaware.
Subject to D.C. income tax on entire
net income.
Not subject to the income tax.
"ft V
Virginia
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income with certain modifica
tions.
Subject to tax on taxable income
derived from sources within the state.
Washington
No state tax.
No state tax.
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income with certain modifica
tions. ,
Subject to tax on the portion of fed
eral adjusted gross income derived
from sources within Maryland.
West Virginia
Subject to taxable income as de
fined in terms of federal adjusted
gross income with modifications.
Subject to tax on taxable income
derived from sources within West
Virginia.
Subject to a tax on federal adjusted
gross income. A credit for taxes
paid to other states is allowed.
Subject to tax on the portion of fed
eral adjusted gross income derived
from sources within Massachusetts.
Wisconsin
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income with certain modifica
tions.
Subject to tax on taxable income
derived from sources within Wis
consin.
Subject to tax on federal adjusted
gross income allocable to sources
within Michigan.
Subject to tax on taxable income
allocable to sources within Michi
gan.
Wyoming
No state tax.
No state tax.
SOURCE: Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Federal Voting Assistance Program; Voting Assistance Guide 1992-1993; Appendix G. State Income Tax Liability; p. 265-285.
SfafmmL0^Feinian^19925uppkmmt Fage4
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FEBRUARY 1992
f ^
•
Friday, March 20
Friday, April 24
San Juan
^Thursday, March 5
Thursday, April 9
St. Louis
Friday, March 13
Friday, April 17
Honolulu
Friday, March 13
Friday, April17
Duluth
Wednesday, March 11
Wednesday, April 15
Jersey Ci^
Wednesday, March 18
Wednesday, April 22
New Bedford
Tuesday, March 17
Tuesday, April 21
Personals
ANDREW CRESPO
Please contact your sister, Maria D.
Faircloth, at 7304 N. Taliaferro Ave.,
Tampa, Ha. 33604.
ALBERT C. MINICHIELLO
Anyone knowing the whereabouts of
Albert C. Minichiello, please get in touch
with his brother, Arthur P. Minichiello, at
6 Coronation Circle, Dedham, Mass.
02026, or call (617) 326-2045.
JAY ROCHE
Please contact Gina Demaree-Fortier
at 18040 Midway Road, #137, Dallas,
Texas 75252, or caU collect at (214) 2501731.
R.FEE
RICHARD HAMH^TON
Please contact Mark Avery at 500 Verret. New Orleans, La. 70114, or call (504)
392-6082.
STEVE NORMAN
Please contact me. Real important. It
concerns my wedding on September 19.
Richard Kent, 6590 Harley St., Riverside,
Calif. 92506; (714) 788-4119.
'.r
IS
March & April
Membership Meetings
Deep^, Lakes,
Inland Waters
Piney Point
Monday, March 2
Monday, April 6
New York
: Tuesday, March 3
; J Tuesday^ April 7
Phlladdphia
Wednesday^ March 4
Wednesday, April 8
Baltimore
Thursday, March 5
Thursday, April 9
Norfolk
Thursday, March 5
Thursday, April 9
Jacksonville
Tliursday, March 5
Thursday, April 9
Algonac
Friday, March 6
Friday, ApiillO
Houston
Monday, March 9
Monday, April 13
New Orleans
Tuesday, March 10
Tuesday, April 14
Mobile
Wednesday, March 11
Wednesday, April 15
San Francisco
•Thursday, March 12
Thursday, April 16
Wihnington
Monday, March 16
Monday, April 20
Seattle
/•••>
,••••
Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea
DECEMBER 16,1991— JANUARY 15,1992
•TOTAL REGISTERED
All Groups
Class A Oass B Class C
Port
NewYffldc!
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Norfolk
Mobile
New Orleans
Jacksonville
San Francisco
Wilmington
Seattle
Puerto Rico
Honolulu
Houston
St Loui^
Piney Point
Algonac
Totals
Port
New York
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Norfolk
Mobile
New Orleans
Jacksonville SahFtanciscp
Wilmington Seattle
Puerto Rico
Honolulu
H(
St Loui$
Piney Poi
Algonac
Totals
Port
New York
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Norfolk
Mobile
New Orleans
Jacksonville
San Francisco
Wihnington :
Seattle
Puerto Rico
Honolulu
Houston
St. Louis
Piney Point
Algonac
Totals
Port
TOTAL SHIPPED
All Groups
Trip
QassA ClassB ClassC
Reliefs
DECK DEPARTMENT
••REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups
Class A Class B Class C
a'
, .r
•if
"-' J
STEWARD DEPARTMENT
• •: •••
•
•' X
'M:'
• -r. ;
I'-'."' /,•
^>'-1
'".k
^PYi
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Norfolk "
Mobile
New Orleans
Jacksonville
SanHranciscri
^Imingtwi
Seattle
Puerto Rico
Honolulu
' St. Louis
Piney Point
Algonac
Totals
Totals All Department
668
702
703
433
513
461
292
1054
877
1044
* 'Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month.
** "Registered og the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month.
A total of 1,699jobs were shipped on SlU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1,699 Jobs shipped, 433 jobs or about
25 percent were taken by "A" seniority members. The rest were filled by "B" and C"seniority people. From Decem
ber 16,1991 to January 15,1992, a total of 292 trip relief jobs were shipped. Since the trip relief program began on
April 1,1982, a total of 15,601 jobs have been shipped.
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16
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SEAFARBRS UK:
S^KislhternationalU^^ i
Directory
Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes
CL-Company/Lakes
DECEMBER 16,1991 - JANUARY 15,1992
L-Ltrins
Michael Slacco ;
• •••••President';,^3'•'
John Fay
Secretary-Treasurer
Joseph Sacco
Executive Vice President
George McCartney
Vice President West Coast
Roy A. "Buck" Mercer
Vice President Government Services
JackCaffey
Vice President Atlantic Coast
Byron Kelley
Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters
Dean Corgey
Vice President Gulf Coast
NP-Non Priority
•TOTAL REGISTERED
All Groups
ClassCL ClassL ClassNP
TOTAL SHIPPED
All Groups
ClassCL OassL ClassNP
••REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups
ClassCL ClassL OassNP
DECK DEPARTMENT
...J
'
Algonac f
Port
Algonac
ji'rii- <
%i ' ->'-1 '.V'
• .:
' 0
- t.
' ''A
-• 1'
o
ENGINE DEPARTMENT
0
13
2
STEWARD DEPARTMENT
n
9
t
\
0
9
0
i
ENTRY DEPARTMENT
0
0
|'''^*i29
Totals All Departments
0
66
7
0
25
4
0
74
* 'Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month.
*• "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month.
17 "l
20
HEADQUARTERS
5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746
(301) 899-0675
ALGONAC
520 St. Clair River Dr.
Algonac, MI 48001
(313) 794-4988
BALTIMORE
1216 E. Baltimore St.
Baltimoie, MD 21202
(410) 327-4900
•i®'
DULUTH
705 Medical Arts Building
Duluth, MN 55802
(218)722-4110
l.v' '
HONOLULU
606KalihiSt.
I
i
Honolulu, HI 96819
(808) 845-5222
HOUSTON
1221 Pierce St.
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 659-5152
JACKSONVILLE
i "
3315 Liberty SL
I
Jacksonville, FL 32206
.;i
(904)353-0987
1
JERSEY CITY
I
"
99 Montgomray SL
jCTsey City, NJ 07302
(201)435-9424
r''
I
MOBILE
1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy.
Mobile, AL 36605
(205)478-0916
NEW BEDFORD
50 Union St.
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508)997-5404
NEW ORLEANS
630 Jackson Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504)529-7546
NEW YORK
675 Fourth Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11232
(718)499-6600
NORFOLK
115 Third St.
Norfolk, VA 23510
(804) 622-1892
PHILADELPHIA
2604 S. 4 St.
I '
Ruladelphia,PA 19148
(215)336-3818
I J
PINEYPOINT
P.O. Box 75
Piney PoinLMD 20674
(301)994-0010
SANFRANCISCO
'--H
350 Fremont St.
San Francisco, GA 94105
(415)543-5855
Government Services Division
(415)861-3400
SANTURCE
1057 Fernandez Juncos SL
Stop 16
Santurce, PR 00907
(809)721-4033
?
•< 1
SEATTLE
2505 First Ave.
Seattie, WA 98121
(206)441-1960
ST. LOUIS
4581 Gravois Ave.
^
St Louis, MO 63116
(314)752-6500
WILMINGTON
510 N. Broad Ave.
Wilmington, CA 90744
/K,.y
(310)549-4000
Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters
Mi
DECEMBER 16,1991 — JANUARY 15,1992
•TOTAL REGISTERED
All Groups
QassA ClassB ClassC
f :•
;.• : t' ' '
I;
Wimm;:
l?|?a|
Region
3Atlantic Coast
Gulf Coast
Lakes & Inland Waters
West Coast
Totals
Region
Atlantic
Gulf Coast
i Lakes & Inland Wai
West Coast
Totals
Region
|;^9htic
Gulf Coast
I
Inland Wat^
West Coast
Totals
TOTAL SHIPPED
All Groups
Class A
ClassB OassC
••REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups
Class A ClassB ClassC
DECK DEPARTMENT
iv
0
W'
0
26
0
1
2
5
0
0
0
1
7
6
' V. 3
1
4 ^
0
8
ENGINE DEPARTMENT
0
0
0
1
0
0
STEWARD DEPARTMENT
I'
I
Totals All Departments
50
1
10
10
1
2
149
9
* 'Total Registered" means the number of nien who actually registered for shipping at the port last month.
•• "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month.
Belated Holiday Greetings
A',
'•
Rewarding the Instructor
S/l/ members, pensioners and their families
and friends had an opportunity to send their
holiday greetings in the December I99I.
Seafarers LOG. Due to the nature of the mail,
however, some of the greeetings were not
received in time for the holiday issue. They are
printed below in the hopes that the sentiments
expressed will last well into the new year.
To Mr. President, crewmembers, retired
memliers and all Seafarers
As a retired member of the SIU, we express
our best wishes for all members of the Seafarers
International Union. We admire all your
courageous lashing operations during severe
weather conditions in order to give aid to those in
need, especially the refugees. I thank you. With
great respect
Hilda and Frans De Keyzer
• ••,-;-r.',v.'V'-3i:'"'^^,
m
18
To Dawn-Dawn, X-Man, Bonehaad and
everyone dse out tliere from Hawaii
Merry Xmas, Happy New Year. Hawaii
reunion at Hussy's wedding!
Yvonne DeSilva
To Mr. Joe Sacco
You're doing a very good job.
Gordon Lee
To Paul A. Peralta
The very nicest thingabout Christmas isshar
ing it withyou. Forthis greeting brings such happy
hopes for Lupe and you on Christmas Day. Your
brotl^r always,
Magdaleno A. Peralta
Allen and Jax and Norfolk
Hello from the Indomitable. Have a Merry
Christmas and a Hai^y New Year. May our ships
sail smoothly.
Dannis Allen Thompson
'.y-'-f. y v-v,'-
-
-;-v
The students in the Third Assistant En^
were so pleased with the teaching of their instructor, Eric Malzkuhn, that
they decided to show him their appreciation. Pictured is class representative
Frank Tymczyszyn presenting an award plaque to Malzkuhn.
DeCola Promotes Upgrading at Lundeberg School
Chief Cook Jerry DeCola
recommends that all Seafarers
upgrade their skills at the Lundeberg
School.
That is what the veteran Seafarer
told a LOG reporter during an inter
view for the "Inquiring Seafarer"
column which ^peared in the
August issue. However, while
DeCola's message was reported ac
curately, the LOG misidentiBed him
as a retired messman.
DeCola sailed as a chief cook and
now works for the union at the SIU
haU in Philadelphia.
-.n4-%4 V--S
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Chief Cook deny DeCola
• ••• ,-
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FEBItUAIiri992
17
Kirklanil Responds to 'Lazy U.S. Worker* Charge
(Editors Note: The following is
a column by AFL-CIO President
Lane Kirkland issued last month in
response to a statement by a
Japanese parliamentarian about
U.S. workers.)
When a senior Japanese
politician blamed America's
economic and trade problems on
U.S. workers, President Bush was
handed a perfect opportunity to
recover some of the public rela
tions ground he had lost on his
recent, ill-fated trip to Tokyo.
Once again, however, he
dropped the ball.
What Yoshio Sakurauchi, the
Speaker of Japan's lower house of
parliament, was reported to have
said is, "the source of the problem
is the inferior quality of U.S.
labor," that "U.S. workers are too
lazy" and that "they want high pay
without working." He was also
quoted as saying that 30 percent of
the American workforce "cannot
even read."
Although we are told that such
comments appear often in
Japanese industry magazines and
other publications, they bear no
resemblance to the truth, which is
that the average American
worker—by all measures and ac
counts—is the most productive in
the world.
Measured by Gross Domestic
Product per employed person,
Japanese workers produce, on
average, only 77 percent as much
as their American counterparts,
despite the fact that they work 15
percent more hours per year.
While it is true that Japan's
productivity has grown faster over
the past few decades, they've had
a lot of catching up to do. And since
the 1982 recession, the U.S. has
done well even by this measure,
with our productivity growing 37
percent to Japan's 38 percent.
Meanwhile, the absolute level of
worker productivity remains substantial y higher in the United
States.
And despite Japanese com
plaints about American wages, the
facts show that unit labor costs in
U.S. manufacturing actually
decreased slightly in the second
half of the past decade, while that
of Japan rose 63 percent. Although
it'is nothing to brag about, U.S.
manufacturing workers are now
paid less than those in a dozen
other industrialized countries,
whose international "competitive
ness" nevertheless exceeds our
own.
Can it be that "competitiveness"
is not measured by labor cost and
efficiency, but by the prowess of
other countries in pursuing and
defending market share through—
dare I say it—mercantilism?
Needless to say, claims of a 30
percent illiteracy rate in the U.S.
are wholly without foundation.
The real illiteracy rate is less than
five percent.
The fact of the matter is the
working men and women of
America have borne the brunt of
the sacrifices that our business and
government leaders have decreed
were necessary to make America
more competitive in the global
marketplace. Business leaders, on
the other hand, have arranged to
shelter themselves very cozily
from the harsh winds of competi
tion.
So when American workers are
maligned, as they were last week
by one of Japan's most senior
politicians, they certainly deserve
more than silence from the presi
dent of the United States, especial
ly one who campaigned for the
office while wrapped in the
American flag and loudly promis
ing to defend American values at
home and throughout the world.
In this case, when the available
evidence so clearly refutes the
Japanese statements concerning
the productivity of American
workers, it would have been easy
for the president to live up to this
promise. His failure to do so may
indicate his concurrence with what
has been said or his reluctance to
challenge the Japanese big shots on
his Rolodex. Why doesn't he just
say so?
In either case, working
American men and women
deserve better.
'Outstanding' Fare on LNG Libra
Significant statistics
an AFL-CIO Newsgrafic
America leads in productivity
Gross domestic product
per worker as a percent
of the U.S. level in 1990
100%
100%
ji:
90%
|:i
75%
iliii1
88%
79%
j/rrr^.
ill
j
The U.S. worker produced more
value than workers in any other
countiy. Workers in France produced
90 percent of what U.S. workers
produced, and in Japan only 77
percent.
77%
74%
in
71%
68%
43%
f
50%
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1
•.
25%
'
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0%
^
7
U.S. France Italy Germany Japan Austria Britain Sweilen Korea
Source: Bureau ol Latxx Statistics
A
merican workers still
lead all other
industrial nations in
productivity, despite the
continuing deficit in
merchandise trade,
according to data compiled
by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. U.S. labor costs
have actually declined
between 1985 and 1990,
while rising in all other
ma1 or trading countries,
inc uding Japan, Germany,
Britain, Sweden, Italy,
Korea and Taiwan.
Meanwhile, real wages and
benefits for the average
American worker slipped
0.4 percent between 1985
and 1990. During the same
period, total worker
compensation rose 19
percent in Germany, 14
percent in Japan, 12
percent in Britain and Italy,
8 percent in Sweden, 3
percent in France and 2
percent in Canada.
U.S. workers lag
in compensation
Hourly wage and benefit
costs for production workers
in all manufacturing, 1991
Norway
$21.86
Germany
$21.53
Sweden
$20.93
Switzerland
$20.83
Finland
$20.76
Belgium
$18.94
Netherlands
$18.22
Denmark
$17.85
Austria
$17.01
$16.41
Canada
$16.02
France
$15.23
$14.77
Source: Bureau o( Latxx Statistics
Special Guests, Special Food
- J.
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LNG Libra Enaine Delegate Bill Sullivan, who sent the above photo the LOG,
says the ship's galley crewmembers outdid themselves with their Chnstmas
Sr From left o right are: Chief Cook Martin Buck, SA George Rueth,
Steward Se Schm^^^^ SA Tom Laffey and SA William Smalley.
Army personnel and seamen alike got a chance to partake In a culinary feast
prepared by Third Assistant Cook WIgberto Reyes and the rest of the Cape
Catoche galley gang. Chief Cook KImberly Carter doubled as both cook and
photographer for the event.
' . i
• •4-
•
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18
SEAFAHERS LIM!
novative Oriental cuisine. Thanks also to
deck gang for cooperation in keeping
messhalls clean and secured in rough
Alaskan weather. Thanks also to engine
department for constant hot water.
ft r:'"
4
.Ik-,
The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shlplnmrd minutes
as possible. On occasion, ttecause of space limitations, some will be omitted.
Ships minutes fust are reviewed by the union's contract rhpartment. Those
Issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the union
upon receipt of the ships minutes. The minutes are then forwarded
to the Seafarers LOG.
SPIRIT OF TEXAS (Seahawk Manage
ment), October 6 — Chairman S.W.
Parr, Secretary J. Tucker, Engine
Delegate Stephen Treece. Chairman
noted ship headed for Sudan. No beefs
or disputed OT reported. Crew noted
mail to he sent from Suez Canal.
•jti
••i:
• 1'•T
-1
i
11
AMBASSADOR (Crowley Caribbean
Transport), November 26 — Chairman
Leon T. Jekot, Secretary Milton Yournett. Chairman announced payoff.
Secretary thanked all hands for job well
done. Educational director urged mem
bers to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No
beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew
noted dishwasher's motor broken. Crew
extended vote of thanks to galley gang
for Job well done.
ft, yp
AMERICAAI EAGLE (Pacific Gulf
Marine), November 3 — Chairman Billy
. Eastwood, Secretary Kevin Deegan,
Educational Director W. Jones. No
beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew
asked contracts department for clarifica
tion on pay for transporting hazardous
material.
CAPE HORN (lOM), November 3 —
Chairman J. Sosa, Secretary D. Banks,
Deck Delegate R. Meyer, Engine
Delegate S. Nolan, Steward Delegate
Norman Erickson. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Crewmembers conveyed
wishes for happiness to all SIU brothers
in the new year.
C4PE//0/?/V(I0M), November 17 —
Chairman J. Sosa, Secretary D. Banks,
Steward Delegate Norman Erickson.
No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chair
man thanked deck department for excel
lent work.
CAPE HORN (lOM), November 24 —
Chairman J.Sosa, Deck Delegate R.
Meyer, Secretary D. Banks, Steward
Delegate Norman Erickson. Secretary
noted company approved microwave.
Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No
beefs or disputed OT reported by engine
or steward delegates.
t .
CHARLES L. BROWN(Jransocearuc
Cable), November 30 — Chairman
Jeremiah Harrington, Secretary Donna
Lindsey, Engine Delegate D. Wise,
Steward Delegate Erik Ivey. Crew re
quested telephone at gangway be
rewired to outside line for crew use.
Chairman reminded crew about impor
tance of respecting fellow crewmembers
^ ''"V'gsMitr,.
Ultrasea Is Good Feeder
• ./'V-'-V''''--'"^f''"'.''v-'-
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Chief Cook Joe Brooks and Acting
Steward Rodolfo ("Rudy") Xatruch
help make voyage 045 aboard the
Ultrasea a culinary success.
•yrngM}
I
and their belongings. Treasurer noted
ship's fund was used to purchase Softball
equipment. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Crew noted refrigerator needs
repair, and new First Aid kit also
n^ed. Next port: Honolulu.
OVERSEAS HARRIETTE (MOS),
November 11 — Chairman W. Jeffer
son, Secretary C. Hazzard. Chairman
announced payoff scheduled for New Or
leans. No beefs or disputed OT reported.
SEA-LAND EXPEDITION (Sea-Land
Service), November 24 — Chairman
Carlos DeGracia, Secretary E. Vaz
quez, Educational Director Dann Manthei. Chairman noted everything running
smoothly. Secretary thanked crew for
keeping messhall and lounge clean. No
non. Steward Delegate P. Zilkow. Crew
still waiting for furniture. Educational
director urged members to upgrade at
Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Crew extended vote of
thanks to steward department.
CHARLES L. BROWN (Transoceanic
Cable), December 31 — Chairman J.
Harrington, Secretary D. Lindsey,
Deck Delegate Richard Morris, Engine
Delegate W. Carroll. Chairman ex
plained layoff routes. No beefs or dis
puted OT reported. Chairman explained
SAB Action 358, which allows Piney
Point OSs to stay aboard cable ships for
240 days and then upgrade to AB. He
stressed safety.
Liberty Sun Pays Off in New Orleans
GOLDEN ENDEAVOR (Apex
Mariire), November 25 — Chairman
Luke Wells, Secretary F.W. Bishop.
Chairman urged members to upgrade at
Lundeberg School and support SPAD.
He announced schedule for cleaning
tanks. No beefs or disputed OT. Crew
received copies of Se^arers LOG. Crew
asked contracts department for clarifica
tion on deck department overtime. Crew
extended vote of thanks to steward
department.
G/?OrOAf (Sheridan Transportation),
November 24 — Chairman Neil Matthey. Secretary M. DeLoatch, Educa
tional Director R. Naloi, Deck Delegate
Phil Poole, Engine Delegate Abraham
Daif, Steward Delegate Abdul Aziz.
Chairman announced payoff scheduled
for Mobile, Ala. He suggested crewmem
bers donate to SPAD. No beefs or dis
puted OT reported. Crew extended vote
of thanks to galley gang.
GULF TRADER (All Marine Services),
November 19 — Chairman Steve
Castle, Secretary J. Williams, Educa
tional Director George Wallis, Deck
Delegate A. Galib, Engine Delegate
Thomas Betz, Steward Delegate Russell
Barnett. Educational director en
couraged members to upgrade at Lun
deberg School. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Chairman asked members to
reduce noise. Crew noted mail service
slow.
LONG L//VES(Transoceanic Cable),
November 12 — Chairman Joseph
Olson, Secretary Michael Bonsignore,
Deck Delegate J.D. Harris, Engine
Delegate E. Cox, Steward Delegate R.
Rowe. Chairman reminded members
about separating plastic from trash. He
noted importance of proper care and
cleaning of crew lounge. Secretary ex
pressed need for fellow shipmates to
upgrade at Lundeberg School. He noted
school's excellent teachers and facilities,
including outstanding library. Treasurer
reported $94 in ship's fund. Deck
delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs
or disputed OT reported by engine or
steward delegates. Crew gave vote of
thanks to steward department, with spe
cial thanks to Chief Cook Benny Cor
pus and Chief Steward Bonsignore for
putting out terrific food for crew of 121.
Next port: England.
OVERSEAS ALASKA (MOS),
November 17 — Chairman L. Temple,
Secretary Steven Parker, Deck Delegate
Jeffrey Kass, Engine Delegate U. Bar
ber. Chairman reminded all crewmem
bers to keep doors locked, as one
member recently had cash stolen while
ship was docked. Secretary requested in
formation from contracts department on
manning for steward department. He
thanked crew for helping secure every
thing during rough weather. He
reminded members to separate plastics.
Treasurer reported $286 in ship's fund.
He noted crew voted unanimously to
donate to crewmember whose money
was stolen. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Recent storm wiped out all
trash barrels on fantail, also took out
deck rails, electrical cable housings and
telephone hookups. Crew gave galley
gang special vote of thanks, especially
Chief Cook Manny Basas for his in
Crewmembers aboard the Liberty Sun get a chance to discuss union business
with SIU Patrolman Steve Judd (far left). They are (frorit row) Chief Cook Jerome
Johnson, AB L. Hoffman, (second row) Bosun P.H. Greenwood, Wiper German
C. Valerie, AB R.L. Favalora, (third row) Larry Martin, AB J.M. Cornwall and Wiper
GaryToomer.
beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew ex
tended vote of thanks to galley gang for
good chow.
SEA-LAND INTEGRITY(Sea-Land
Service), November 17 — Chairman D.
Leon, Jr., Secretary Pedro Laboy,
Educational Director M. Rivera, Deck
Delegate Carlos Irizarry, Steward
Delegate B. Santos. No beefs or dis
puted OT reported. Chairman extended
extra votes of thanks to steward depart
ment and other crewmembers for jobs
well done and pleasant voyage.
THOMPSON PASS (lOM), November
11 — Chairman J.R. Colson, Secretary
F. King, Educational Director M. WeUs.
Secretary reported smooth sailing, .
thanked crew for cooperation. Education
al director called for improved com
munication between crewmembers. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
DSNS BARTLETT(Mar Ship
Operators), November 2 — Chairman
Carl Larson, Secretary James Dunne,
Engine Delegate Fred Wrede. No beefis
or disputed OT reported. Crewmembers
•have not received mail at any port.
WESTWARD VENTURE (lOM),
November 29 — Chairman Michael
Kadderly, Secretary R.B. Sanderson,
Educational Director Chris W. Cunnin
gham, Deck Delegate George Vukmir,
Engine Delegate Ahmed Hussain,
Steward Delegate Terry White. Radio
still ashore for repairs. Secretary urged
members to donate to SPAD and save
the Jones Act. Educational director en
couraged members to read Seafarers
LOG and donate to SPAD. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Crew reviewed
LOG and discussed current issues. Crew
needs new TV, as old picture tube finally
went after 11 years. Crew thanked galley
gang for Thanksgiving dinner. Steward
department thanked crew for cooperation
from all departments. Next port:
Tacoma, Wash.
AMERICAN FALCON (Crowley Carib
bean Transport), December 1 — Chair
man William Dowzicky, Deck Delegate
O. Rappana, Engine Delegate R. Han-
'
CAPE COD(OMl Corp.), December 8
— Chairman E. Bronstein, Secretary
Stephen Bates, Engine Delegate Aii
Hassan, Steward Delegate Gerald
Hyman. New dryer has been installed in
crew laundry. Chairman read AIDS
awareness pamphlet and discussed cur
rent legislation affecting merchant
mariners. He emphasized importance of
SPAD and upgrading at Lundeberg
School. Secretary thanked crew for
cooperation. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Crew reviewed parts of SIU
constitution, welfare plan and retirement
procedures. Lounge needs new TV and
VCR. Crew thanked galley gang fw out
standing job: great food and spotless
messhall and galley. Crew expressed
pride about Cape Cod being last C23A
type vessel still running following Per
sian Gulf War.
EQUALITY STATE(lOM), December
19 — Chairman Claude Leycock,
Educational Director Mann Aroon,
Deck Delegate James World, Engine
Delegate Michael Manuel, Steward
Delegate Dwight Brandon Maeda.
Chairman reported more than, $1,500 in
ship's fund. He reminded crew that
payoff will not commence until union
patrolman is on board. Secretary
reminded crewmembers they may not va
cate vessel until properly relieved.
Educational director urged members to
take advantage of upgrading courses at
the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of
Seamanship. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Chairman thanked crew for
overcoming difficulties and getting the
job done. Crew thanked galley gang for
many fine meals. Next port: Oakland,
Calif.
GALVESTON BA Y (Sea-Land Ser
vice), December 1 — Chairman Joe Herron. Secretary Dan Brown, Educational
Director Mike Scinto. Chairman urged
members to read President's Report in
Seafarers LOG. Educational director
reviewed new required-viewing safety
videotapes on board. He stressed impor
tance of upgrading at Lundeberg School.
Continued on page 20
�.•
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• . .•
• .•'
•'••v- --:^^^' A^•'y:, ^
FEBRUARY 1^
T
he Seafarers Pension Plan an
nounces the retirement of 39
members this month. Twenty-nine
of those signing off sailed in the
deep sea division, while seven sailed
in the inland division. One sailed in
the Great Lakes division, one sailed
in the railroad marine division and
one sailed in the Atlantic
Fisheimen's division.
Galley gang member Earl Pippens, 76, is the oldest of the new
pensioners. Brother Pippens joined
the SIU more than 20 years ago,
after a 21-year career in the Navy.
Engine department member Joe
Atchison has been a member longer
than any of the others who are retir
ing. Brother Atchison joined the
Seafarers in 1945.
Brief biographical sketches of
Pippens, Atchison and the other new
pensioners follow.
DEEP SEA
JOE
ATCHISON, 64.
joined the SIU in
1945 in the port
of Mobile, Ala.
The Alabama na
tive shipped in
the engine depart
ment and upgraded frequently at the
Lundeberg School. A veteran of
three wars. Brother Atchison worked
for the Sea-Land shore gang for
eight years before retiring. He was
honored last October at the West
Gulf Ports Council Dinner in Hous
ton, where he received a ship's
wheel with an engraved plaque con
gratulating him on 30 years' sea
time. Brother Atchison has retired to
Galveston, Texas.
PAULS. BLAND,
67, joined the
Seafarers in 1951
in the port of
SaVannah, Ga.
Bom in Fruitland
Park, Ha., he
sailed in the en
gine department. In 1976 Brother
Bland upgraded to QMED at the
Lundeberg School. He served in the
Navy from 1944 to 1946. Brother
Bland resides in Jacksonville, Ha.
CLAUDIO BOBADILLA, 67,
joined die SIU in 1971 in Yokohama^,
Japan. He was bom in the Philippine
Islands and sailed in the steward
department Brother Bobadilla served
in the Navy firom 1946 until 1967. He
has retired to the Philippines.
CLARENCE BURGO, 66, joined
the Seafarers in 1966 in the port of
San Francisco. A native of Hawaii,
he graduated from the bosun recertification class at Piney Point in
1980. Brother Burgo calls Kaneohe,
Hawaii home.
COSTAS
DAYOS,66,
joined the union
in 1961 in the
port of New
York. Bom in
Greece, he sailed
in the blackgang. Brother Dayos served in the
Army from 1952 to 1954. He has
retired to Greece.
- ...
v
19
To Our New Pensioners
... Thanks for a Job Well Done
Each monthin the Seafarers LOG, the names of SIU members who recently
have become pensioners appear with a brief biographical sketch. These men
and women have served the maritime industry well, and the SIU and all their
union brothers and sisters wish them happiness and health in the days ahead.
HARRY M.
FISHER, 67,
joined the SIU in
1965 in his native
Mobile, Ala. He
became a recer
tified bosun after
completing course
work at the Lundeberg School in 1984.
Brother Fisher still calls Mobile home.
JULIUS FRANCUMJR.,62,
joined the Sea
farers in 1957 in
the port of Bal
timore. A native
of North Carolina,
he sailed in the
deck department. Brother Francum
completed the bosun recertification
course in 1985. He served in the
Army from 1952 to 1953. Brother
Francum has retired to Lenoir, N.C.
RICHARD
CEILING, 69,
joined the SIU in
1958 in the port
of New York.
Bom in Lyons,
Dl., he completed
the steward recer
tification program in 1987. Brother
Geiling has retired to Seattle.
JAMES K.
HAINES, 56,
joined the
Seafarers in 1961
in the port of
Philadelphia. The
Pittsburgh native
sailed in the deck
department. Brother Haines served
in the Navy from 1955 to 1959. He
resides in Reseda, Calif.
WILLIAM J.
JOE, 62, joined
the SIU in 1952
in his native New
York. He sailed
in the engine
department and
upgraded frequent
ly at the Lundeberg School. Brother
Joe served in the Army from 1947 to
1948. He lives in St. Bemard, La.
ELMER N.
KING, 67, joined
the Seafarers in
1947 in his native
Baltimore. He
sailed in the deck
department.
Brother King
served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946.
He has retired to Missouri City, Texas.
PHILIP J. LAMBIS, 61, joined
the SIU in 1953
in the port of
Seattie. A native
of Pennsylvania,
he sailed in the
galley gang.
Brother Lambis served in the Army
from 1947 until 1951. He lives in
Livingston, Texas.
n
CHUNG K.
LEW, 64, joined
the union in
1965 in the port
of San Francisco.
He was bom in
China and sailed
in the steward
department. Brother Lew upgraded
at the Lundeberg School to chief
cook in 1983. He resides in Seattle.
COLLIE
LOPERJR.,62,
joined the SIU in
1956 in his native
Mobile, Ala.
He became a
recertified
steward in 1984.
Brother Loper served in the Army
from 1950 to 1953. He still calls
Mobile home.
JULIAN
LOPEZ, 66,
joined the
Seafarers in 1962
in the port of
New York. Bom
in Spain, he
sailed as a
QMED. Brother Lopez has retired to
San Francisco.
THOMAS J. LUNDY, 63, joined
the SIU in 1955 in the port of
Mobile, Ala. He was bom in Missis
sippi and sailed in the engine depart
ment. Brother Lundy lives in
Hurley, Miss.
WILLIE
MITCHELL,
66, joined the
union in 1966 in
the port of Port
Arthur, Texas. A
native of Durham,
N.C., he sailed in
the deck department. Brother
Mitchell has retired to Haw River, N.C.
EARL PIP
PENS, 76, joined
the Seafarers in
1969 in the port
of San Francisco.
The Mississippi
native sailed in
the galley gang.
Brother Pippens served in the Navy
from 1938 until 1959. He resides in
Hay ward, Calif.
ROBERT RAY, 71, joined the
Seafarers in 1962 in the port of Wil
mington, Calif. He was bom in Kan
sas City, Mo. and sailed in the deck
department. Brother Ray served in
the Navy from 1938 until 1941. He
lives in Wilmington.
JUAN C.
RODRIGUEZ,
62, joined the
SIU in 1956 in
the port of Hous
ton. A native of
Mexico, he sailed
in the steward
and engine departments. In 1975
Brother Rodriguez upgraded at the
Lundeberg School to QMED. He
has retired to Galveston, Texas.
DONACIANO
SANTIAGO, 54,
joined the
Seafarers in 1963
in the port of
Philadelphia.
Bom in Puerto
Rico, he sailed in
the deck department. Brother San
tiago resides in Philadelphia.
GEORGE
SILVA, 66,
joined the union
in 1957 in the
port of Philadel
phia. He was
bom in Oakland,
Calif, and sailed
in the engine department. Brother
Silva Sferved in the Army from 1945
to 1947. He has retired to San
Leandro, Calif.
•r.
V'K".;
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WILLIAM SUT
TON, 66, joined
the SIU in 1966
in the port of
New York. A na
tive of Ariton,
Ala., he sailed as
a chief
electrician. Brother Sutton served i
the Navy from 1943 to 1961. He
lives in Medford, Ore.
•
•
V; " f
. I:
PAUL
THOMAS JR.,
63, joined the
Seafarers in 1948
in the port of
Mobile. An
Alabama native,
he sailed as a
chief electrician. Brother Thomas
served in the Army from 1951 to
1953. He has retired to Mobile.
MALCOLM
THOMPSON,
56, joined the
SIU in 1961 in
his native New
Orleans. He
sailed in the
steward depart
ment. Brother Thompson still calls
New Orleans home.
•
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ERNESTO
RAMIREZ, 66,
joined the SIU in
1961 in the port
of Houston. Bom
in Paraguay, he
sailed in the deck
department.
Brother Ramirez has retired to Hous
ton.
FRANCISCO
TORRES, 66,
joined the union
in 1966 in the
port of Tampa,
Fla. He was bom
in Ecuador and
sailed in the enContinued on page 21
•
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�20
Ships Digest
-/ '
Continued from page 18
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crew thanked steward department and
Sea-Land shore gang. Crew wished all
members a happy new year. Crew ob
served one minute of silence in
memory of departed brothers. Next
port: Boston.
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aOLDEN MONARCH (Apex Marine),
December 8 — Chairman David Martz,
Secretary G. RIos, Educational Director
M. Ruhe. Chairman reminded crew to
clean rooms and turn in keys. Education
al director advised members to upgrade
at Lundeberg School. Engine delegate
reported disputed OT. No beefs or dis
puted OT reported by deck or steward
delegates. Crew extended vote of thanks
to galley gang for job well done.
fl:
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SEA-LAND DEFENDER (Sea-Land
Service), December 1 — Chairman M.
WhitsitL Secretary M. Peacock, Educa
tional Director J. Barry. Chairman
noted good work and cooperation among
crewmembers. No beefs or disputed OT
reported.
LIBERTY STAR (Liberty Maritime),
December 8 — Chairman Wilfredo
Rice, Secretary L. Bettis, Deck Delegate
Michael Davis, Engine Delegate Louis
Mullet Educational director encouraged
SPAD donations and urged members to
upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs
or disputed OT reported.
....• ^'•Jr
OVERSEAS JOYCE (MOS), Decem
ber 22 — Chairman R. Bradford,
Secretary P. Alvarez. Chairman an
nounced payoff and noted problem-free
voyage. Secretary reminded members to
Upgrade at Lundeberg School. Education
al director urged members to support
SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Steward department thanked
deck and engine departments for concern
in keeping spotless ship.
JUPITER (American President Lines),
December 5 — Chairman Wheeler
Washington, Secretary O. Cody, Educa
tional Director N. Gavin. Chairman
noted smooth trip and good steward
department. He urged members to
upgrade at Lundeberg School in Piney
Point, Md. Secretary and educational
director also stressed importance of
upgrading and donating to SPAD.
Steward delegate reported disputed OT.
No beefs or disputed OT reported by
deck or engine delegates. Crew was
pleased to receive Seafarers LOG. Crew
received certificate of appreciation from
Military Sealift Command for participa
tion in Desert Storm. Each crewmember
received a copy.
n
OMI LEADER (OMI Corp.), December
30 — Chairman C. Smith, Secretary A.
Panico, Deck Delegate Frank Revette,
Engine Delegate Junius Williams,
Steward Delegate M. Hussein. Chair
man announced payoff. He noted oppor
tunity to upgrade at Lundeberg School.
No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew
extended vote of thanks to steward
department.
OVERSEAS VIVIAN(M0S), Decem
ber 29 — Chairman Jerome Williams,
Secretary Douglas Hundshamer, Educa
tional Director James Fonville, Tyrone
Burrell, Steward Delegate Alex
Jaradie. Chairman announced payoff.
Secretary noted ship had no heat during
two days in port in Boston. Educational
director noted scholarship information
posted on bulletin board. He encouraged
everyone to apply. Deck and steward
delegates reported beefs. No beefs or dis
puted OT reported by engine delegate.
TV antenna needs repair or replacement.
Crew thanked galley gang for job well
done.
DEU Cecil Edwards gets an oppor
tunity to talk with New Orleans Port
Agent Joe Perez when the vessel
came into port recently.
M
director urged members to upgrade at
Lundeberg School. Treasurer reported
$150 in ship's fund. No beefs or dis
puted OT reported. Crew thanked galley
gang for excellent job.
JULIUS HAMMER (Ocean Shipholding), December 1 — Chairman David
Zurek, Secretary F. Costahgo, Educa
tional Director Ross Hardy. Secretary
noted two crewmembers due for relief in
Rotterdam. Educational director urged
qualified members to take advantage of
upgrading opportunities at Lundeberg
School. He urged members to donate to
SPAD, because SPAD is pork chops. No
beefs or disputed OT. Crew received
Seafarers LOG and letter from contracts
department clarifying overtime rates.
Crew noted no mail has been received.
Crew gave vote of thanks to Steward
Frank Costango and Chief Cook
Richard Woroby for their work clean
ing ship, for good meals and especially
for superb Thanksgiving dinner.
Edwards in New Orleans
.1
SEAFARERS LOG
LNG AQUARIUS (ETC), December 8
— Chairman John Japper, Secretary
W. Justi. Secretary reported budget-cut
ting moves by the company. Educational
SEA-LAND FREEDOM (Sea-Land
Service), December 13 — Chairman R.
Woods, Secretary G.Sivley, Education
al Director L. Pence, Deck Delegate
P.L. Bean, Engine Delegate O. Mortensen. Steward Delegate E.Schrock.
Educational director urged members to
donate to SPAD. No brafs or disputed
OT reported. Crew requested new equip
ment for gym. Crewmembers asked con
tracts department to look into their flying
to port of engagement a day early so
they will not be tired when reporting to
work. Next port: Singapore.
SEA-LAND HA WAR (Sea-Land Ser
vice), December 25 — Chairman L.
Vasquez, Secretary J. Jones, Education
al Director D. Gordius, Steward
Delegate Ron Dewitt. Deck delegate
reported disputed OT. No beefs or dis
puted OT reported by engine or steward
delegates. Crew requested additional
washer and dryer. Next port: Oakland,
Calif.
. SEA-LAND INNOVATOR (Sea-Land
Service), December 7 — Secretary Nor
man Johnson. Chairman urged mem
bers to upgrade at Lundeberg School.
Secretary reported $291 in movie fund.
Educational director advised members to
check schedule for upcoming classes at
Lundeberg School. He recommended
electrical and reefer courses. Engine
delegate reported beef. Steward delegate
reported disputed OT. No beefs or dis
puted OT reported by deck delegate.
Crew asked contracts department to
review a possible change in Seafarers
Welfare Plan so that members are
covered for alcohol- or misconduct-re
lated incidents.
SEA-LAND PACIFIC (Sea-Land Ser
vice), December 9 — Chairman Oscar
Wiley, Secretary Don Spangler, Educa
tional Director Steve Bigeiow, Deck
Delegate Mathew Bevak, Steward
Delegate John Bulawan. Chairman
noted all hands required for Coast Guard
inspection in Oakland, Calif. He urged
members to upgrade at Lundeberg
School. Educational director said that in
STAR OF TEXAS (Seahawk Manage
ment), December 8 — Chairman Gene
Paschall, Secretary Chris Myers,
Educational Director N. Patterson,
Deck Delegate Theodore Bush III, En
gine Delegate J. McCrary, Steward
Delegate P. Mena. Chairman reminded
crew about dangers of AIDS. No beefs
or disputed OT reported. Next port:
Beaumont, Texas.
18 years aboard merchant vessels, he has
never seen as good a steward depart
ment. He said excellent food deserves
more than vote of thanks. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Crew asked con
tracts department to ensure van service
in Honolulu and Tacoma, Wash. Crew
thanked first engineer for constructing
weight room. Crew observed one minute
of silence in memory of departed
brothers and sisters. Next port: Tacoma.
USNS CHAUVENET(Mar Ship
Operators), December 2 — Chairman
JefFFocardi, Secretary Vicki Barnhart,
Educational Director A! Matos, Deck
Delegate George Dehhnar, Engine
Delegate Tom Taher, Steward Delegate
Clyde Smith. Chairman welcomed new
crewmembers. Educational director
stressed safety. Treasurer reported $200
in ship's fund. Steward delegate reported
beefs. No beefs or disputed OT reported
SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE (SeaLand Service), December 1 — Chairman
R. Newhy, Secretary L. Ewing, Educa
tional Director A. Hunter. Chairman an
nounced payoff. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Crew asked for new TV
and microwave.
SEA-LAND PHOD(/C£ff (Sea-Land
Service), December 1 — Chairman L.
Barbecues Are Popular On Board Ultrasea
Seafarers enjoy a real home-style barbecued meal aboard the Ultrasea.
by deck or engine delegates. Crew noted
SIU President Michael Sacco was
elected to AFL-CIO executive council.
Reck, Secretary J. Jim. Chairman
reported resolution of prior OT dispute.
Educational director encouraged mem
bers to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No
beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew
members were reminded to return ship's
movies. AB Charles Howel volunteered
to lock up movies upon arrival.
USNS WYMAN(Mar Ship Operators),
December 1 — Chairman Cecil
Winstead, Secretary Michael Fooler,
Steward Delegate L. Johnson. Educa
tional director reviewed requirements for
B book. He urged members to upgrade
at Lundeberg School. No beefs or dis
puted OT reported. Deck department
painted crew mess. Crew thanked galley
gang for wonderful job. Bosun Winstead
prevented injury to SA Gloria Gottschzich by stopping falling refrigerator
during rough seas. SIU members L.
Johnson and R. Miklos also assisted.
Next port: Bermuda.
SEA-LAND RELIANCE (Sea-Land
Service), December 1 — Chairman AJ.
Eckert, Secretary W.G. Lombard,
Educational Director E.H. Frederickson, Deck Delegate J. Barnett, Engine
Delegate Lorie Christmas, Steward
Delegate Dennis Skretta. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Crew scheduled to
receive new washing machine and new
dryer in Tacoma, Wash. Crew thanked
galley gang.
UST PACIFIC (lOM), December 1 —
Chairman Mark Trepp, Secretary P.
Cram, Educational Director Thomas
Flynn, Steward Delegate John Collins.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
SEA-LAND SPIRIT(Sea-Land Ser
vice), December 8 — Chairman John
Schoenstein, Secretaiy S. Apodaca,
Educational Director Charles Henley.
Steward delegate reported beef. No beefs
or disputed OT reported by deck or en
gine delegates. Crew noted ongoing
problems with air conditioning.
SA Hall at Work
SEA-LAND VOYAGER (Sea-Land
Service), December 6 — Chairman
Peter Glennon, Secretary C. Crane,
Deck Delegate Michael Wimmer, En
gine Delegate D. Milla, Steward
Delegate Gary Loftin. Chairman
reported beef. Educational director urged
members to upgrade at Lundeberg
School and donate to SPAD. No beefs or
disputed OT reported by department
delegates. Crew wants new VCR, as old
one is broken. Crew extended vote of
thanks to galley gang for job well done.
Next port: Tacoma, Wash.
SPIRIT OF TEXAS (Seahawk Manage
ment), December 15 — Chairman S.W.
Parr, Secretary J. Tucker, Steward
Delegate Douglas Allen. No beefs or dis
pute OT reported. Crew discussed im
portance of upgrading at Lundeberg
School. They noted good trip and ex
tended vote of thanks to steward depart
ment.
sf.-.
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steward Assistant Antonio Hall is
pictured in the Cape Mendocino's
galley.
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Pensioners
departments. Boatman Gebhardt
lives in Ambler, Pa.
Continued from page 19
RICHARD MARKLEY, 64, joined
the union in 1969 in the port of Bal
timore. He was bom in Lancaster,
Pa. and sailed in the deck depart
ment. Boatman Markley served in
the Army from 1942 to 1945. He
resides in Ocean City, Md.
gine department. Brother Torres
upgraded frequently at the Lundeberg School. He has retired to
Tampa.
BOBBIE G.
WILLIAMS, 63.
joined the Sea
farers in 1951 in
the port of New
York. He was
bom in Texas and
in 1986 completed
the bosun recertification program at
the Lundeberg School. Brother Wil
liams has retired to Houston.
THEODORE E. WILLIAMS, 62,
joined the SIU in 1966 in the port of
Houston. A native of Greenville,
Ohio, he sailed in the deck depart
ment. Brother Williams upgraded at
the Lundeberg School in 1975. He
served in the Army from 1951 to
1953. Brother Williams lives in
Columbus, Ohio.
INLAND
LOWELL AP
PLEWHITE,
65, joined the
union in 1978 in
the port of Hous
ton. Bom in
Texas, he sailed
in the engine
department. Boat
man Applewhite served in the Navy
from 1945 to 1946. He resides in
Sacul, Texas.
JAMES C. CAIN, 65, joined the
Seafarers in 1966 in the port of
Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania na
tive sailed as a tugboat captain. Boat
man Cain has retired to Glenolden,
Pa.
CHESTER V. FOSTER, 67, joined
the union in 1966 in the port of St.
Louis. He was bom in Arkansas and
sailed in the deck department. Boat
man Foster has retired to Cleveland,
Miss.
PAULGEBHARDT, 67,
joined the
Seafarers in 1978
in the port of
Philadelphia. A
nati ve of Ohio,
he sailed in the
deck and steward
JOHN McDERMOTT, 65, joined
the Seafarers in 1957 in the port of
Boston. A Massachusetts native, he
sailed in the engine and deck depart
ments. Boatman McDermott served
in the Navy from 1944 to 1946. He
has retired to Sunrise, Fla.
VICTOR L.
WRIGHT, 66,
joined the union
in 1947 in the
port of New Or
leans. He was
bom in Kansas
and sailed as a
captain. Boatman Wright served in
the Navy from 1943 until 1947. He
resides in Terrytown, La.
'^W-: - v
Hannah Tugs Never Let Up
OLS Transport tugboats and bar
ges are built and operated to be in
constant motion. TTie tugs, known
to Great Lakes mariners as real
"workhorses" are extremely ver
satile as the loads they carry cover
a wide variety of bulk cargoes.
The Maty E. Hannah generally
carries stone across Lakes Huron
and Erie to Cleveland. "Unloaded,
it takes six hours to go to Kelleys
Island (Ohio, north of Sandusky),
three hours to load, eight hours to
return and five-and-a-half to un
load," OS Brian A. Haley told a
reporter for the Seafarers LOG.
The tug-barge combinations
each maneuver the tight bends and
turns of the lakes' tributaries that
others can't. There's another major
difference between the Mary E.
Hannah and the self-unloaders that
also carry stone. "We have a tractor
on board to offload," Haley
pointed out.
The tug Challenger pushes a
fuel barge across Lake Erie during
the sailing season. Like the Mary
E., it also offloads along the
Cuyahoga River in Cleveland after
picking up petroleum products in
Canada.
Jan Sonnie serves as a cook
aboard the Challenger. "I really
enjoy working on here," she said,
in between fixing scrambled eggs
and bacon for the other five crewmembers.
Other OLS/Hannah tugs—like
the Kirsten Lee, James A. and
Donald—can be found pushing
barges filled with asphalt, cement
or petroleum products on Lakes
Michigan, Huron and Erie.
Another part of the fleet—^the Mar
garet, Catherine M., Susan and
Betty Gale—navigates the upper
Illinois waterways with tanker bar
ges.
GREAT LAKES
AUGUSTINE
KUHL,66,
joined the
Seafarers in 1977
in the port of Al
pena, Mich. Bom
in Poland, he
sailed in the
steward department. Boatman Kuhl
upgraded at the Lundeberg School in
1980. He has retired to St.
Petersburg, Fla.
RAILROAD MARINE
GILBERT J.
HERBERT, 69,
joined the union
in 1960 in the
port of New
York. He was
bom in Jersey
City, N.J. and
sailed in the deck department.
Brother Herbert served in the Anny
from 1940 to 1945. He resides in
Parlin,N.J.
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OS Brian Haley fills out a crew list on
board the tug Challenger.
Cook Jan Sonnie prepares breakfast on
the Mary E. Hannah.
•
ATLANTIC FISHERMEN
STEPHEN D'AMICO, 63, joined
the union in 1961 in the port of
Gloucester, Mass. A native of Mas
sachusetts, he sailed in the deck
department. Brother D'Amico has
retired to Gloucester.
Overseeing docking operations from the
bridge of the Mary E. is Mate Lonnie Keys.
Rick Blue, an AB/tankerman on the Mary
E. Hannah, waits to secure a line on a
towed barge.
; Si
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nreHghting Course Meets CG Rules
Seafarers who graduated from the
Freehold, N.J. flrefighting course while at
tending the Lundeberg School of Seaman
ship between June 5, 1978 and December 1,
1989 have met Coast Guard requirements for
advanced firefighting.
Members must present proof of success
fully completing the course when they apply
to upgrade or renew their maritime licenses.
Graduates who have any questions about
their firefighting status may call the Lun
deberg School's Admissions Office at (301)
994-0010.
• .'f •: • •;
AB/Mate Larry Sarver walks a line along
the shore as the Mary E. docks.
OLS/Hannah tugs like the Kirsten Lee are
the workhorses of the lower Great Lakes.
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SEOFARBISLOa
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McAllister Tugboat Men
Find Work 'Rewarding*
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Skip Schilling, captain of the tug James
McAllister, recognizes the importance of
upgrading one's skills.
Deckhand Tom Carlin says he is glad to
have work during these economically
troubled times.
'^M-y '-ytyM
fffiv-'::,'®
When the SS Louisiana broke
loose from its mooring in a heavy
windstorm, SlU-manned Mc
Allister tugboats from the port of
Philadelphia responded. Seafarers
worked for several days in midDecember to re-float the Louisiana
and then tow it to Gloucester, N.J.
'There certainly was a lot of
work involved," said Dick Reel,
54-year-old captain of the tug Eric
McAllister.
On more typical days, the
Philadelphia tugs serve as pushboats for tankers, fruit ships and
container vessels in surrounding
areas such as Marcus Hook and
Hog Island.
Brother Roel, a 30-year member
of the union, describes his job as
"rewarding." He says he relishes
the sense of accomplishment his
work provides.
Another member of the Eric
McAllister crew, 37-year-old
Deckhand Tom Carlin, says while
he enjoys his job, he also ap
preciates the fact that he has work
in these economically tough times.
He said he is thankful to belong to
a union that is fighting to preserve
jobs for Americans in the maritime
industry.
AB Frank Messick, a crewmember on board the James Mc
Allister (another McAllister
Brothers, Inc. tug), says he enjoys
"being on the water. I've worked
shore jobs, but I keep coming back
to the water."
Like Carlin, Brother Messick
joined the Seafarers nearly two
years ago. He has upgraded at the
Lundeberg School, and fervently
encourages his fellow union mem
bers to do the same. "I'm going
back again, too, probably in May,'
Messick says.
Skip Schilling, captain of the
James McAllister, also recognizes
the importance of upgrading. As
for his job, the 22-year-old
Seafarer says his favorite part "is
just being out on the water."
The McAllister tugs are singlescrew harbor boats with 3,000
horsepower. They can reach
speeds of about 12 Imots.
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Eric McAllister tug Captain Dick Roel has been a Seafarer for 30 years.
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AB Frank Messick is ready to upgrade again at tfie Lundeberg School.
Lundeberg Scheel Students New Can Take Cenrses at Night
For Seafarers upgrading their
seamanship skills at the Lundeberg
School, the institution recently
added evening classes in a number
of subjects.
Additionally, the school has
opened its computer lab each night
to provide monitored, self-paced
instruction in DOS, WordPerfect
and various other technical
pro^ams.
Six courses are being conducted
during the first night-course ses
sion, which began January 8 and
ends February 28. Thirty-one stu
dents enrolled for classes such as
developmental writing; composi
tion and rhetoric; developmental
mathematics I and H; college
mathematics; fundamentals of
physics; and principles of psychol
ogy.
There will be five more sessions
this year. Advanced registration
for Session n begins March 2, with
those classes starting March 16.
(Seafarers may, but do not have to,
register early. Final registration
takes place the last two evenings
before each session begins.)
Besides the new classes, in
dividual tutoring and GFD
preparation are available each eve-
k'
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• •<>:
Instnjctor Kate Richardson (right) teaches an English class at night.
Grace Davis checks on Greg Eastwood,
an engine department upgrader, as he fills
out a math placement test.
Steward department upgrader Gina
Lightfoot receives information about the
new night classes being held at the Lundeberg School.
.
: s, "•
�FEBRUARY m2
Final Departures
DEEP SEA
LOVIC ADAMS, JR.
Lovic Adams, Jr., 68, passed
away November 21, three days
after his birthday. He was bom
in Tampa, Fla. and joined the
SIU in 1956 in the port of New
Orleans. Brother Adams sailed
in the deck department. He was
an active member at the time of
his death.
JAMES R. BRADLEY
Pensioner James R. Bradley,
74, died November 9. He
joined the Seafarers as a
charter member in 1938, in his
native Mobile, Ala. Brother
Bradley sailed in the steward
department. He began receiv
ing his pension in July 1982.
EDWARD COLE
Pensioner
Edward
Cole, 76,
passed
away
Novem
ber 23.
Bom in
Barbourville, Ky., he joined the union
in 1943 in the port of New Or
leans. Brother Cole sailed as a
bosun. He retired in Febmary
1978.
JACK GARDNER
Pensioner
Jack
Gardner,
81, died
Decem
ber 19.
The na
tive of
North
Carolina joined the SIU in
1947 in the port of Baltimore.
He sailed in the galley gang.
Brother Gardner began receiv
ing his pension in December
1976.
ROBERT KENNEDY
Pensioner
Robert
Kennedy,
63,
passed
away
Decem
ber 8. He
was bom
in North Dakota and joined the
Seafarers in 1958 in the port of
Houston. Brother Kennedy
completed steward recertification at the Lundeberg School
in 1985. He retired in July
1991.
APOLONIOLINO
Pensioner
Apolonio
Lino, 65,
died
December
12. A na
tive of
Hon
duras, he
joined the union in 1982 in the
port of New York. Brother
Lino sailed in the deck depart
ment. He retired in July 1991.
RICHARD MEYER
Richard Meyer, 38, died
December 1. He joined the
Seafarers in 1981 in his native
New York. Brother Meyer
sailed in the deck department.
He served in the Navy from
1971 until 1974. Brother
Meyer was an. active member
at the time of his death.
JOHN MCCLELLAND
Pensioner
John Mc
Clelland,
64,
passed
away
December
9. Bom in
Florida,
he joined the SIU in 1960 in
the port of New Orleans.
Brother McClelland sailed in
the engine department. In 1974
he upgraded at the Lundeberg
School to QMED. Brother Mc
Clelland served in the Navy
from 1945 to 1948. He served
in the Army from 1950 to
1952. Brother McClelland
retired in December 1985.
•
EDDYPASCUA
Pensioner
Eddy Pascua, 87,
passed
away
Novem
ber 18. A
native of
the Philip
pine Islands, he joined the SIU
in 1959 in the port of New
York. Brother Pascua sailed as
a chief cook. He began receiv
ing his pension in June 1976.
JOHNRAMBO
Pensioner
John
Rambo,
67, died
Novem
ber 6. He
was bom
in Florida
and
joined the Seafarers in 1944 in
the port of Mobile, Ala.
Brother Rambo sailed in the
deck department. He retired in
September 1982.
ISRAEL RAMOS
Pensioner
Israel
Ramos,
85,
passed
away
Decem
ber 4.
Bom in
Puerto Rico, he joined the
union as a charter member in
1938 in the port of Philadel
phia. Brother Ramos sailed in
the engine department. He
began receiving his pension in
Febmary 1971.
before his birthday. He was
bom in Texas and joined the
Marine Cooks and Stewards in
1958 in the port of Seattle,
before that union merged with
the AGLIWD. Brother Spence
retired in December 1980.
EVANGELOS STRAUS
Pensioner
Evangelos
Stratis,
86,
passed
away
Novem
ber 13.
The native of Greece joined the
Seafarers in 1946 in the poit of
New York. Brother Stratis
sailed in the engine depart
ment. He retired in December
1970.
JOHNA.SPEER
Pensioner John A; Speer, 70,
died December 10. Bom in
Honduras, he joined the SIU in
1973 in the port of New Or
leans. Brother Speer sailed in
the engine department. In 1980
he upgraded at the Lundeberg
School. Brother Speer began
receiving his pension in Oc
tober 1987.
FRANCIS WARD
Pensioner
Francis
Ward, 75,
passed
away
recently.
He was
born in
Pit
tsburgh and in 1958 graduated
from the Andrew Furaseth
Training School in Mobile,
Ala. Brother Ward sailed in the
steward department. He served
in the Army from 1943 until
1945. Brother Ward retired in
Febmary 1990.
INLAND
ROBERT ATHERTON
Pensioner
Robert
Atherton,
85, died
Decem
ber 2. A
native of
Mathews,
Va., he
joined the union in 1961 in the
port of Norfolk, Va. Boatman
Atherton sailed in the steward
department. He began receiv
ing his pension in March 1972.
ROBERT E.RIGBY
Pen
sioner
Robert E.
Rigby,
61,
passed
away
May 31.
Bom in
Pensacola, Fla., he joined the
Seafarers in 1957 in the port of
New Orleans. Boatman Rigby
sailed in the deck department.
He retired in October 1988.
EJNER NIELSEN
Pensioner
Ejner
Nielsen,
69, died
Novem
ber 3. The
Min
nesota na
tive
joined the union in 1960 in the
port of Detroit. Brother Nielsen
sailed in the deck and engine
departments. He began receiv
ing his pension in Febmary
1982.
SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT
FOR SEAFARERS WELFARE FUND
This is a siunmary of theannual reportof ttie Seafarers Welfare Fund BIN
13-5557534 for the year ended December 31, 1990. The annual report has
been filed with the Internal Revenue Service, as required tinder the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
The Trust has committed itself to pay claims incurred under the termsof
the plan.
dy
yV:
Basic Financial Statement
The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan was a
(deficit) of $(25,530,370) as of December 31, 1990, compared to
$(26,246,843) as of January 1, 1990. During the plan year the plan ex
perienced an increase in its net assets of $716,473. This increase included
unrealized appreciation and depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is,
the current vrdue of assets at the beginning of the year plus the cost of any
assets acquired during the year less the current value of assets at the end of
the year. During the plan year, the plan had total income of $35,876,815,
including employer contributions of $35,138,694, miscellaneous income of
$63,122 and earnings from investments of $674,999. Plan expenses were
$35,160,342. These expenses included $3,111,501 in administrative expen
ses and $32,048,841 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries.
Your Rights to Additional infonnation
You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part
thereof, on request. The items listed below are included in that report:
1. An accountant's report
2. Assets held for investment
To obtain a copy of the full aimual report, or any part thereof, write or
call the office of Mr. Nick Marrone who is the Plan Adn^istrator,5201 Auth
Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746; (301) 899-0675. The charge to cover
copying costs will be $1.50 for the fbll atmual report, or 10 cents per page
for any part thereof. You also have the right to receive from the plan
administrator, on request and at no charge, a statement of the assets and
liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and
expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy
of the full annual report from the plan administrator, these two statements
and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge
to cover copying costs given abovedoes not include a charge for thecopying
of these portions of the report because portions are furnished without charge.
You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the
main office of the plan at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 and at
the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, DC, or to obtain a copy from
the U.S. Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests to
the Department should be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, N4677,
Pension and Welfare Benefit Programs, U.S. Department of Labiar 200
Constitudon Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20216.
••J:..'
Supplementary Information
The plan has a deficit of ($25,530,370) as of December 31,1990, which
includes an estimated liability for Retired Participants and their dependents
in the amount of $30,717,000. This amount represents the estimated liability
for payment of all future hospital, medical, dental, prescription drug and
medicare premiums for the life of the pensioner as well as the dependent's
benefits for the period provided in the plan's rules for the dependents of such
pensioner.
Please fill out the ap
plication below and
mail It to:
John Fay, Sec'y-Treasurer
Seafarers Int'l Union
5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746
FELIPE M. REYES
Pensioner Felipe M. Reyes, 85,
died November 10. The native
of the Philippine Islands joined
the SIU in 1945 in the port of
Mobile, Ala. Brother Reyes
sailed as a chief steward. He
retired in March 1972.
ANDREW SPENCE
Pensioner
Andrew
Spence,
71,
passed
away
Decem
ber 16,
one week
GREAT LAKES
The shirts feature the
SIU logo in full color on
the front and "Politics is
Porkchops" in blue on
the back. They are
American-made.
Please send tiie new SIU t-shlrt to:
:NAME.
:ADDRESS.
; CITY, STATE, ZIP.
The SIU has created a new t-shirt design
which is available to all our memlters on
a first-come, first-served basis.
.'PHONE#
BOOK#
I SOCIAL SECURITY#.
RATING
: T-SHIRT SIZE (circle one)
S
ML
XL
2/92
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SEAFMERSLOG
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Trainee Lifeboat Class 488—Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 488 are
(from left, kneeling) Tfiomas Hooper, Michael Flores, James Alston, Jeffrey A. Eaton,
Scott Melle, Walter Oswald, Michael E. Smith, Darin Millikan, Instructor Ben Cusic,
(second row) William Soto Jr., Damon W. Pope, Eric T. Martin, Charlie Parson, John
Gillespie, Doug Tuten, Christopher Weiscopf, Michael D. Smith, Ronald W. Brown
Jr., Rudolph C. Hyndman, Othello Dansley and James Hennessey.
Trainee Lifeboat Class 489—Recently graduating from trainee lifetjoat
class 489 are (from left, kneeling) Cromwell Henderson Jr., Michael Terry, Richard
Carrera, Michael Coombes, Arthur Purdy Jr., Junair C. James, (second row) John
Helton, Matthew Ditullio, Dennis C. Bennett, John Paul Dawson, Mike Banks, Joshua
Hollinger, Matthew Sipes, Bruce Rybak, (third row) Instructor Ben Cusic, Don Gray
Jr., Phillip L. Greenwell, Lance A. Kuster, Demetrius De Rouen, Matthew Choate,
Kenneth L. Crouse Jr., Caleb S. White, Jason Van Schorck and Peter Rossi.
•••:'•'''rr'-.
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Upgraders Lifeboat—Certificates of training were received by the December
4 class of upgraders. They are (from left, kneeling) Instructor Ben Cusic. John Meo,
Jeanette Bail, Joseph Previto, (second row) Christopher Boyd, Thomas Pryde, Chad
Vickers, Donald Willis and Orlando Sacasa.
!
'
Fireman, Oiler, Watertender—^Working their way up the engine depart
ment ratings are (from left, front row) Marsha Dawson, Kevin Twiford, Ted Smith,
Adolfo Arzu, Ben Stanley, Washington Oree Jr., Steve Norman, (second row) William
Bums, Steve Simpson, Marlin Sanford Jr., Geoffrey P. Denesse, Jean Couvillion,
Mark Glinka, Gloria Thornton, Richard Kent, (third row) Brantley Twiford, Allan
Vargas, E.E. Louis, John Pagan, Erik R. Larka, Daniel Taggart, Ricky Williams, Mark
Francois, Jimmy Tignor, (fourth row) Instructor J.C. Wiegman, Gilbert Brown, Bren
dan McDonald, Jack Chapin, Jean Berger and Michael Wilkerson.
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The SeafiEurefs Hany Lundeberg School of Seamanship has revised its '
I self^study (X)iTespondence c<!mrses. Currently available are lessons in I
' English and mathematics. The acadenu^ department will add other '
I subjects as they become available.
J
«
Seafarers can take advantage of this opportunity to increase their "
I ioiowledge by writing to the Lundebei^ School. The materials are {
I prepared in a straight-forward, easy-to-understand manner.Simply check i
J the boxes for the lessons whicbinterest you, then clip and send the coupon |
i totheaddmss below.^^^^^^^^^^
i
I Pleasesei^thetri^ertal$chec^^^^
Able Bodied Seamen—Graduating with their AB endorsement are (from left,
front row) Ken Frankiewicz, Roy Windham, John Hutchinson, Eddie Ponteres, Alex
Relojo, Yahya Ghaleb, (second row) Juan Rosario, Bmce Collins, Mark Rivers,
Jeffrey Chicklas, Wayne Martin, Nelson Poe, Wayne Journigan, John Thompson,
(third row) Scott Sims, Al Jackson, Patrick Wynne, Ed Pace, Robert Jackson, Mike
Rawlins, Robert West, Sean O'Doherty and Richard Higgins.
m:
\
ENGUSH
Fractions
Decimals
Percents
Algebra
Geometry
Trigonometry
Plane
^f'. ••
W:
m:.
Grammar Books
Writing Business
Letters
•
Spherical
• hiame _
i:
t Address.
I.
I
I Telephone
I Social Security #.
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> Cutout this coupeh arid
Third Assistant Engineer—Completing the self-study training leading to an
endorsement as third assistant engineer are (from left) Frank ("Frankie T) Tymczyszyn, Kelley Graham, Instructor Eric Malzkuhn, William F. Payne and Donald Smith.
..FF'Vv-v.•
Rating.
Academic Department
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship
iv'iv-P.O. Box 75
....
^i,-i Pio^ Polni, Maiyland^ 20a74
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25
Sea-Land Independence
Moves to Far East Run
X
It is smooth sailing aboard the
Sea-Land Independence as the
container ship becomes part of the
inter-Asian shuttle, according to
Bosun Francis Adams.
"We have a great crew," the
bosun noted in the ship's minutes
of December 24. "Everything is
running smoothly."
The vessel, which had been run
ning on the European/Middle Eastem routes, now will make ports of
call in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Sing
apore and Japan.
Included in the minutes sent by
Chief Steward Nancy Heyden
were photographs of crewmembers working on deck as well as
enjoying holiday meals aboard the
container vessel.
P" 'J
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Posing on the deck of the Sea-Land Independence are (left to right, kneeling) AB Jim
Triassi, AB Donovan Christie, (standing) AB Mike Warren, Bosun Francis Adams and
AB Horace Cooper.
Getting into the spirit of Halloween are (left to right) AB Mike Warren, Chief Steward
Nancy Heyden, Bosun Francis Adams and SA Samuel Concepcion.
'K.:
t .
Chief Cook Ernest Dumont is ready to
senre anotfier hungry crewmember.
:
Painting and chipping is a non-stop chore Ready to enjoy a hearty Thanksgiving meal are Electrician Irwin Rousseau, QMED
Mike Novak, AB John Finnigan and Bosun FrarK:is Adams.
alKiard the Sea-Land Independence.
Know Your Rights
'
FINANCIAL REPORTS. The
constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf,
Lakes and Inland Waters District
makes specific provision for
safeguarding the membership's
money and Union finances. The con
stitution requires a detailed audit by
Certified Public Accountants every
year, which is to be submitted to the
membership by the SecretaryTreasurer. A yearly finance commit
tee of rank-and-file members, elected
by the membership, exams each year
of the finances of the Union and
reports fully their findings and recom
mendations. Members of this commit
tee may make dissenting reports,
specific recommendations and
separate findings.
TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of
the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and In
land Waters District are administered
in accordance with the provisions of
various trust fund agreements. All
these agreements specify that the trus
tees in charge of these funds shall
equally consist of Union and manage
ment representatives and their alter
nates. All expenditures and
disbursements of trust funds are made
only upon approval by a majority of
the trustees. All trust fund financial
records are available at the head
quarters of the various trust funds.
SHIPPING RIGHTS;
A
member's shipping rights and
seniority are protected exclusively by
contracts between the Union and the
employers. Members should get to
know their shipping rights. Copies of
these contracts are posted and avail
able in all Union halls. If members
believe there have been violations of
their shipping or seniority rights as
contained in the contracts between the
Union and the employers, they should
notify the Seafarers App^s Board by
certified mail, return receipt re
quested. The proper address for this is;
Angus 'Tied" Campbell,
Chairman
Seafarers Appeals Board
5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, Md. 20746
Full copiesof contracts as lefeaned to
are available to members at all times,
either by writing directly to the Union or
to the Seafarers Appeals Board.
CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU
contracts are available in all SIU halls.
These contracts specify the wages and
conditions under which an SIU member
works and lives aboard a ship or boat.
Members should know their , contract
rights, as well as their obligations, such
as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper
sheets and in the proper manner. If, at
any tiine, a member believes that an SIU
patrolman or other Union official fails
to protect their contractual rights
properly, they should contact the nearest
SIU port agent.
EDITORIAL POLICY—THE
SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers
LOG traditionally has refrained from
publishing any article serving the
political purposes of any individual in
the Union, officer or member. It also
has refrained from publishing articles
deemed harmful to the Union or its
collective membership. This estab
lished policy has been reaffirmed by
membership action at the September
1960 meetings in all constitutional
ports. The responsibility for Seafarers
LOG policy is vested in an editorial
board which consists of the Executive
Board of the Union. The Executive
Board may delegate, from among its
ranks, one individual to carry out this
resfionsibility.
PAYMENT OF MONIES. No
monies are to be paid to anyone in any
official capacity in the SIU unless an
official Union receipt is given for
same. Under no circumstances should
any member pay any money fOr any
reason unless he is given such receipt.
In the event anyone attempts to require
any such payment be made without
supplying a receipt, or if a member is
required to make a payment and is
given an official receipt, but feels that
he should not have been required to
make such payment, this should im
mediately be reported to Union head
quarters.
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
AND OBLIGATIONS. Copies of the
SIU constitution are available in all
Union halls. All members should ob
tain copies of this constitution so as to
familiarize themselves with its con
tents. Any time a member feels any
other member or officer is attempting
to deprive him of any constitution^
right or obligation by any methods,
such as dealing with charges, trials,
etc., as well as all other details, the
member so affected should immedi
ately notify headquarters.
EQUAL RIGHTS. All members
are guaranteed equal rights inemploy
ment and as members of the SIU.
These rights are clearly set forth in the
SIU constitution and in the contracts
which the Union has negotiated with
the employers. Consequently, no
member may be discriminated against
because of race, creed, color, sex, na
tional or geographic origin. If any
member feels that he is denied the'
equal rights to which he is entitled, he
should notify Union headquarters.
v'.
-."i J
SEAFARERS POLITICAL AC
TIVITY DONATION—SPAD.
SPAD is a separate segregated fund.
Its proceeds are used to further its ob
jects and purposes including, but not
limited to, furthering the political, so
cial and economic interests of
maritime workers, the preservation
and furthering of the American Mer
chant Marine with improved employ
ment opportunities for seamen and
boatmen and the advancement of trade
union concepts. In connection with
such objects, SPAD supports and con
tributes to political candidates for
elective office. All contributions are
voluntary. No contribution may be
solicited or received because of force,
job discrimination, financial reprisal,
or threat of such conducL or as a con
dition of membership in the Union or
of employment. If a contribution is
made by reason of the above improper
conduct, the member should notify the
Seafarers Union or SPAD by certified
mail within 30 days of the contribution
for investigation and appropriate ac
tion and refund, if involuntary. A
member should supp(>rt SPAD to
protect and further his economic,
political and social interests, and
American trade union concepts.
If at any time a member feels that
any of the above rights have been
violated, or that he has been denied
his constitutional right of access to
Union records or information, he
should immediately notify SIU
President Michael Sacco at head
quarters by certified mail, return
receipt requested. Hie address is
5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD
20746.
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26
SEAFARBIS Um
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embers and Dependents Should Apply IMow
When the date "April 15" is
mentioned, the first thing that
comes to mind is INCOME
TAXES ARE DUE. But for the
jast 40 years, April 15 also has
)een a deadline of a different
sort—one in which money and op
portunity are returned instead of
owed. For April 15 is the last day
in which applications are being ac
cepted for the Seafarers Scholar
ship Program.
All Seafarers and their spouses
and children who plan to attend
college are encouraged to apply for
one of seven scholarships being
given out in 1992. Three will go to
SIU members; the other four will
go to the spouses or dependent
children of eligible Seafarers or
SIU pensioners
One of the scholarships
reserved for SIU members is a
$15,000 four-year college Scholar
ship; the other two are $6,000 twoyear awards to study at a
vocational school or community
college. Four scholarships in the
amount of $15,000 each are
awarded annually to the spouses
. and dependent children of
Seafarers and SIU pensioners. Ap
plicants should indicate whether
they are applying for a two-year or
a four-year grant.
The $15,000 college , scholar
ships will be paid at the rate of
$3,750 per year over a four-year
period. The $6,000 awards are paid
at the rate of $3,000 per year.
For most scholarship winners,
receiving the cash grant can greatly
ease the financial burden as
sociated with attending college.
Many former scholarship winners
say they never would have had the
opportunity to pursue their educa
tion without the SIU's help.
April 151s Submission Deadiine
Application Ciieciciisl
The scholarship application
form must be complet^ by ALL
applicants. It is easy to fill out.
\^at may take some time, how
ever, is collecting the other paper
work which must be submitted
along with the application. This
includes:
• Autobiographical State
ment. Space for this is provided
on the back of each application
form.
• Photograph of Ap
plicant. This should be a black
and white passport-type picture
and should be attached to the
autobiographical statement.
• Certified Copy of Birth
Certificate if it is not already on
file with the Seafarers' Welfare
Plan. (Only applicants for a De
pendent's Scholarship are re
quired to furnish this item.)
• High School Transcript
AND Certification of Gradua
tion. Request both of these
items from your high school and
ask that they be sent directly to
the Scholarship Committee.
• Official Copy of High
School Equivalency Scores. If
you earned a high school
diploma as a civilian by taking
the High School Equivalency
examination (GED), have the
State Department of Education
in the state where you took the
test send an official copy of
your scores directly to the
Scholarship Committee.
If the GED test was taken
while in the military, contact the
appropriate agency and ask that
an official copy of your scores be
sent directly to the Scholarship
Committee.
• College Transcript. If
you are already attending col
lege, or if you have previously
attended college, ask the Office
of the Registrar to send an offi
cial transcript directly to the
Scholarship Committee.
%/ Letters of Reference.
Three letters are required for all
applications. For dependents,
one of these letters must be from
your high school principal or One
of your high* school teachers. If
you have attended, or are now
attending college, a fourth letter
of reference is required, and
must be written by the Dean of
Students or by your major ad
visor.
The letters should attest to
your character and qualities of
leadership, and should describe
the nature and extent of the extra
curricular activities in which you
participate.
• SAT or ACT Results.
The ACT or SAT test must be
taken nolater than February of
the year in which the awards are
granted. This is necessary to en
sure that the test results reach the
Scholarship Committee in time
for its deliberations.
The testing service should
send the results directly to the
Scholarship Committee. (Be
sure to request an additional
score report form at the time you
apply for the test.) On the
registration form for either test,
space is allotted to write in a code
number that will ensure the score
report is sent directly to the
Seafarers' Welfare Plan. For the
ACT test, this code number is
2875; for the SAT test, this code
number is 0110.
The application form and the
first three items listed here
should be mailed by the ap
plicant. All other items should be
mailed by the person or agency
from whom they are requested.
All items should be sent to:
Scholarship Program
Seafarers' Welfare Plan
5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746
Send lor Your Application Fmm Today
' 'T^he-scholarship program instruction booklet comes with the necess^
I A forms. It is available at any SIU hall or by filling out and mailing this
I form. Send it to:
I
Scholarship Program
I
Seafarers Welfare Plan
'
5201 Auth Way
I
Camp Springs, MD 20746
[ Please send me the 1992 SIU Scholarship Program booklet which
I contains eligibility information, procedures for applying and the applica' tion form.
Name
Book Number.
• Address.
I City, State, Zip Code.
Telephone Number
'
This application Is for:
'
(self)
•
(dependent)
2/92
�,-."-.1"/
FEBRUARY 1992
*
'5.
^
1
• • :''r%m
'992 imatABING CmiRSE SCHEBW »lipi
TOe foHowing is the dunent course schedule for Marc^^
1992 at the
iSeafarers HanyXundeberg School of Seamanship. All programs are geared to
unprovejob skills of SIU members and to promote the American maritime industry.
The couree schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the
maname industry and—m times of conflict—-the narinnV cwni-itv
;
!.
v'
'
Maich2
March 13
May 4
MaylS
June 29
July 10
Radar Observer Unlimited
March 16
March 20
May 18
May 22
July
13
July
17
,*f' -.
/,
>V:-rSlEa8#'K;
Cdestial
April 6
11.' :
Mayl
lliirdMate
May 4
Augusfl4t
Upon completion, the Seal^ Operations course must be taken.
Tankerman
March 16
July 16
April 10
July 31
Check-In
Coinide^n
Date
Date
March 2
March 6
April 13
April 17
AprU27
jMLay 1 ,
>'-* ; '
June 22
June 26
July 6
July 10
Upon completion, the Sealift Operations course must Ire taken,
March2
March 16
March 30
April 13
April 27
May 11
May 25
June 8
June 22
July 6
July 20
June 16
..
fiiasic/Advanced Fire Fighting
- • .
(Last)
.
'-
(Stale)
Deep Sea MemberG
si
.Telephone _L.
(Zip Code)
Lakes Member•
_L
(Area Code)
Inland Waters Member G
March 16
May 11
July 6
Seniority
U.S. Citizen: DVes
• No
^
SIGNATURE.
•'
•
•'
Av';'-'"
VT..;.'
;f
I
\g.
, .• • •-••v
-
I- '
_DATE
Department
I am interested in the foUowing
cobrse(s) checked below or indi
cated here if not listed
Home Port.
• Yes
Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program?
If yes, which program: from
GNO
to.
Last grade of school completed
Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses?
• Yes
If yes, course(s) taken
Have you taken any SHLSS Sealift Operations courses?
• Yes
GNO
• No
if yes, how many weeks have you completed?.
Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Life Boatman Endorsement?
• Yes • No
Firefighting: • Yes • No
CPR: • Yes
Primary language spoken
• . is'-"'.-
_ >•- i-.;"- 11
Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held
Date available for training _____
Z'iSik-'i
Pacific G
Book #
.
• • '•
May 8
July3
August 28
If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will
not be processed.
Social Security #
•;Vy. '.
With this application COPIES of your discharges must be submitted showing
sufficient time to qualify yourself for the course(s) requested. You also must submit
a COPY of each of the following: the first page of your union book indicating your
department and seniority, yourclinic card and the front and back of your Lundeberg
School identification card listing the course(s) you have taken and completed. The
Admissions Office WILL NOT schedule you until aU of the above are received.
RATING
DATE
DATEOF
VESSEL
HELD
SHIPPED
DISCHARGE
Month/Day/Year
(Street)
.1^
1992Mult eaiwalkm Schedule
FULL 8-week sessions
Date of Birth
(Middle)
(Hist)
j
class at the end of their regidar course.
Ihe following courses are available through the Seafarers Harry Luhdeberg
School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. Please contact the admissions office
for enrollment information. •
Check-In
Completion
Course
Date
Date
!:
.
I"'"
:
<1
High Schcml Equlv^ency (GED)
All open-ended (contact
; ;(
Adult Basic Education (ABE)
admissions office for starting , s f ]
English as a Second Language (ESL) dates)
^
March 13
March27
April 10 i
April 24
h^y 8
May 22
June 12
June 19
July 2
July 17
July 31
June 26
mfGRADINGAmH^mM
Name
• c- >•
.// J
Course
Oil Spill Prevention &
Containment (1 week)
J/ .
ruMiuCourm9
J ^ Vj'tS "
Sai^Speclatt^^
Lifeboatman
'•"X'-V.'"'-:'
Check-Ih
Completion
Itete
Date
v-'Mayll'"''3/-': July 31
April 10
M^
r-\:
May
11
June
19
:
July
6
August
14
.
Wtl
students
rnusttdl^meOil
Spill
Pr^eruioadnd
Containment
class.
p
J
ihunproom Maintebai^
June 19
Marine Electrical Maintenance
April 27
June 19 .
Refr^eration Maint & Operations
May 11
June 19
Rclrigerated Containers—
March 2
April 10
Advan(%d Maintelianice
June 22
July 31 isSifillii;
. . x'L.?.',.. .
Marine Electronics—-Technician!
'May 11
June 19
Marine Electronics—Technican H •;i'.3Jfune22"\
July 31
Basic Electronics
•••:A^i^:i3' ::
May 8
iiS-Siiiili
, "iy
Hydraulics
March 16
April 10
June 22
July 17
' > ' ''
Diesel Engine Technology
July 6
July 31
Ship Handling
i$i:t
Check-In
Completion
Course
imte
Date .
As^fstaht Coofcr Cook and B^ker,
All opieii-csided (contact admissions
ChidT Cook, Chief Steward
office for starting dates)
Upon completion, all sturhras will ttdce a Sealift Familiarization class.
^Course ..
QMI^-Any Ria^^
llremanAV^
'"-,;v''j.;'
(Qty)
Completion
Date \
May 4
July 6
StmUanimprauj^fiiHirsi
.'.'v
Check-In
Compleiion
Course
Date
Date
•
V?'-Sssff • wiiSSSsf 'f -'
AhleSeahiiaik
March 16
i>^bruary28
May25
July3
* i", ''
July20
August28
4 ffiwf
/afe the
Spiti Prevention and Containment class prior to the
Sealift Operations and Maintenance course.
Address
Cji«ik-]hi
Date
MarchJO
June 1
Course
Bffisua Recertiilcatioii
Steward Recertification
• No
—
'
ALL DEPARTMENTS
D Welding
D Lifeboatman (must be taken
with another course)
•
O
D
O
•
•
•;
• " ,L--
ADULT EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
Adult Basic Education (ABE)
High School Equivalency
Program (GED)
Developmental Studies (DVS)
English as a Second
Language (ESL)
ABE/ESL Lifeboat
Preparation
STEWARD
O Assistant Cook Utility
• Cook and Baker
• FOWT
• ChiefCook
COLLEGE PROGRAM
D QMED—Any Rating
D ChiefSteward
D Associates in Arts Degree
D Variable Speed DC Drive
• Towboat Inland Cook
Systems (MarineElectronics)
• CertifrcaUfPrograms
Transportaliaa
be pMdin
In •wwroamw
M!eordaiice wim
wHb the
KhcdiilfaigBCMCT
letter only
if JUB
yon proem
pn ( orvgHW
• • wupvi Mwwu win
wm UK
wc•^ncwumg
vmj u
original rcccqi
receipts and nictasfti
ENGINE
—
—
DECK
AB/Sealift
1st QassPilot
Third Mate
Radar Observer Unlimited
Master InspectedTowing
Vessel
O Towboat Operator Inland
• Olestial Navigation
• Simulator Course
•
D
D
O
D
• Marine Electrical
Maintenance
n Pumproom Maintenance &
Operation
ID Refrigeration Systems
Maintenance &Operation
Q Diesel Engine Technology
• Assistant Engineer/CTiief
Engineer Motor Vessel
• Original 3rd Engineer Steam
(H'Motor
ID Refrigerated Containers
Advanced Maintenance
ID Electro-Hydraulic Systems
D Automation
• Hydraulics
D Marine Electronics
Technician
—^—
piete the eonrw. ITjou hare any questions,contact your port agentbefore deputing for Flnejr FUinL
RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Seafaiiets Huiy Lundeberg UpgiwlingCenter, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674.
2/92
...ty T ji ^
1:^ V.V
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SEAEUCEMCS
Summary
Annual Report
Seafarers Welfare Fund
Page 23
Volume 54, Number 2
1992
SlU-Crewed Tugs Save Six on Violent Lake Erie
The SlU-crewed tugboat Wisconsin com
pleted a daring rescue of six boatmen drifting on
a tugboat and barge on choppy Lake Erie
minutes before nightfall.
Around 2:30 p.m. on December 14, the dis
patcher at the Great Lakes Towing office in
10 to 12-foot seas, 35-niile-per-hour winds gusting as high as 60 and temperatures dropping to
30 degrees.
"Then I heard people needed to be rescued
and I changed my mind immediately," Fike
recalled.
S-.^: •
II"';'• .i-5 -
SlU members (left to right) Raymond C. Smith, Edward Fike and Timothy McKenna display the plaques they
received from Great Lakes Towing for their Involvement In the rescue of six boatmen adrift In Lake Erie.
Cleveland received a distress call from a non
union tugboat, the Paddy Miles, towing the barge
loaded with a crane. A second tug, the Hanun
Thomas, also pulling the barge from Rocky
River—less than 10 miles west of Cleveland—
sank shortly after entering Lake Erie. Its twoman crew safely scrambled aboard the barge.
Deckhand/Engineer Ed Fike was at home
when he received a call to report to the 90-foot
Wisconsin. "I asked myself what I was going out
for," the 31-year SIU member told a reporter for
the Seafarers LOG. Weather conditions included
Help Locate
This Missing Child
Not much information is
available to go on, but the
National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children has
asked the membership of
the SIU to help locate KmberlyBenham.
Missing since May 4,
1991,
the 15-year-old is
Kimberly Benham
considered an endangered
runaway and may be with an adult male com
panion. She is from Leominster, Mass.
Kimberly Benham has blue eyes and
strawberry blonde hair. At the time of her
disappearance, she was 5 ft. 7 in. and weighed
140 lbs.
Anyone having information should contact
The National Center for Missing and Ex
ploited Children at (800) 843-5678 or the
Leominster (Mass.) Police Department's
Missing Persons Unit at (508) 534-4383.
The 48-foot Miles had lost all power and its
tow line when it called for help. Both the tug and
barge were drifting to the east. News reports
noted the only available Coast Guard rescue
vessel, a 41-footer, was not rated for seas higher
than eight feet.
When the Wisconsin caught up with the
barge, it was 1.5 miles east of the mouth of the
Cuyahoga River in downtown Cleveland.
"We made a pass for the rig and got a line on
it," Fike said. Because of the high seas and icy
conditions, the cable slipped off the cleat.
"We re-rigged a line and went after it again.
Considering the heavy seas, everything went
really well," the deckhand added. One of the four
men on the deck of the Miles caught the line and
secured it for towing. The Wisconsin pulled the
barge within the Cleveland breakwall where the
Idaho, another SlU-crewed Great Lakes Towing
vessel, was waiting. The Wisconsin returned to
the lake to save the Miles.
"It was getting close to dark," Fike remem
bered. "We didn't have much time left." The
Miles had drifted within 1,000 feet of the breakwall and was headed for it. The Wisconsin pulled
alongside the smaller tug and secured a tow line
on the first try.
The whole rescue took approximately two
hours. Fike said he talked briefly with those who
were rescued, but "it was so cold and we were
so wet, all we wanted to do was get warm and
dry."
However, one of those saved by the Great
Lakes Towing tugs remembered them with a
Christmas card. It read: 'To the Heroes: Thank
you for coming to the rescue in a life-threatening
situation. Your determination and profes
sionalism will not be forgotten, [signed] Russ
Maher, Willowick, Ohio."
Other SIU crewmembers involved in the res
cue included Deckhands Ray Smith oii the Wis
consin and Tim McKenna aboard the Idaho. All
three received plaques and letters of cbnunendation from Great Lakes Towing. The company
also recommended the trio, as well as the cap
tains and engineers on the Wisconsin and Idaho,
for Coast Guard recognition. Finally, the
television show "Rescue 911" has contacted the
company about doing a story on the rescue.
ITie following remarks were made by
Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar (DOhio). These remarks, as well as the full
story of the rescue which appear on this page
of the Seafarers LOG, were recorded in The
Congressional Record on Tuesday, January
28,1992.
MR. SPEAKER: In these times of daily %
accounts of personal failings, it is with great p
pride that I rise today to sMre with youthk
|
personal heroics of several Greater
|
Clevelanders, all seamen and all members of
the Seafarers International Union. They
risked personal injury and possible deathto
save the lives of their fellow seamen late last
year on the storm-tossed waters of Lake Eri^
Unfortunately, the American worker has
been the object of scorn and ridicule ut
recent weeks. I am proud to say that the
selfless efforts of the men profiled here typify
the work ethic which has helped to make the
Greater Cleveland area the proud com
munity it is today.
f
_
Part of the Great Lakes Towing fleet In Cleveland called out for the December 14 rescue.
V'"" .4'
I
-
.>,? '.'s,•
' :
-, , '
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Seafarers Log Issues 1990-1999
Description
An account of the resource
Volumes LII-LXI
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Seafarers International Union of North America
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
February 1992
Description
An account of the resource
HEADLINES
APL LINES, SEA-LAND TEAM UP TO BOLSTER U.S.-FLAG SHIPPING
‘WORK TAX’ STATUS UNCLEAR IN BUSH REG REVIEW
CG RULE REDUCES BENZENE EXPOSURE
MEBA MEMBERS DISSOLVE MERGER; BECOME D1-PCD
ROVER RESCUES 22 FROM SINKING KOREAN SHIP
SHIPMATES RECALL SIU MEMBER KILLED ABOARD TRANSGLOBE IN ‘NAM
U.S. GAMBLING BILL AWAITS PRE SIGNATURE
LABOR PANEL PROTESTS GATT TREATY CHANGES
AFL-CIO ATTACKS BUSH AGENDA
SENATE TO TAKE UP ANIT- SCAB BILL
EX-SOVIET SHIPPING COMPANIES TAKEN OVER BY REPUBLICS
IN US/USSR SHIP PACT, SUBSTANCE MAY STAY, PARTIES MAY CHANGE
ADMINISTRATION’S BUDGET CALLS FOR $1.2 BILLION FOR SEALIFT
ASST. VP G. RIPOLL RETIRES
MILITARY’S PACIFIC FLEET TO MOVE REPAIR CENTER
PHILADELPHIA EXHIBIT HONORS WWII MERCHANT MARINERS
1992 ELECTIONS: A CHANCE TO VOTE FOR U.S. SHIPS
PROCEDURES FOR REGISTERING TO VOTE AND VOTING ABSENTEE
BARTLETT SEAFARERS WEAR MANY HATS
SEAFARERS TIE KNOT AT COUNTRY HOEDOWN
ALPENA CREW GETS RARE VISIT FROM BALD EAGLE
CUTOFF FOR WWII SEAMEN BLOCKED BY VET PANEL
FORMER OFFICIAL NEIRA DIES AT 74
KIRKLAND RESPONDS TO ‘LAXY U.S. WORKER’ CHARGE
HANNAH TUGS NEVER LET UP
MCALLISTER TUGBOAT MEN FIND WORK ‘REWARDING’
LUNDEBERG STUDENTS NOW CAN TAKE COURSES AT NIGHT
SEA-LAND INDEPENDENCE MOVES TO FAR EAST RUN
SIU-CREWED TUGS SAVE SIX ON VIOLENT LAKE ERIE
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Seafarers Log
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Seafarers International Union of North America
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
02/01/1992
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Newsprint
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Vol. 54, No. 2
1992
Periodicals
Seafarers Log