Seafarers Log: Vol. 55 No. 6 (1993-06-01)

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Ship Unions Support New Maritime Bills
Pages

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLAND WATERS DISTRIG • AFL-CIO

Volume 55, Number 6 June 1993

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Seven Awanled SlU Scholarships
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Kenneth Hagan Gerald Shirley Neil SImonsen Danielle Brooks Christine Hall Jerry Halsey Jr. Michelle Paris!

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President's Report
The Fight Continues

By now, most of the Seafarers' membership is probably aware that the ad­
ministration is withholding action on a proposal to revitalize the American mer­
chant marine put forward by Department of Transportation Secretary Federicp

Pena. One of the reasons given was that the administration had
decided to await the conclusion of a Department of Defense
study on the role of American-flag shipping in the nation's
security plans. We understand this study is due in August.

Meanwhile, the SIU is continuing to press for action that will
result in a new program that will preserve and expand U.S. mer­
chant marine operations. To this end, we are fully supporting
two bills just introduced in Congress. In fact, as indicated in the
article on page 3 of this edition of the Seafarers LOG, the SIU
along with the other maritime unions testified in behalf of this
legislative initiative brought about by Representatives Studds,
Lipinski, Fields and Bateman.

The SIU is going to increase its efforts to achieve a merchant marine that is con­
sistent with the needs of this nation economically and from the national security
standpoint. Among our actions are meetings with administration officials to urge
favorable and positive action towards a revitalized U.S.-flag fleet. Similarly, we are
seeking the support of all members of Congress for this goal.

The struggle to achieve an American merchant marine worthy of the U.S. role as
the world's superpower has been part of the SIU's business for as long as anyone

Michael Sacco

can remember. The American merchant marine has survived despite continued at­
tempts by its opponents, including foreign-flag shipping interests, to weaken it.

As a matter of fact, currently we are battling yet another assault on U.S. shipping
by the congressional allies of the world's giant grain dealers. Five senators last
month introduced legislation designed to gut the nation's cargo preference laws.
Here again, we in the SIU, working with supporters of the American merchant
marine in Congress, will be fighting with every ounce of our energy to defeat the
self-serving agribusiness interests—many of them foreign-owned—who are looking
to get government aid cargoes carried on foreign-flag ships, many of which are
owned by their various subsidiaries.

Congratulations Are In Order
To the winners of the 1993 scholarships offered by the Seafarers, we extend our

congratulations and best wishes for future academic success. The seven scholarship
awardees were selected to receive cash grants between $6,000 and $15,000 to be
used towards tuition costs by a panel of educators who reviewed their qualifications
and found them deserving of the awards.

For those Seafarers and sons, daughters and spouses of Seafarers who are con­
sidering higher education opportunities, I urge you to apply for next year's scholar­
ship awards. Since 1952, when the SIU's scholarship program was first established,
close to 230 Seafarers and dependents of Seafarers have attended institutions of
higher learning with help from these grants. It is not a far-fetched notion to think
that you can qualify for one of the awards. With the cost of education sky-rocketing,
it is well worth your time to apply to the SIU Scholarship Program.

Jean Ingrao (left) recently announced her retirement as MTD
secretary-treasurer. Frank Pecquex was appointed to the position.

Ingrao Retires from MTD;
Pecquex Assumes Office

Frank Pecquex is the new ex­
ecutive secretary-treasurer of the
Maritime Trades Department
(MTD), AFL-CIO, following the
May 31 retirement of Jean Ingrao.

Ingrao announced her retire­
ment at the opening of the MTD's
executive board meeting in
February. She served with the or­
ganization since heing appointed
by the late MTD President Paul
Hall in 1979.

Seven SIU StJiolarships AwarUeU

Both AFL-CIO President
Lane Kirkland and MTD Presi­
dent Michael Sacco saluted In­
grao for her 14 years as the
department's secretary-treasurer
and her 43 years in service to the
national trade labor federation
during a reception in the lobby of
the AFL-CIO headquarters build­
ing in Washington, D.C.

Following Ingrao's retirement

Volume 55, Number 6

announcement, Sacco appointed
Pecquex to fill the remaining two
years on the term for secretary-
treasurer.

The board unanimously ap­
proved the appointment.

Prior to becoming secretary-
treasurer, Pecquex served as the
MTD's administrator, having
been appointed by Sacco to the
position in 1991. In that post, the
New York native coordinated ac­
tivities between the MTD and its
network of 28 port maritime
councils throughout the United
States and Canada.

In 1985, Pecquex was desig­
nated as the department's legisla­
tive director. He promoted issues
on Capitol Hill related to the well-
being of the 8.5 million men and
women represented by the
MTD's 42 autonomous unions.

June 1993

The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 0160-2047) is published
monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic,
Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201
Auth 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.
Communications Department Director and Editor, Jes­
sica Smith; Managing Editor, Daniel Duncan; Associate
Editors, Jordan Biscardo and Cortina Christensen; As­
sociate Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Art, Bill
Brower.

Three Seafarers, three
children of SIU members and the
wife of a Great Lakes member are
the winners in the 1993 Seafarers
Scholarship Program.

With these seven winners, the
total number of scholarship
recipients since the program was
established in 1952 is 228.

Seafarer Kenneth A. Hagan
of Winston-Salem, N.C. was
awarded a $15,000 scholarship to
be used toward a four-year de­
gree. Hagan, 36, currently sails
aboard Sheridan Transportation's
ITB Baltimore. He plans to attend
the University of North Carolina,
majoring in history and
anthropology.

Recertified Steward Gerald
Shirley, 34, won a $6,000
scholarship with which he hopes
to complete his bachelor's degree
in computer science with a minor
in business and economics.

Another two-year scholarship
was given to Neil Simonsen, 28,
who sails as an AB aboard the
Sugar Islander. Simonsen in­
tends to use his scholarship to ob­
tain a degree in international
relations.

The four dependents of

Seafarers who each won
$15,000 scholarship are Danielle
Shanika Brooks, daughter of Pen-
sioner Edward Brooks Jr.;
Christine W. Hall, wife of Great
Lakes Boatman Craig D. Hall;
Jerry Lee Halsey Jr., son of inland
division member Jerry Lee Hal­
sey Sr.; and Michelle Ann Rivera
Parisi, daughter of deep sea mem­
ber Raul ^vera.

The $15,000 scholarship
awards are paid over the course of
four years.

For biographical sketches
of each scholarship winner,

see page 13.

Applicants for the scholar­
ships were judged by a panel of
professional educators on the
basis of scholastic ability, charac­
ter, high school grades, college
boards or American college test
scores, letters of recommendation
and participation in extracur­
ricular activities. The group met
May 7 and made its an­
nouncement shortly thereafter.

The panel, which was ap­
pointed by the Board of Trustees
of the Seafarers Welfare Plan,

was comprised of the following
scholars and academicians:
Father David Albert Boileau,
Loyola University; Dr. Trevor
Carpenter, Charles County (Md.)
Community College; Dr. Michael
Glaser, St. Mary's College of
Maryland; and Dr. Keith
Schlender, the Medical College
of Ohio.

Also on the scholarship selec­
tion committee were Dr. Charles
Lyons Jr. of the American As­
sociation of Colleges and Univer­
sities, Dr. Charles D. O'Connell
Jr. of the University of Chicago,
Dr. Gayle A. Olson of the Univer­
sity of New Orleans and Dr.
Henry Toutain of Gustavus Adol-
phus College in Minnesota.

In his congratulatory letter to
each of the scholarship winners,
John Fay, chairman of the Board
of Trustees of the Seafarers Wel­
fare Plan, wrote, "Both the
Seafarers International Union and
the Welfare Plan are proud of its
members who pursue advanced
academic and vocational goals."

For Seafarers or their family
members thinking of going to col­
lege next year, the deadline for
applying is April 15, 1994.

Seafarers Educational Grants Benefit
More thrai 200During Pctst 40 Yecurs

The Seafarers Scholarship
Program celebrates its 40th an­
niversary this year of providing
funds for higher education to
SIU members, their spouses and
their children.

When the program was an­
nounced in October 1952, a total
of four four-year scholarships
were offered for members and
their families. Each aw^d was
for $1,500 per year.

In 1953, the first scholarships
were issued. From those four,
the program has continued
through 1993, granting 228

. Seafarers and their dependents
cash awards to be used for
schooling.

The October 17, 1952 issue
of the Seafarers LOG stated,
"This is the first scholarship
plan in maritime unions and one
of the few union scholarship
plans in the U.S. The $1,500
grant is far larger than the
average college scholarship,
ranking among the largest
scholarships for students in the
country."

The article noted Columbia
University in New York as one
of the most expensive schools in
the country, with an annual fee
of $1,410. That price included
tuition, room and meals.

Since 1953, colleg^ costs
have increased and so have the
awards given by the program.

Today, the union offers a total of
seven scholarships. Spouses and
children of SIU members are
eligible to apply for one of four
four-year scholarships worth
$15,000 each. Members can
seek one four-year grant also
valued at $15,()()0 or two two-
year awards worth $6,000 each.

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FOUR WIN ̂ ,000
SIU STMITS SIU scHouRSHips
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The Seafarers LOG announces the inception of the scholarships.

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JUNE1993 SEAFARERS LOG 3

Labor Bacte House Bills
For Now U.S. Ship Plan
White House Action Awaits Study Results

Discussing the proposed Crowley contract are (left to right) Chief
Mates Roger Rothschild and Andy Smith aboard the tug Samson.

Seafarers Give numbs Up
To Crowley 3-Year Pact

Seafarers who sail aboard
Crowley Towing and Transporta­
tion tugboats have overwhelm­
ingly approved a new three-year
contract that increases wages and
benefits.

The new contract takes effect
July 1 and will run until June 30,
1996. Negotiations were con­
ducted this spring in two separate
sessions in Piney Point, Md.

The tentative agreement was
presented in April and May to
Seafarers who work aboard
Crowley equipment. Each mem­
ber working for the company had
an opportunity to vote on the con­
tract.

Voting took place on each
boat, and balloting was con­
ducted in union halls so Crowley
Seafarers on the beach could
register their views.

Taking part in the negotiating
sessions as delegates for the
Seafarers aboard Crowley tugs

were Glenn Murray and David
LaPorte from the port of Hous­
ton; A1 GItonviach, Scott
Lindsey and Mickey Main from
the port of Wilmington, Calif.;
Robert August and Raymond
Richardson from the port of
Jacksonville, Fla.; Steve Welsh
and Jeff Poulos from the port of
Philadelphia; and Leoncio Can­
cel, Robert Candelario, Moises
Huertas and Miguel Vasquez
from the port of San Juan.

Crowley tugs and barges
operate coastwise, deep sea and
harbor duty in the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans and in the Gulf of
Mexico from terminals in Lake
Charles, La., Wilmington,
Jacksonville, Philadelphia and
Puerto Rico.

Crowley Towing and
Transportation is based in Jack­
sonville. The company is a sub­
sidiary of Crowley Maritime,
based in Oakland, Calif.

The heads pf the major U.S.
seagoing unions have announced
their support for legislation
designed to revive the U.S.-flag
merchant fleet.

H.R. 2151 (the Maritime
Security and Competitiveness
Act of 1993) and H.R. 2152 (the
Merchant Marine Investment Act
of 1993) were introduced May 19,
National Maritime Day in
Washington, by U.S. Repre­
sentatives Gerry Studds (D-
Mass.), chairman of the Merchant
Marine and Fisheries Conunittee;
William Lipinski (D-Dl.), chair­

man of the Merchant Marine Sub-
committee; Jack Fields (R-
Texas), ranking minority member
of the committee; and Herbert
Bateman (R-Va.), ranking
minority member of the subcom­
mittee.

H.R. 2151 would amend the
Merchant Marine Act of 1936 by
creating a "Maritime Security
Fleet" of privately owned U.S.-
flag vessels engaged in interna­
tional commercial trade that
would meet the country' s security
and defense requirements. The
bill would authorize the secretary

of transportation to enter into 10
year operating agreements with
the vessel operators and provide
annual payments for inclusion in
the fleet.

Its companion bill, H.R. 2152
seeks to establish new financia
and tax policies to create invest­
ment in new U.S.-flag vessels
Key features of the bill, which
cleared the House Merchan
Marine and Fisheries Committee
on May 26, include an ac­
celerated tax depreciation

Continued on page 12

U.S. Rep. William Lipinski (D-lll.) responds to a question from a reporter during press conference to
introduce the maritime revival package. Looking on are (left to right) Rep. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.), Rep.
Jack Fields (R-Texas) and Rep. Herbert Bateman (R-Va ), who with Lipinski sponsored the bill.

Ex-FMC Official Has New Auspices

Quartel Winds Up as Runaway^Flag Mouthpiece
Rob Quartel, a former Bush-appointed member of the

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and an inveterate
critic of the U.S. merchant marine, has joined forces with
Ole Skaarup, an American citizen operating runaway-
flag ships who has long been known for his attacks on the
American merchant marine and his advocacy, in effect,
for its elimination.

ping activities right up their alley and a service to be
rewarded."

It was almost inevitable that Skaarup would enlist the
services of Quartel given the former government
official's controversial performance as one of the five
commissioners of the FMC, the U.S. agency charged with
maintaining fair rates in ocean shipping. For the two years
he was on the public payroll, Quartel perpetually
barnstormed the country advancing the idea of foreign
registries and criticizing the U.S. government's maritime
policies and laws. As an FMC member, Quartel repeated­
ly made public statements and speeches calling for the
elimination of the Jones Act, the nation's maritime
cabotage law. He attacked the policy of cargo preference
which allows for U.S.-flag ship carriage of a set percent­
age of American government cargoes.

The self-anointed crusader against U.S. shipping said
subsidies and supports to American-flag shipping should
be abolished. He urged the major U.S. liner companies to
immediately re-flag their American ships by registering
their tonnage under foreign nations' ship registries. Time
and time again, Quartel assailed U.S. shipping com­
panies, American seamen and American maritime
unions.

tacked the United States as the "most consistent and
egregious offender" of actions hostile to world shipping.
He smd the United States "is a country that complains
self-righteously about the faults of everyone else and
finds itself faultless."

Both Skaarup and Quartel have peppered their
remarks with calls for an American maritime policy that
would consist of an "open registry."

^ ^ ^ The so-called open registry, also called an "interna-
ofrKTaVtiti; wiuTthe o^^SiSion -J'''"''' or a "second regist^," is simply a device

to permit the use of an American flag on a vessel while

Links Up With Flag-Dod^r
Shortly after the MTO called for his dismissal as an

FMC commissioner, Quartel resigned from the post.
Then he went to Florida to run for the Republican
nomination for the U.S. Senate. The 42-year-old Quartel
lost the September 1992 primary. Not long thereafter it
was announced that he had join^ the Skaarup group.

*When [Quartel] leaves the commis­
sion, he*ll no doubt return to his
former business as a 'private
consultant* to 'international firms*
which will find his anti-U.S. shipping
activities right up their alley and a
service to be rewarded.*

— Michael Sacco, in Report
To MTO Executive Board Meeting, 1992

MTD Predicts Quartei's 'Reward'
Quartet's alliance with a runaway operator was

foreseen by the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department
(MTD) in February 1992. At its annual meeting, the MTD
executive board adopted a resolution calling on then-
President Bush to fire FMC member Quartel not only for
the tone of his remarks but also for acting in a manner
contrary to government policy and doing it at taxpayer
expense.

In introducing the resolution urging Quartei's dismiss­
al, the organization's president, Michael Sacco, who also
serves as president of the SIU, prophetically remarked,
"When [Quartel] leaves the commission, he'll no doubt
return to his former, business as a 'private consultant' to
'international firms' which will find his anti-U.S. ship-

is president of its "U.S. Shipbuilding Consortium."
Financed by the Skaarup group and headquartered on the
premises of Skaarup Shipping Corp., the outfit is chaired
by Ole Skaarup, now in his late '70s.

Skaarup and Quartel, in a rash of recent speeches and
articles, have attacked U.S. maritime jmlicies—such as
cargo preference and sealift availability—which have
served as the foundation for the American merchant

m all other respects operating that ship outside of
American jurisdiction—evading U.S. taxes, bypassing
U.S. Coast Guard safety regulations and not employing
Americans as crewmembers.

New Name, Old Gimmick
An open registry is essentially a runaway operation

which sports the label of a traditional maritime country.
The only difference between an open registry and a
runaway operation is the name.

The open registry scheme has been pushed by flag-
dodging shipowners and their mouthpieces in the United
States and Europe. A few European nations, like Norway,
Denmark and Germany, have adopted open registries in'
order to give the impression that their shipping operations
are not fully runaway. But wherever open registries have
been instituted, runaway conditions follow—shipboard

marine and its role in the economic security, political
interests and national defense requirements of the United
States.

Skaarup: U.S. Has Flag 'Obsession'
In March, before the Connecticut Maritime

Association's Shipping '93 conference, Skaarup said,
"The U.S. government's maritime policy, what little we
have, is wrong." He claimed that "the obsession with the
U.S. flag and the excuse of the military need" were two
factors that "have led to the decline" of the American
merchant marine.

Similarly, (Juartel, in ari address to the International
Cargo HantUing Coordinators Association in May, at-

employment opportunities have plummeted for seamen
of those nations as shipowners have hired employees
from the world's poorest and most exploitable groups of
workers. Equally, the safety conditions and standards of
open registry ships are as low or non-existent as the ones
of runaway-flag operations.

Speaking to the New York Chapter of the U.S. Mer­
chant Marine Academy Alumni Association in April,
Skaarup said a U.S. open registry would allow the
shipowner to "sail with any kind of labor" and would
allow an American shipping company the "same benefits
as any foreign company that doesn't pay taxes." Quartel,
in an opinion piece published in the Journal of Commerce
in March suggested that all current American maritime
programs be abolished and in their place the U.S. govem-
nient should "open the flag."

Continued on page 12

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4 SEAFARERS LOG
''iv .":. ;•

JUNE 1993

Pipelines Pose Grave Dangers,
Experts Warn House Panel

Advocates of stringent
pipeline controls presentee
powerful arguments against the
theory that pipelines are a safer
alternative to ships for the
transportation of oil ant
petroleum products at a May 18
congressional hearing on the
recent pipeline rupture in North-
em Virginia.

Spurred by a more than
400,000 gallon spill of No. 2 fuel
from a break in the Colonial
pipeline in Reston, Va., a sub­
committee of the House Commit­
tee on Public Works and
Transportation called the hearing
to leam of the reasons for the ac­
cident and to determine what can
be done concerning pipeline
safety in general.

Lax Regulations
The dangers posed by

pipelines and the lack of a com­
prehensive national safety regime
governing pipelines were high­
lighted in the testimony of
federal, state and local officials,
environmental scientists and
pipeline experts who appeared
before the subcommittee in the
day-long hearing. The pipeline
industry was defended by the head
of Colonial Pipeline Company.

Among the problems posed by
pipeline leakages, ruptures and
other kinds of failures raised by
many of the witnesses were the
loss of life, injuries, long-term
health problems, environmental
damages, disruptions to com­
munities, threat of fires, toxicity
of fumes and corraption of water
supplies.

Causes for pipeline failures
cited by the witnesses were faulty
materids, improper installation,
damage during installation,
deterioration of the metal in the
pipe due to abrasion and
electrolytic action, earth move­
ments, operator errors, the strik­
ing of the pipeline by outside
forces such as building com­
panies, among others.

As noted by John M. De-
Noyer, a scientific advisor to the
local government of Northern
Virginia and a member of the city
council in the area hit by the
Colonial pipeline spill, there are
so many pipeline accidents —
more than 3,500 from 1985 to

1992 resulting in 170 deaths anc
901 injuries — because "insuffi
cient care is exercised in the plan
ning, siting, construction, and
operation of the pipelines."

Accidents Waiting to Happen
A big concern to Congress anc

the public must be the fact that
many of America's pipelines are
quite old. "Older pipelines may
exhibit a greater potential for
leakage or rupture than new lines
because of pipe corrosion," saicJ
Allen Li, associate director for
transportation issues of the
Government Accounting Office
(GAO) Resources, Community
and Economic Developmen
Division.

*Oil pipelines spill or
leak the equivalent of an
Exxon Valdex spill every
year inAmerictM, on
average, year after year*

—Robert B. RacMeff, Authority
On Pipeline Safety issues

"Most of the nation's natural
gas pipelines were constructed in
the 1950s and 1960s," Li told the
subcommittee, which called the
hearing at the request of Rep. Les­
lie Byrne (D-Va.) in whose dis­
trict the Colonial spill cxjcurred.
Li said comparable data on liquid
pipelines was not available but
that the majority of these lines
were built after 1950.

But age is not the only con­
cern, Li pointed out. The
Colonial pipeline which ruptured
in March, pouring fuel oil into the
'otomac River from its tributary,

Sugarland Run Creek, was built
in 1980. "Even relatively newer
ripelines are subject to failure,"
le said.

Pipelines Biggest Spiiiers
It was revealed that pipelines

are more likely to account for oil
spills than any other form of
transport. Robert B. Rackleff, a
writer by profession and an en­
vironmental activist by avoca­
tion, provided the subcommittee
with data compiled by the U.S.
government and private groups
which find pipelines to be the
leaviest oil polluters.

Rackleff, who is widely

Pow^l Salutes Marinas
During Dteuuuial Day Evari

The chairman of the Joint
Chiefe of Staff honored U.S. mer-
chant mariners with other
veterans who have answered
America's call in times of trouble
during remarks made at the Na­
tional Memorial Day Concert in
Washington on May 30.

General Colin L. Powell repre­
sented the U.S. armed forces
during the ceremony which fea­
tured nationally known enter­
tainers and the National
Symphony Orchestra on the
Capitol grounds. The nation's
highest ranking military officer
saluted the efforts of all men and
women who have gone "into
harm's way in many foreign lands
far from home" to serve the
United States.

"We honor all of our veterans
- from the Army, the Navy, the

Marine Corps, the Air Force, the
Coast Guard and, yes, also our
Merchant Marine," Powell told

the thousands attending as well as
those listening on television and

radio. "We
honor them
because
without their
sacrifice,
without their
courage,
without their
commitment,
this noble ex-

Gen. Powell periment that
God blessed
and we called

America would have ended long
ago."

Powell served as head of all
American forces during Opera­
tion Desert Storm/Desert Shield
when thousands of merchant
mariners responded to the call to
crew U.S.-flag vessels that were
u^ to supply troops sent to the
Middle E^t to remove Iraqi sol­
diers from Kuwait.

regarded as an authoritative
source on pipeline safety because
of his extensive research in this
area, said in his written tes­
timony, "Oil pipelines spill or
leak the equivalent of an Exxon
Valdez spill every year in
America, on average, year after
year." According to the Depart­
ment of Transportation (DOT)
Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS),
from 1972 to 1992 oil pipelines
spilled or leaked 272,036,562
gallons of oil and petroleum
products, he said.

Rackleff cited data from a
Wilderness Society report en­
titled "100 Oil Spills, 1000 Ex­
cuses," which tracked the 100
worst oil spills in North America
between 1989 and 1990. It found
pipelines and storage tanks ac­
counted for 80 percent of the gal­
lons spilled in the ICX) worst oil
accidents.

Pipelines spilled 51.6 percent
of the Jotal oil spilled. Storage
tanks, both above and under the
ground, spilled 27.4 percent.
Tank ships and barges, on the
other hand, spilled 18.1 percent of
that oil.

Pose More Dangers
Rackleff, who heads the

Friends of Lloyd, a community
organization concerned about
)ipeline encroachment in north
^orida* warned that "petroleum

pipelines are far more dangerous
and unreliable than both the in­
dustry and regulators claim."

The dangers of pipeline spills
can be greater than marine spills,
iackleff said, "We should never
ose sight of the fact that pipeline

spills tend to happen inland, and
x)llute the ground and water we
depend on for municipal and
agricultural supplies. Unlike
coastal waters, where tides and
other flushing action can disperse
contamination (although the

Continued on page 25

Terry Turner, SI U governmental relations director, urges the House
Subcommittee on Labor Standards, Occupational Health and Safety
to pass a bill extending U.S. labor standards to all vessels regularly-
involved in American commerce.

BID Backs Plan to Extend
US. Labor Laws In Runaways

The SIU is urging Congress to
support legislation that would
apply U.S. labor standards to all
vessels regularly engaged in U.S.
commerce that operate under a
runaway flag.

Runaway-flag, also known as
flag-of-convenience, vessels are
those which are owned by
citizens of one nation, crewed by
citizens from other nations and
registered in another country. Na­
tions like Panama, the Bahamas,
Liberia, Vanuatu operate
runaway-flag registries that allow
shipowners from countries like
the U.S. and Great Britain with
strong maritime traditions and
laws to avoid the labor, safety and
tax regulations of their home
states.

"H.R. 1517 (as the bill is
known in Congress) addresses
working practices on all runaway
ships engaged in American com­
merce," Terry Turner, the union's
director of govemment relations,
told the House Subcommittee on
Labor Standards, Occupational
Health and Safety on May 13.
"Thus, it establishes a level play­

ing field for all ships competing
in this trade."

Introduced by William Clay
(D-Mo.), the bill seeks to apply
both the National Labor Relations
Act (NLRA) and the Fair Labor
Standards Act (FLSA) to
runaway-flag vessels that are
regularly engaged in American
commerce.

The NLRA protects the rights
of workers to engage in collective
bargaining while the FLSA estab­
lishes a minimum wage and
protects against gender-based
discrimination among other
things.

Tlie legislation would include
all foreign-flag vessels that make
regular calls to U.S. ports like
cruise ships, liquid and dry bulk
cargo vessels, vessels that shuttle
cargo from large vessels
anchored in international waters
and factory ships that process
goods for sale in the U.S. except
tiiose that are owned and crew^
by a majority of citizens from the
country of registry.

Continued on page 25

Studds Offers Inland Safety Bill
Legislation Requires
That All Boatmen
Carry Documents

U.S. Representative Gerry
Studds (D-Mass.) has introduced
egislation in the Congress

designed to close a safety
oophole that allows cfewmem-
lers aboard more than 3,300 tugs
and tows to sail the nation's in-
and waterways without a Coast

Guard-issued merchant mariner's
document.

The bill, known as H.R. 1915,
would require mariner's docu­
ments (also known as z-cards) for
all men and women sailing
aboard inland vessels of more
than five gross tons. Similar legis-
ation passed the House of Repre­

sentatives last year, but Congress
adjourned before the Senate
could complete action on the
measure.

Cosponsors Sign On
Immediately after Studds,

who serves as the chairman of the
iouse Merchant Marine and
isheries Committee, presented

the bill, seven House members
signed on as cosponsors. They in­
clude Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.),
Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), Elizabeth
Furse (D-Ore.), Gene Green (D-

Texas), George Hochbrueckner
(D-N.Y.), Thomas Manton (D-
N.Y.) and Pete Stark (D-Calif.).
More are expected to become
cosponsors.

As the law now stands, z-cards
are not required for mariners sail­
ing aboard inland tugs and tows
of less than
100 gross
tons. Of these
vessels that
ply the
nation's
25,777 miles
of navigable
inland water­
ways, the
Coast Guard
requires a
license only of the operator of
vessels greater than 26 feet in
length.

All holders of z-cards must
submit to drug testing, undergo an
FBI criminal investigation and
allow for a check of the National
Driver Register for evidence of
alcohol abuse. Mariners with z-
cards must take an oath to adhere
to all applicable federd laws and
must renew the documents every
five years.

Vi^en a version of the bill was
first introduced in March 1992,
SIU Executive Vice President

Rep. Studds

Joseph Sacco testified that there
"is a lack of uniformity between
the requirements that must be met
by individuals employed on
various vessels." He pointed out
to the representatives that Great
Lakes and deep sea mariners are
required to have documents while
inland boatmen do not have the
same requirement.

Last year, the SIU conducted
research that showed inland water
vessels are less safe than U.S.-
flag deep sea and Great Lakes
vessels — which carry fully
documented crews. Through data
on casualties and marine acci­
dents compiled by the Coast
Guard, the SIU discovered that
human error is a much larger fac­
tor in the total number of acci­
dents involving inland tugs and
tows than those vessels sailing on
the deep seas and Great Lakes.

Included within the Coast
Guard definition of human fac­
tors are bypass of available safety
devices, inattention to duty, in­
toxication by alcohol or dnigs,
calculated risk, carelessness, lack
oL training, error in judgemenL
lack of knowledge, stress,
psyc^logical or physical impair-
inen^ailure to comply with the
rules or regulations and inade­
quate supervision.



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JUNE 1993 SEAFARERS LOC 5

Maldivian Seafarers Sail as 'Virtual Slaves'
A Government-Manning Agents-Runaway Operators Conspiracy Shackles Mariners

Agreements akin to inden­
tured servitude, below interna­
tionally accepted wages and
constant fear are among the con­
ditions merchant mariners from
the Republic of the Maldives live
and work with daily when they go
to sea.

Seafarers from the tiny island
nation located southwest of India
are sold "into virtual slavery" ac­
cording to John Sansone, who
coordinates the actions of eight
foreign-flag vessel inspectors
within the U.S. for the Interna­
tional Transport Workers Federa­
tion (ITF).

"If you go aboard a vessel with
Maldivian crewmembers and just
ask them if everything is all right,
they will avoid you at all costs,
Sansone told the Seafarers LOG.
"They are afraid to be in the same
room as you. They're afraid to be
seen with you. This happens not
just in the U.S. but worldwide.

One of the reasons for the fear
is Maldivian mariners sign con­
tracts with manning agents who
work with the local government.
The contracts state that the
seafarers will "not join any local
or international trade unions or
any such organization, with the
intention of increasing (their)
wages or demanding any other
facilities, without prior permis­
sion of the Ministry of Transport
and Shipping, Male, Republic of
Maldives."

This contract also stipulates
the exact salary the mariners will
earn when they sign on to a ship.
For an AB, that figure is less than
$400 a month, according to docu­
ments offered in a federal court
suit involving Maldivian
seafarers.

Sign Two Contracts
The mariners then are sent

around the world to crew
runaway-flag vessels, generally
Greek-owned, added Sansone.
When they board the ship, the
seafarers must sign another
employment contract. This
second contract incorporates the
Greek collective bargaining
agreement. It is done so the vessel
owner can tell any charterer that
the ship meets internationally ac-

In order to obtain jobs, Maldivian seafarers sign contracts, such as the ones pictured above, for wages below international standards. The
pacts also prohibit the mariners from seeking any means to increase their salaries and benefits.

cepted and the Greek seafaring
union standards.

The salary range in the second
contract calls for the Maldivian
seafarer to make between $1,200
and $1,500 monthly. However,
when payoff comes around, the
Maldivians never see the higher
amount.

The mariners are forced to sign
two wage receipts at payoff. One
states the Maldivian has been
paid at the Greek rate. The other
receipt is for the much smaller
amount dictated by the contract
he has signed with the manning
agent in his home country. The
latter is the actual amount
received.

According to attorney Jerry
Dodson of Baton Rouge, La., who
is trying a case in behalf of eight
Maldivians who challenged the
layoff system when their ship
docked in New Orleans late last
year, "Any complaint by the Mal­
divian seaman as to this scheme
eads to his immediate termina­
tion, repatriation to the Maldives
and punishment under the
criminal laws of that country."

As part of the testimony
gathered, the eight Maldivians
who had sailed aboard the Forum
Wind are seeking political asylum
in the United States because "they
are aware of other seamen who
have been incarcerated for com­
plaining about working condi­
tions and wages on board
vessels."

The eight mariners contacted
an ITF inspector shortly after the
Forum Wind docked in New Or­
leans in October 1992. They
claimed they were not being paid
the amount authorized in the con­
tract they signed when they
boarded the Cyprus-flagged ship.
Dodson took on the case and had
the ship arrested until Greek-
based Forum Maritime, operator
of the Forum Wind, posted a $3
million bond.

In depositions taken for the
federal case, two of the Maldivian
seafarers talked about instances
in which family members were
arrested, imprisoned, fined and
stripped of all property as a result
of seeking the international stand­
ards stipulated in the Greek con-

Nineteen clusters of coral atolls make up the Republic of the Maldives, a nation which offers runaway-flag
shipowners the guarantee that its citizens will not join the ITF, the world union of seamen.

tract they signed.
Protests Unsafe Conditions
In a specific incident

Mohamed Zahid stated he joinec
11 other Maldivian seafarers in
walking off a vessel in 1988 be­
cause of unsafe working condi­
tions. Zahid returned home where
he promptly was arrested, jailed
for seven months and fined. The
government blacklisted him anc
kept him from shipping for two-
and-a-half years.

"The only thing I did was to
assert my rights as a human being
to a safe workplace," Zahid saic
in the deposition.

A third crewmember from the
Forum Wind testified he had been
employed by the Maldives' nation­
al security service prior to becom­
ing a seafarer. Abdul Kareem
Idrees stated he had witnessed the
arrest of a mariner because "he
had complained about wages and
working conditions. The reason I
know why the seaman was arrested
is that we asked the immigration
service why the seaman was ar­
rested and that's what the immigra­
tion service told us."

Later in his deposition, Idrees
added that his wife was warning
him not to return home because
Maldivian government-control­
led radio news accounts were an­
nouncing eight mariners had tied
up a vessel in the United States.
TTie reports said the eight would
lose their seamen's books and all
of their property when they set
foot in the country.

An investigator hired by Dod­
son was detained for nearly 21
hours by Maldivian officials as he
sought more information about
shipping practices in the countiy.
The investigator posed as a poten­
tial client within the country for
almost a month. He was told how
government and manning agents
work together to keep the
mariners in line.

While in the country, press
reports circulated about his
presence as an American spy out
to destroy the Maldivian shipping
industry. He was held without
charges by Maldivian authorities
before being escorted out of the
island nation.

Sansone noted the Maldivian
government contacts runaway-
flag shipping companies to let

them know that mariners are
available from the country at
cheap rates. "The government
keeps them under wraps," the ITF
official said. "The government
tells the ship owners that there
will be no problems with the
seafarers because they will do
anything you want. If a mariner
does not practically kill himself
on the job, he will be sent home,
have no job and will be per­
secuted.

'Everybody Gets Piece'
"These poor guys are under

the thumbs of the manning agent,
ship owner and government.
Eveiybody gets a piece of the poor
seafarer," Sansone added.

As an additional condition that
nothing will go wrong for the ship
owners, one of the government-
controlled shipping agents
provides a fact sheet.

It states, "Non[e] of the Mal­
divian seamen will join ITF or
any other such union as per our
government rules and regula­
tions. In case any Maldivian
seamen join ITF and acquire
more funds, then we give our full
guarantee to the ship owners for
remittance of the amount which
has been paid to the seamen by the
ITF."

Sansone recalled his first en­
counter with Maldivian mariners
after he began his assignment
with the ITF, the world federation
of transport unions, in 1987:

"It was a clear-cut case of
double-bookkeeping. Some
Pakistani members on the vessel
had come forward and had both
sets of books.

"There were three Maldivians
on board; one was the bosun. We
met on a street away from the
vessel. He wouldn't be seen with
me on the ship so a couple of the
Pakistanis arranged the meeting
away from the vessel.

'I tried to show him that he and
the other Maldivians were due a
ot of money. I tried to get him to

sign on to claim what was right-
'ully his, but he completely
refused and took the books back
with him."

Sansone called the situation
or the Maldivian seafarers "hor­
rendous. The seafarer is the
weakest link in the chain so they
all go after him."

"1 'J. ' J,..

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6 SEAFMERSLOG JURE 1993

Fl¥eMSCPAC Vessels
Earn 'SmaiFAwards

Three vessels repeated their
top-quality efforts of 1991 to join
two other Military Sealift Com­
mand-Pacific Fleet (MSCPAC)
ships as the 1992 Smart Ship
award winners. The SIU's
Government Services Division
represents the unlicensed crew-
members aboard MSCPAC ves­
sels.

Selected as the best for 1992
were the USNS Kilauea, USNS
Catawba, USNS John Ericsson,
USNS Observation Island and
USNS Zeus. The Kilauea, Zeus
and Observation Island all won
Smart Ship status in 1991.

Taking the highest award in
the 1992 Judging was the USNS
Kilauea. MSCPAC's lone am­
munition ship won the Vice Ad­
miral Roy A. Gano Award,
named for a former Military Sea
Transport Service commander, as
the best of the best in the fleet.

The vessel was cited for its
efforts during the withdrawal of
Navy forces from Subic Bay
Naval Base in the Philippines,
shifting more than 40,000 tons of
ammunition and other materiel to
new bases throughout the
Western Pacific. During the
transfer operations, the Kilauea
also towed two vessels — a
Ready Reserve Force ship and a
U.S. Navy supply ship — at dif­
ferent times when they lost power.

In nominating the ATiZaMea for
the Gano Award, the commander
of the USS Independence battle
group wrote, "IGlauea has been
3ie grease that made thik battle
group function smoothly logisti-
cally. No matter whom you talk
to, the response from all quarters
when the name Kilauea is men­
tioned is 'outstanding' and 'the
best.'"

Besides being a Smart Ship
winner in 1991, the Kilauea also
was named the Lx>gistics Ship of
1991 for its efforts during Opera­
tion Desert Storm/Desert Shield.

Operating in both the Atlantic

and Pacific, the USNS Zeus met
all calls last year for cable laying
and inspections. Often the jobs
were performed iii adverse
weather conditions.

The vessel, which has been
designated a Smart Ship several
other times, conducted the first
MSCPAC joint inspection and
survey/material readiness evalua­
tion. The ship and crew received
outstanding ratings for their work
in both.

The Observation Island, the
third of the 1991 repeat winners,
is one of MSCPAC's special mis­
sion ships. The vessel is designed
to serve as a floating missile
tracking platform used to verify
foreign ballistic missile tests.

Despite operating under harsh
conditions and from remote loca­
tions several of the times it went
to sea, the Observation Island
maintained a high degree of
readiness while providing out­
standing services to its Air Force
sponsor.

The tugboat, USNS Catawba,
obtained its Smart Ship status
through its work in towing
decommissioned ships as well as
helping with the Subic Bay
withdrawal.

Within a five-month period,
the Catawba iowcd 19 barges
from Subic Bay to various bases
in the Western Pacific and Indian
Ocean. During inspections, the
vessel and its crew exhibited
textbook management with a high
concern for crew safety and ship
equipment.

Receiving the top honor for
the fleet's oilers was the USNS
John Ericsson. In']\xsi its first full
year of operation, the Ericsson
served as a floating training
facility for the Navy in Southern
California.

The oiler also saw duty in
Operation Golden Blade which
resulted in a significant drug
seizure in the Pacific off the
California coast.

The USNS Kilauea shifted more than 40,000 tons of ammunition and other materiel during withdrawal of
Navy forces from Subic Bay. It received the Gano Award as the best in the fleet.

During a five-month period, the USNS Catawba towed 19 barges from Subic Bay to various other bases.

Often performing jobs in foul weather, the USNS Zeus met all calls last year for cable laying and inspections.

The USNS Observation island is one of three repeat winners.

Govt Services Members To Get
Retroactive Pay increases

Seafarers who sail in the
SlU Government Services
Division aboard Military
Sealift Command-Pacific Fleet
(MSCPAC) vessels are begin­
ning to see an increase in their
paychecks.

Roy "Buck" Mercer, SlU
vice president for government
services, reported the pay in­
crease was cleared in all
governmental review agencies
last month. The increase, which
was negotiated in the latest
contract between the union and
MSCPAC, is retroactive to Oc­
tober 1,1992.

"It always takes the govern­
ment several months to ap­

prove raises even if they are in
our contracts," Mercer noted.
"This is standard procedure."

He added that it will take the
government a couple more
weeks before the retroactive
checks are issued but "it's like
money in the bank."

While waiting for the
checks to be cut. Mercer urged
members to contact the
Government Services Division
office in San Francisco with
their correct mailing address.

The pay raise covers all
wage-related MSCPAC
civilian mariners sailing in the
unlicensed deck, engine and
steward departments.

The USNS John Ericsson served as a floating training facility for the Navy in Southem California.

sn Ihwarts Attanpt to Sbto OT WaMKtomUttg Pay
The SlU is monitoring the ac­

tions of the Military Sealift Com­
mand-Pacific Fleet (MSCPAC)
to keep the Navy agency from
deleting overtime pay for watch
standing in port by deck depart­
ment members between 1700 and
0800 Monday through Friday.

"MSCPAC tried to do this
unilaterally in 1989 when we
fought it and wpn," recalled Roy
"Buck" Mercer, SlU vice presi­
dent for government services. "If
they try it again, we will go to the
Federal Labor Relations
Authority (FLRA) again. You
can bet diat the SlU will be in
there fighting for what we believe
is fair and just."

Mercer noted MSCPAC was

making efforts to delete the over­
time pay effective May 15 until
the union stepped in to prevent it.

MSCPAC stopped paying the
overtime on May 1,1989 without
negotiating the change with the
union. Four SlU members filed a
grievance with the FLRA, stating
die removal of the overtime pay
was a violation of the contract
between MSCPAC and the SlU.

After reviewing documents re­
lated to the case and interviewing
union officials to find out why the
overtime pay was eliminated, the
FLRA ruled in favor of the
Seafarers and ordered the over­
time to be paid retroactively. At
the time of the decision in the
spring of 1990, Mercer estimated

affected members would be
receiving thousands of dollars in
back pay.

As a result of the ruling,
MSCPAC also stated it would
"not interfere with the bargaining
relationship between MSCPAC
and the SlU by unilaterally im­
plementing changes in overtime
pay practices" without first bar­
gaining with the union. Finally,
MSCPAC agreed it would not
make any changes in the contract
without first negotiating with the
union, would not interfere with
employees' rights to file a charge
V'ith the FLRA apd would
reinstate the overtime pay as well
as provide back pay for those af­
fected.



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JUNE 1993 SEAFARERS LOG 7

12 Rosuns Reach Pinnacle by Completing RecerORcaUon
Twelve SIU members recently

progressed to the pinnacle of the
unlicensed deck department
when they completed the bosun
recertification course at the Paul
Hall Center for Maritime Train­
ing and Education.

The recertified bosuns, who
finished the highest curriculum
available to Seafarers who sail in
the deck department, graduated
on May 3. They were selected for
the course from among numerous
applicants by a committee of
bosuns who already had
graduated from the program.

The bosuns received rigorous
training and testing in areas such
as firefighting, navigation, com­
munication and union education.

'Best-Trained Seamen'
"I got back in touch with some

skills and also learned new
things," said Bruce Gordon, who
sails from the port of Philadel­
phia. "This course reminded me
about how the Lundeberg School
ensures our future. The [SlU-con-
tracted] companies know that
when they get Seafarers who have

At graduation ceremony, Recer­
tified Bosun Ralph GIbbs urges
trainees to return for upgrading.

been through this school, they get
the best seamen in the world."

New Orleans' Tyrone Burrell
agreed, calling the Paul Hall Cen­
ter and Seafarers Harry Lun­
deberg School "a great training
facility with excellent instructors.
This course will help me be more
efficient, and I can pass along a
lot of what I've learned to my
shipmates.

"The SIU can meet all the re­
quirements of the maritime in­
dustry, and a lot of that is due to

doubtedly make me a better union
member and a better seaman."

The quality of the facilities
and the knowledge of the instruc­
tors made the entire course
worthwhile, said 1973 Lundeberg
School graduate Robert Sayiors.
"I honestly enjoyed everything."

Learning the inner workings
of the union, along with the ad­
vanced firefighting training were
the most valuable parts of the
course to Charles Parks. He also
noted, "Today's seamen are
responsible for increasingly com­
plex, sophisticated equipment.
This school and this course help
ensure that we are well trained and
able to keep up with technology."

Graduates of the recertified bosun class are (from left, first row) Sallm Ibrahim, Enrique Velez, Roberto
Diaz, Tyrone Burrell, (second row) Charles Parks, Tim Olvany, Ralph GIbbs, Robert Sayiors, (third row)
Dan Fleehearty, Errol PInkham, Alvin KIrksey Sr. and Bruce Gordon.

the school."
During the five-week course

the bosuns finished advancer
classes in firefighting, safety anc
first aid as well as deck skill cour­
ses in wire-splicing, knot-tying
and navigation. Additionally
they practiced ship handling pro-
cedures in the Lundeberg
School's simulator, which
reproduces sailing conditions at
sea and in ports worldwide.

The course also included
segment which focused on the
workings of the SIU and its
various components. The bosuns
met with representatives from
every department of the SIU for
question-and-answer sessions.

For example, they spoke with
officials from the union's collec­
tive bargaining department, from
its governmental affairs depart­
ment, from the welfare, vacation,
training and pension funds and
from the Seafarers LOG.

Additionally, the bosuns prac­
ticed and studied leadership skills
and communications techniques
in sessions with Lundeberg
School instructors.

Political Activity a Key
Tim Olvany, a 1981 Lun­

deberg School graduate, said
larts of the course reaffirmed his
jelief in the importance of mem­

bers "getting involved with the
union, doing more than just

Sallm Ibrahim (left) and Bruce Gordon practice CPR on a dummy.

paying dues. It's important to
donate to [the Seafarers Politica
Activity Donation fund and the
Maritime Defense League], it's
important to volunteer to help
during campaigns, and it's impor­
tant to let your congressmen and
senators know that you want them
to support the U.S.-flag merchant
marine."

Similarly, Salim Ibrahim,
who sails from Brooklyn, notec
that he "learned a lot" about the
SIU's political activities during
the group's trip to union head­
quarters. "It was very education-
d, not only about Congress but
also about how the union works.

Importance of Upgrading
As one of the recertified

bosuns said, upgrading is crucial
to the success of any Seafarer's
maritime career.

Speaking at the graduation
ceremony, which was part of the
May membership meeting, Errol
Pinkham listed the three "major
turning points" in his life: "my
marriage, the birth of my
daughter, and the first time
upgraded, which was in 1979.
Pinkham, one of four new recer­
tified bosuns who began his
career with the Seafarers as a
Lundeberg School trainee, ad­
vised the present trainees who
were in the audience that
"upgrading is the way to go." He
also noted the "remarkable"
progress of the school since his
first visit.

Roberto Diaz, from the port
of Santurce, said, "I learned a lot
in this course and feel like it will
improve my work. And I don't
intend to stop coming to the
school."

Like Pinkham and Diaz,
Ralph Gibbs stressed the impor­
tance of upgrading. In his remarks
at the graduation ceremony, he
urged the trainees to "come back
lere whenever you can to
upgrade. It's absolutely vital."

Polishing Skills
"I really feel that I was able to

jolish my skills and also learn
some new things," said Alvin
KIrksey Sr., who started as a
undeberg School graduate in

1979. "The best part was the
Irefighting, first aid and CPR.
vjaturally, those are skills you
lope you never have to use. But
it's great to know you're able to
ielp people when it is needed."

Adding to the learning ex­

perience were the facts that the
bosuns came from many different
regions and also got along very
well, stated Enrique Velez. "This
was a terrific group, and we
helped each other whenever pos­
sible."

Gaining Insight
.Dan Fleehearty cited the

communications studies as the
high point of the course. "I gained
a lot of insight into how to deal
with all kinds of people in all
kinds of situations. This will un-

' r.v, •.-.irvr:'-'

V;.':

'W/ •
-

Recertified Bosun Roberto Diaz
gets a congratulatory handshake
from SIU President Michael
Sacco upon graduation.

Timothy Olvany (left) and Alvin KIrksey Sr. check out the flag Indicators
on a single probe refueling receiver as part of the required seallft course.

WIre-spllcIng, as demonstrated by Enrique Velez, Is a required area
of proficiency for SIU recertified bosuns.

: -A • « ' •

I-

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• V t ;



8 SEAFARERS LOG JUHE1993

tSv-X:-;'

SSMf'':

SlU-Crewed Vessels Remain in Somalia for Support
Although U.S. armed forces

have completed their forma
withdrawal from Somalia, U.S.
flag merchant vessels—including
four contracted with the SIU^—
still are providing support to U.S
and United Nations troops in the
East African nation.

Three Ready Reserve Force
vessels—the Gopher State, Cape
Henry and Rover—os well as
fast sealift vessel—the USNSBel-
latrix—continue to provide food,
ammunition and other materiel to
U.S. soldiers stationed in Somalia
as command of all foreign forces
in the war-tom nation shifts to the
United Nations.

The five-month U.S. military
intervention in Somalia officially
came under United Nations con­
trol on May 4 when Marine Lt.
Gen. Robert B. Johnston turned
operations over to his Turkish
successor, Lt. Gen. Cevid Bir of
the United Nations.

With the changing of the flags,
3,625 U.S. servicemen were left
behind in logistics and support
roles. The SlU-crewed vessels
will remain in support of these
American troops until further
notice.

SlU-crewed military prep^ition-
ing vessels fiom Diego Garcia sailed
across the Indian Oc^ to Somalia
days before the first Marines
landed on December 9. Until a
beachhead was established, the
IstU. JackLummus served as the
press center for journalists cover­
ing the troops' arrival.

At the request of the United

The 1st Lt. Alex Bonnyman was one of the SlU-crewed vessels that participated in Somalian relief efforts.

Nations, U.S. military forces led
an international effort to bring
food and peace to the war-
ravaged nation. Two years of
civil war as well as many more
I'ears of famine and drought
caused an estimated 600,000
people to die. At the height of
the intervention in December
1992, a total of 17 SlU-crewed

vessels were involved in the relief
effort.

As soon as other Army and
Marine units began arriving via
airlift, other SlU-crewed
prepositioning vessels were wait­
ing to offload trucks, tractors,
ready-to-eat meals, medical sup­
plies and other materiel. Those
ships included the Cpl. Louis J.

Hague, 1st Lt. Alex Bonnyman,
PFC William Baugh and Pvt.
Franklin Phillips as well as the
replenishment ship, Lawrence
Gianella.

A total of 329,000 metric tons
of supplies, food and materiel
were transported to Somalia
during the relief effort. This in­
cluded more than 800 containers

of food and other consumables.
Also called into duty by the

Military Sealift Command to as­
sist the offloading of goods were
the SlU-crewed, roll on/roll off
vessels American Cormorant,
American Condor and American
Eagle.

The U.N. mandate is techni­
cally only for six months but
could remain in effect for up to
two years.

Political elections in Somalia
are still at least two years away,
according to a U.N.-supported
plan outlined in the most recent
Somali peace accords.

During this time period, U.N.
forces and services will attempt to
rebuild the country by restoring
destroyed institutions ranging
from banking and finance to
health, education, sanitation and
communications.

Even once elections are held,
U.N. officials, relief workers and
Somali analysts have said in press
reports there should be no rush to
re-establish a strong central
government. Instead, there is a
broad consensus that elections
should be first held on the local
and then regional levels, with
elections for a national legislature
or president coming only after
stability has been firmly rees­
tablish^.

No timetable has been estab­
lished for the withdrawal of the
remaining U.S. forces. SIU-
crewed vessels are expected to
remain in the theater un^ all U.S.
troops leave Somalia.

Call for 11.5. Maritime Revival
Rings LeutHy at Nat'l Maritime Day

Around the coun^, the sixty-
first National Maritime Day was
marked by celebrations of
American maritime heritage and
tributes to merchant mariners
who gave their lives in times of
war. Representatives from the in-
dus^, government, military and
maritime labor took the oppor­
tunity to sound the call for U.S.-
flag maritime revival.

A Time to Pay Tribute
In a Maritime Administration

(MarAd) merchant marine
memorial service conducted in
Washington, SIU President
Michael Sacco, speaking before
an audience of maritime industry
and government officials, said,
"Maritime Day is a time to pay
tribute to the seamen who unsel­
fishly gave their lives in war time
defending the ideals that repre­
sent America's greatness:
freedom, equality and justice for
all.

"But, it also is a day to take
stock of where we are headed.
Will we as a nation continue to
maintain a merchant fleet that can
advance America's security inter­
ests? Or will we fall victim to
shortsighted policies that over­
look the important role that an
American-flag fleet can play in
our future economic and military
security?"

U.S. Rep. Gerry Studds ID-
Mass.), chairman of the House
Merchant Marine and Fisheries
Committee, announced th^ intro­
duction of legislation designed to
revitalize the U.S. merchant
marine. At the MarAd ceremony,
he declared, "We must not only
devise bold methods to revitalize
this industry-before it evaporates
from our shores, but we must also

find a way to tell the people of this
country what it is they stand to
lose. It is unfathomable to me that
the United States, the last remain­
ing superpower on this planet,
could very shortly have no trad­
ing vessels to call our own."

The day provided a chance to
reflect on the role of the U.S. mer­
chant marine. Air Force General
Ronald Fogleman, commander-
in-chief of the United States
Transportation Command, said,
"I have a good appreciation for
the merchant marine and what it
has done for this country. It has
served as the fourth arm of
defense in every foreign conflict

SIU President Michael Sacco
pays tribute to the seamen who
gave their lives in defense of
America's ideals.

with bravery and distinction.
Ninety-five percent of the cargo
needed to support Operation
Desert Shield and Desert Storm
went by sealift. The American
merchant marine is always ready
to answer the nation's call."

Call for Revival
The call for revival also was

heard from Richard du Moulin,
president of Marine Transport

Lines. He stated, "A healthy mer­
chant marine is a vital part of
America. Maritime reform is very
important, and it is time for the
industry to come together to sup­
port the U.S. merchant marine."

Sacco summed up the atmos­
phere of the May 19 ceremony
when he said, "It is also fitting
that on this day, the SIU and die
other unions representing
licensed and unlicensed mariners
call upon Congress and the ad­
ministration to demonstrate their
commitment to maintaining a
high-seas, U.S.-flag fleet that is
essential to the national interest.
In an uncertain world, America
deserves no less."

The Military Sealift Com­
mand (MSC) also conducted its
annual wreath-laying ceremony
at the Washington Navy Yard to
pay tribute to the U.S. merchant
marine.

Nation Has Maritime History
Guest speaker U.S. Rep. Helen

Delich Bentley (R-Md.), a
longtime supporter of the U.S.-
flag merchant shipping in­
dustries, recalled the importance
of the U.S. merchant marine. "As
a maritime nation," she said, "the
United States has relied on the
oceanS:.and seas for protection of
our homeland, for free trade and
a strong economy for worldwide
influence since Ae earliest days
of our history. We are an island
nation with access to the world's
major population and trade
centers from the vantage point of
two oceans. Thus, our history is
largely a maritime history."

Bentley cited recent examples
of the role the U.S. merchant
marine has played in the nation's
security. "It was the 1990 Persian

Seafarer Eric Foultz proudly shakes the hand of Vice Admiral Michael
Kalleres, head of the Military Sealift Command, after presenting the
MSC commander with an SIU white cap he sgined at the National
Maritime Day sen/ice conducted in Washington on May 19. Kalleres
requested the cap for his personal collection.

Gulf war that provided merchant
mariners with their finest hour in
four decades. MSC's maritime
prepositioning ships and their
civilian mariner crews brought
the first crucial materiel to our
forces in the Persian Gulf.

"^d most recently, civilian
mariners were involved in
transporting and supporting our
armed forces running relief
operations in Somalia. Four of the
Military Sealift Command's

'It ia un­
fathomable to me
that the United
States could very
shortly have no
tr€Mding vessels to
call our own.'

- U.S, Rep. Gerry Studds

civilian-crewed prepositioning
ships steamed to Somalia, as did
two fast sealift ships. In all,
civilian mariners have served on
nearly 30 ships that supported
Operation Restore Hope,"
Bentley said.

Vice Admiral Michael Kalleres,
U.S. Navy commander, MiUtaiy
Sealift Command, concluded the
ceremony when he said, "Evayone
on the sea is a brother or. sistCT to
one another. I am honored to be
commando- of sealift and to see so
many dedicated people focused on
our cause."

National Maritime Day was
established by a joint resolution
of Congress in 1933.

The date of May 22 was
chosen to single out an historic
day in U.S. merchant marine his­
tory—the first successful cross­
ing of the Atlantic by a
steam-driven ship, the SS Savan­
nah, in 1819.



jimeigas SEAFARERS LOG O

AFL-CIO Pres, Kirkland Recalls War Service as Seaman
Editor's Note: The following slack, together.

are remarks given by AFL-CIO I still have his old Bowditch,
President Lane Kirkland at the which he inscribed to me when I
sixth annual Battle Standard Din- left Kings Point. Its earlier
ner, held at the United States provenance is attested by another
Merchant Marine Academy, signature, dated 1921, of L.
Kings Point, N. Y. on March 29, Magruder Passano, Jr., 3rd Of-
1993. Kirkland began his career ficer, S.S. Delvolente, with the
in labor as a shipboard officer further notation: "It's a long
and a member of the Intemation- ship!" Seafarers will recognize
al Organization of Masters, that as meaning exactly what the
Mates & Pilots. Governor of South Carolina is

Admiral Krinsky, my good reputed to have said to the Gover-
friend and classmate Admiral nor of North Carolina: "It's a long
Tom King, midshipmen, mem- time between drinks."
bers of the brotherhood and Maybe we weren't too sharp
sisterhood of the sea, friends: and maybe our training broke

We gather here before the bat- down too soon, but that Class of
tie standard, the symbol of honor, '42 got the job done. We paid our
pride and sacrifice, to pay our dues.
respects to those 142 shipboard There was not a battlefront
cadets who gave the last full anywhere in the Second World
measure of devotion to human War that was not served, under
freedom, on active service in the fire, by the ships of the "civilian"
merchant marine during World merchant marine.
Warll.

I had the honor to have served
with them. Some I knew per­
sonally. One of the first of that
gallant number to die in action
was my shipmate. This occasion,
therefore, means a great deal to
me.

It also marks, I am told, the
completion of a f^ull half-century
since the formal dedication of the
Merchant Marine Academy. That
is, no doubt, technically true, but
there are a few of us left who
believe that we began it all a full
year before that, when a motley
handful of rag-tag cadets moved
over the sound from Fort
Schuyler to the Chrysler estate.

School Pioneers

Lane Kirkland

My time at sea, in seven dif-
We settled, like pioneers, a ferent ships, was in no way excep-

campus that consisted of the old tional, and many saw more^d
Chrysler mansion, a gardener's rougher action. But my ships
cottage, a chauffeur's apartment hauled the goods on the North
over the garage where I was ^fiantic run to Bntain, to No^
bunked, and abig greenhouse that Afnca, fte Sicilian inva^on, the
was converted, with hoses and Anzio beachh^d, to Guadal-
troughs, into a communal head, canal, to I^yte Gulf, and to Iwo

I am proud to have been one of J™®- My last stop was m Tmian
that body. But it is, I think, fair to when the Enola Gay took off
suggest that no impartial observer "ere for ftrostoma.
would have identified us as the Definition of Fear
finest material with which to A few months ago, a journalist
elevate the level of the decorum asked me if I was not afraid that a
and dignity of the profession of decision that the AFL-CIO had
ship's officer. We had all been taken on a particular course of
yanked untimely, from our natal action would prove to be a bad
wombs on a variety of freighters, mistake, and I gave him this
mostly rust buckets of World War answer:
I vintage. We had absorbed, and "Afraid? I'll tell you what
rather relished, the unique culture afraid is. Afraid is a four-hour
of that environment. night watch on the bridge of a

Our admired role models were freighter in the middle of a black-
men like the skipper of my pre- ed-out convoy loaded with high
vious ship: "Hard Hat" Johnson, explosives and high-octane
a sturdy and salty Swede of some gasoline, in a full gtoe in mid-
80 years—so known because he winter on the North Atlantic, sur-
wore a black derby hat at all rounded by wolf-packs. Afraid is
times, even when going ashore in knowing that in another eight
otherwise full uniform. hours you are going to have to do

It pleased us to believe that we it all over again and for many days
were regarded by the powers that and nights yet. That's what afraid
be as an indigestible lump in the is, and I haven t been afraid of
craw ofgood order and discipline, anything since,
to be crammed for our tickets and Some of those trips to distant
shipped out as soon as possible, battle zones were tough. But most
so that they would get on with the people still don't know that for a
real work of building a proper couple of years the most
training program. dangerous stretch of sea on earth

x/r, th'.t was the waters Within Sight of the

Capuin Jphn Master of ^

homeward bound, on Pearl Har­
bor Day, December 7, 1941,
reaching American waters at
about the time the first wave of
German U-boats hit the area.

Classmate Remembered
I was pulled off in New Or­

leans, having my seatime in, and
set to Fort Schuyler for license
prep. He stayed aboard for the
next trip, which ended off the
coast of North Carolina when a
German torpedo exploded in the
engineroom, instantly killing the
entire watch, including Howard
Conway, on duty below. There
was no convoy, no naval escort,
no gun crew, no chance.

Howard Conway was bom and
raised in North Carolina, and after
one voyage at sea, at the age of 19,
he died within sight of the coast
of North Carolina. During his one
voyage, we shared a cabin, we
shared our shore leaves, we
shared our hopes and illusions.
He remains young and smiling in
my memory.

That was the period that Ger­
man U-boat commanders called
the "Happy Time"—the great
turkey shoot that left our coast
from Canada to the Mississippi
Delta a massive graveyard of
defenseless freighters and
tankers, and blackened our shores
with oil, bits and pieces of ships
and the remains of those that
sailed in them.

The submarines did that, yes,
before they were tardily attacked
by effective means and brought
under control. But it was also the
product and price of many years
of indifference, neglect, inertia
and laissez-faire according to free

market principles.
I learned about free market

principles, as applied to the
maritime industry, from veteran
mates and captains who told nie
about the pre-war years, during
the Depression, when a master's
ticket might get you a berth in the
fo'c's'le, if you weren't on a
company's blacklist.

I learned about the days when
ships were laid up, brought out for
a voyage when a cargo was found,
then laid up again. Mates were
told after the voyage that they
could live aboard and perhaps
make the next trip, if it ever hap­
pened, if they didn't make trouble
and did a little chipping and
scraping and painting in the
meanwhile—without pay, of
course.

When we consider the future
of the merchant marine and the
opportunities that it might offer to
young people, we would do well
to remember how and why the
cadet training program, and this
fine academy, got started.

New Deal Program
It all goes back to the Morro

Castle disaster—the ultimate dis-

The lesson is^at government
can, by negl^t, allow decay, or
by foresighted action can bring
about revival and renewal. That
fact has not lost its force today,
though it may have gone out of
fashion after 12 years of blind
worship at the shrine of the free
market.

grace of the maritime free market
system—and the subsequent
Merchant Marine Act of 1936.

This academy and its products
are the offspring of Franklin D.
Roosevelt's New Deal, or that

'Heart and Character'
Though I hold a ship master's

ticket, I lay no claim to mastery of
the cold economics of this or any
other industry. But of one thing I
am deeply certain. If and when an
American kid can no longer
choose to go down to the sea in
ships bearing the AmTerican flag,
and follow that way of life, some­
thing vital will have died in the
heart and character of America.
And late or soon there will be a
price to pay for it.

Another lesson I gained from
the sea was the meaning of trade
unionism. I learned it Iwth in its
literal form as a member in good
standing, and in its more basic
meaning as an expression of
human solidarity, as the ultimate
requirement for survival in the fact
of forces far greater than your­
self—^be they wave, weather, war

part of it embodied in the Mer­
chant Marine Act. It was tfiat New
Deal that enabled a kid like me
from a small, depressed town in
South Carolina, and many like
me, to go forth into the world and
do things that we could not other­
wise have dreamed of doing.

or raw power. In either sense, to be
a human being and a good ship­
mate, you have to pay your dues.

Beyond that, I have no further
wisdom to impart, except those
ancient words of Hippocrates:

"Life is short, art long, oppor­
tunity fleeting, experience
treacherous, judgment difficult."

That, at sea qnd ashore, is what
life is really all about.

Thanks for the use of the hall,
and good luck to you all.

Seafarers Celebrate Maritime Day

SlU members throughout the U.S. celebrated National Maritime Day on May 22. Above: Seafarers
look toward the American flag during the playing of the National Arithem which kicked off a ceremony
in Washington. Pictured second from right is Brian Surhigh. Third from right is Jennifer Berry, while
Steve Nelson is at Berry's immediate right.

Representing the SlU at ceremonies in Mobile, Ala. are
(from left) former Seafarer and retired Masters, Mates
& Pilots member Don Wood; SlU Port Agent Dave
Carter; and retired Chief Steward Eloris Tart.

SlU West Coast Vice President George Mc­
Cartney (left) delivers memorial wreath
aboard the San Francisco-based Liberty
Ship Jeremiah O'Brien.

.... - --r , f .. vr-
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- .r'.,

10 SEAFARERS LOG J0NE1993

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u.b. Army pr^oio

Formerly named the Utrillo, the Buffalo Soldier is operated by SlU-contracted RR&VO Partnership.

Reflagged Buffalo Soldier Departs with Seafarers
. . . . ^ . ir, _I ;»!, IT-

Seafarers recently signed on to
the Buffalo Soldier, the latest of
seven Military Sealift Command-
chartered vessels announced in
August 1992 to be under contract
to Reunion.

Formerly named the Utrillo
and operated under a foreign flag,
the breakbulk vessel is now
owned by RR&VO Partnership.
The ship was one of three in the
August announcement that were
reflagged and registered in the U.S.

Before the Buffalo Soldier set
sail on its first mission taking sup­
plies to Germany, a re-christen­
ing ceremony was held on the
docks in Sunny Point, N.C. At­
tending the celebration was
James L. Gaines, former member
of the Army's 10th Cavalry—
one of the units known as the Buf­
falo Soldiers.

The members of the 10th
Cavalry were African-Americans
assigned to outposts in the area in
the United States between the

Mississippi River and the Rocky
Mountains before it was settled.
The Buffalo Soldiers were or­
ganized after the Civil War and
existed nearly until World War II.

Like the other vessels sailing
for MSC, the Buffalo Soldier has

a 17-month charter with two 17-
month renewal options.

Four of the vessels—the Ad­
vantage, Maersk Constellation,
Noble Star and American Cor­
morant — already were under
contract to the union.

U.S. Army photo

Taking part in the christening reception are (left to right) Capt. Barry
Annala, Commander Carlton Philpot and former members of the 10th
Calvary, James L. Gaines and Zachary Branch. .

SID member and upgradger Sergei Sblogiele (right) chats with representatives of the Russian
seafarers union at the Paul Hall Center.

Russian-bom SIU Member Meets Countrymen
. . .. •.« .« « « 1 CCW .^_11 1

File this one under the "small
world" category.

SlU member Sergei
Sologiele, who immigrated to
the United States from Russia
two years ago, recently met with
three of his dountrymen at SIU
headquarters and again at the
Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education.

The last things Sologiele,
who is upgrading to AB, ex­
pected to see were familiar
faces, but he knew the three
Russian seafarers from his days
in the former Soviet Union.
Sologiele had attended a Rus­

sian maritime academy with the
three men.

Two of the Russian visitors
represent the seafarers union of
Russia, while the third is the
director of an international
labor department based in Mos­
cow.

They were in the U.S. for
tours of the union's operations,
and while at Piney Point, an SIU
official who knows Sologiele
set up the meetings.

"I'm probably the only Rus­
sian in the SIU," said Sologiele,
23, who joined the union in
1991. The resident of New York

added, "I talked with them and
explained what the SIU is all
about and how much I like it.
We also talked about how U.S.
and Russian mariners have to
work together. It was very nice
to meet them."

Sologiele, who in Russia
sailed as third mate aboard a
cruise ship, spent the better part
of two days with his familiar
guests. "We all had heard about
the SIU many years ago," he
recalled. "Believe me, people in
Russia know that the SIU is a
strong union, the best maritime
union."

Overseas Philly Crew
Reports Smooth Sailing

The crewmembers aboard
the Overseas Philadelphia
reported a safe coastwise
voyage with good food and fel­
lowship among Seafarers
when they docked at a Gulf
port recently.

The crew loaded various
petroleum products at the
Chevron terminal in Pas-
cagoula. Miss, and delivered
the cargo to Boston before sail­
ing into Port Everglades, Fla.

Bosun Raul Iglesias noted
that there were no beefs or dis­
putes reported from any
department and that the crew
aboard the Philadelphia
worked hard.

^ ,peB: •

Second Pumpman Abdullah At-
tlas performs his daily duties in the
engineroom.

The steward department
headed by Chief Steward Jose
Rivera prepared excellent
food that was commended by
the entire crew.

SIU Patrolman Ed Kelly
met the ship in Pascagoula,
distributed the Seafarers LOG
and gave Bosun Iglesias rnedi-
cal forms; upgrading and mem­
bership applications.

Kelly, who took the photos
accompanying this story,
noted he and the crew
reviewedshipboard safety
regulations and discussed the
importance of safety. They
also talked about newly ap­
pointed MarAd officials.

AB Keith Benneth (left) and Wiper
Daniel Vasguez relax after loading
cargo aboard the Philadelpfiia..

From left to right, Third Cook Andrew Caballero, Chief Cook Lionel
Dunkins and Chief Steward Jose Rivera meet to discuss the stores
for the next voyage.

Gathering in the galley before the union meeting are Bosun Raul
Iglesias (left), OS Levi Ross (sitting) and AB Bob Pacheco.

h'i iifytir-P ci --
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'.J!:' •

''. '41'

JUNE 1993 SEAFARERS LOG 11

All hands muster on the deck of the LNG Taurus, an Energy Transportation Corp. vessel, Taurus crewmembers secure a line from the outrigger to the deck. From the left are
to assist In rescue operations for the disabled fishing outrigger Gemma, adrift for 12 Dap Tennant, AB Richard Lewis, AS John Wells, AB M. Rawi, OS Mark Johnson and
days with a broken motor and no food or fresh water on board. Chief Mate Paul Turner.

Outrigger Towed to Safety hy LNG Taurus
Editor's Note: Steward Assis­

tant Judi Chester wrote to the
Seafarers LOG to tell how the
LNG Taurus provided aid last
month to a disabled fishing vessel
ojf the coast of the Philippines.
Sister Chester's firsthand ac­
count is carried in full along with
photographs shot by crewmem­
bers during the rescue.

On Thursday, May 13, officers
and crewmembers of the LNG
Taurus, en route to Tobata, Japan,
came to the aid of a Filipino fish­
ing vessel in distress in the
Celebes Sea.

Awaiting the signal to send food,
water. Ice and other supplies to
the Gemma are (left to right) SA
Shawn Fujiwara, SA JudI Chester
and Chief Cook Janet Lyson.

At 1204, wheelhouse person­
nel Third Mate John Chapman
and AB John Wills sighted the
fishing vessel emitting white
smoke from approximately five
miles away. When they steered
closer to them, they saw men
waving white flags on the deck.

The third mate notified Cap­
tain Ed Carr, who immediately
alerted Chief Mate Paul Turner
and Chief Engineer David Par­
sons. The chief engineer called
out First Engineer Roger
Spiridinoff who, with the aid of
Third Engineer Tim Downey,
began preparing the engines for
maneuvering. "Sparks" [Radio
Officer] Mike Holl was told by
the captain to stand by for emer­
gency communications.

The chief mate worked with
Second Mate Scott Ervin, Third
Mate Mark Bolster and Bosun
Robby Suy to prepare to throw a
line out to the distressed vessel
and to secure them to our star­
board side. Deck department ABs
Richard Lewis, Stephen Votta,
M. Rawi, Michael McCarthy
and John Wells, and OSs Ben
Johnson, Dan Tennant and
Mark Johnson tied lines to the
vessel to stabilize it.

Upon closer inspection, it was
determined to be a 60-foot open
wooden outrigger named
Gemma, with seven people
aboard—four men and three
young boys. The smoke, which
was their distress signal, was
coming from a stovebox on the
deck of the vessel.

After checking for weapons
and determining that it was not a
ruse for piracy, the chief mate
ordered that the gangway be
lowered to allow the second mate
to board the vessel to determine

As Chief Mate Paul Turner observes from the gangway. Second Mate
Scott ErvIn Inspects the Gemma for weapons and other possible
dangers.

their need. He carried a chart of
the Philippine Islands with him to
find out where they came from.
Communication was difficult
since they spoke very little
English, but the captain of the
vessel, Eliezer Lagariza, indi­
cated that their motor broke down
and they had been adrift for 12
days, after leaving their home
port of General Santos on Min­
danao Island in the Philippines.
They had no water for five days
except for the bloody water in
their fish holds, and only had the
fish they caught for food.

The steward department

Chief Steward Francis Osten-
darp. Chief Cook Janet Lyson
and SAs Shawn Fujiwara, Judi
Chester and Patty Balance—
immediately brought water, fruit,
rice and a variety of foods, along
with plenty of ice for their fish
hold. The deck department
lowered a hose down to the vessel
to fill all of their water cbntainers.
Also helping out were Cargo En-
gineer Michael Blakeslee,
Second Engineer Robert Griffin,
Third Engineer Roberto Daniels,

QMEDs Larry Pittman, Vince
Latrimer and Joe Arnold, and
Wiper Brandon Greaux.

The observing cargo engineer,
John Andrews, was sent down by
the captain to see if he could get
their motor running. He made
several attempts to start it
manually since the starter motor
was on the deck and the battery
was dead. He also surmised that
they had major problems in the
fuel system—too extensive to
repair in the little time we had.

Therefore, Captain Carr
decided to tow the vessel to
Sarangani Bay—close to their
home port. At 1500, after giving
them flares to use in case of emer­
gency, and after the deck depart­
ment secured the vessel
approximately 500 feet astern, we
assumed a slow towing speed of
eight knows, so that we would
arrive at the drop-off point at
daybreak. The vessel was
monitored all night long by the
officers and crew on watch.

At sunrise. Captain Carr con­
tacted the Clifford Maersk, which
was in the vicinity at the mouth of
the Sarangani Bay, awaiting their
port pilot to take them in. The ship
indicated that they will notify
their agent, who will, in turn,
notify the local authorities to
come to the Gemma's aid after we
drop them off. We took them up
to 6 degrees north latitude in the
bay.

At 0600 on May 14, we
deposited seven weary but grate­
ful sailors close to their home and
went steaming on our way. "[It
was] just another day at sea on the
LNG Taurus...

^ ̂ cor^r.nH Mata <?rott ErvIn assists Carao Engineer John Andrews onto Preparing to lower a basket of Ice for the Gemma's fish hold are (left
me'eSSto c™" <>" le« couVrt«lance the oulrigger. to righl) Thirei Mate Mark Bolster, AB Stephen Votta and AB M. Raw,.

a.- - —

vii'/ '

4-i. ,•
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.. ..v.-i ' 79

. ff"-"Mi'
•V t

•••

..'•I



12 SEAFMERSLOG JURE 1993

' :r '

Quartel, Skaarup I*ush Rimaway Ruse
Continued from page 3

The open registry advocated by
Skaarup and Quartel envisions an
American flag flying over the con­
ditions of runaway operations.

Under such a scheme Skaarup
Shipping Corp., the company
owned by Ole Skaarup, an
American citizen, and currently
operating vessels under the
runaway-flags of Vanuatu, Panama
and Liberia, could continue to hire
foreign seamen and dodge U.S.
taxes and evade American safety
standards. It could also stand to
save the nominal fees it pays to the
runaway registries.

(Incidentally, on March 14 a
Skaarup Shipping bulk carrier
registered under the Liberian flag
sank in a winter storm off the coast
of Canada. All 33 crewmembers

lost their lives. According to news
reports in Lloyds List, the South
China Morning Post and the
Halifax Herald-Limited, the ship's
seamen were hired by an agency in
Hong Kong; 29 were from that is­
land, one was Taiwanese and three
were Chinese. It also was reported
that the 26,459 dwt, 17-year-old
Gold Bond Conveyor only carried
six survival suits. U.S.-flag ships
require that a ship carry at least one
survival suit per crewmember. The
Liberian-flag bulker was the only
vessel to disregard posted storm
warnings in Halifax and to set sail
from the Atlantic port during the
gale.)

Skaarup and Quartel, in promot­
ing the so-called open registry,
have adopted as their own what is
currently the most fashionable gim­
mick of flag-dodgers all over the

world. Themselves American
citizens who enjoy all the ad­
vantages and benefits afforded by
the United States, Skaarup and
Quartel are pushing a program that
would deny the same opportunities
to thousands of Americans who
currently earn their livelihoods as
seamen on U.S.-flag ships.

While the U.S. government and
all sectors of the American ship­
ping industry are attempting to
come up with ways to strengthen
existing maritime programs and
laws and to develop policies that
assure the U.S. a merchant marine
which befits its superpower status,
Skaarup and Quartel are promoting
a scheme which would make the
U.S.-flag an empty shell—a cover-
up for labor conditions and safety
standards long since abolished in
the civilized world.

House Bills for U.S. Ship Plan
Baokeil by Maritime Unions
Continued from page 3
schedule on U.S.-flag vessels and
expanded use of the Capital Con­
struction Funds into which a vessel
owner can deposit eamii^s for later
use to acquire ships. The bill now
goes before the House Ways and
Means Committee.

'Fast as We Can'
In introducing the bill, Studds,

speaking on behalf of his fellow
committee members, swore, "It is
with the profound determination of
Congress and this committee to
move as far and as fast as we can on
this reform. It's our intention to
have a merchant fleet flying our
flag and have our ships built here."

The introduction of the
maritime revival legislation came
less than a week after the White
House announced it would with­
hold its own efforts until a Depart­
ment of Defense study on the role
of the U.S. merchant fleet in the
nation's security is released.

Since being sworn in as
secretary of transportation,
Federico Pena had been meeting
and working with officials from
shipboard labor, shipbuilders, ves­
sel operators and owners to create a
maritime revival package.

Studds noted officials for the

Clinton administration had told
him the White House would be
"neutral" concerning the bills intro­
duced by the congressmen. "We
hope the administration can sup­
port us later this summer or fall,"
the comrnittee chairman added.

Labor Stands United
"Maritime labor is united, and

we will do everything we can to
ensure the enactment of legislation
critical to maritime jobs and the
growth of our industry," SIU Presi­
dent Michael Sacco told the House
Merchant Marine Subcommittee
on May 25 during a hearing on the
maritime reVival package. Sacco
was speaking in behalf of the
maritime unions, who jointly had
announced their support of the
legislation shortly after it was intro­
duced by the bipartisan leadership
of the House Merchant Marine and
Fisheries Committee on May 19.

"We believe both bills clearly
demonstrate the bipartisan commit­
ment on the part of the leadership
and members of this committee to
preserve and create American jobs
and to increase the competitiveness
of U.S.-flag vessels," Sacco noted.

"We believe it is essential that
Congress act now to put in place the
regulatory and statutory framework
necessary to carry our industry into

the 21st Century. Hie jobs of the
people we represent depend on our
mutual success."

Joining Sacco in the statement
were Louis Parise, chairman of the
Unlicensed Division of District No.
1 MEBA/NMU; Gordon M. Ward,
president of District No. 1 - PCD,
MEBA; Raymond T. McKay,
president of American Maritime
Officers District 2 MEBA;
Timothy A. Brown, president of the
International Organization of
Masters, Mates and Pilots; as well
as the presidents of two SlU-af-
filiated unions — Gunnar Lun-
deberg of the Sailors' Union of the
Pacific and Henry Disley of the
Marine Firemen's Union.

Shortly after Clinton was sworn
into office, officials for Sea-Land
and American President Lines re­
stated their position originally
made in early 1992 that unless ac­
tion toward maritime revival is
completed this year, they would
begin the process of replacing the
U.S. flag on their vessels with
foreign flags.

After the bills were introduced,
both companies—which have con­
tracts with the SIU — issued state­
ments that they would work with
Congress to pass the new legisla­
tion.

Rob Quartel on U.S. Shipping
• While an FMC commissioner speaking before the Florida
Customs Brokers & Forwarders in Orlando in January 1992
remarking on a joint initiative by Sea-Land and American Presi­
dent Lines to bolster U.S. shipping:
"My own personal response is—Why wait until 1995? Do it
now! Start flagging out as soon as possible!"

• Addressing the intemational Trade Club of Southern California
In November 1991 in Long Beach while an FMC official:
"I am said to support the repeal of the Shipping Act of 1984,
cargo preference laws, the Jones Act, the Merchant Marine
Acts of 1920 and 1936, and large parts of the Shipping Act of
1916, and, in fact, I do."

• Identified as a former FMC commissioner, Quartel said the
following In a March 10, 1993 opinion piece appearing In the
Journal of Commerce In which he advised Transportation
Secretary Federico Pena to do the following In regard to develop­
ing a maritime program for the future:
• "Build a new policy on the premise that it's about trade, not
ships. (Chuck the notion that it's about defense, because it's
not....)"
• "...get rid of the Jones Act."
• "Get rid of cargo preference and ODS...."
• "...abolish conferences from the U.S. trades."
• The FMC should be abolished, too."
• Recruit mariners for sealift by working "with the Navy to do
what they did in the last two world wars: Train the Navy Reser­
ves for merchant ships."
• "And most important of all, open the flag."

• Speaking to the Bulk Expo '91 conference In Houston In
October 1991 as a member of the FMC:
"...you may no doubt be able to tell that I view the Jones Act—
this most over-rated, over-expensive, ineffective, anti-competi­
tive, anti-consumer, protectionist, archaic of all maritime
legislation—as long overdue for elimination."

• Remarks to the Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders In
January 1991 as an FMC commissioner:
The union leadership fears mixed crewing because it may
mean a decline in union dues and retirement contributions and
officer compensation. The congressmen fear the decline of
their special interest constituency and PAC contributions....
And MarAd bureaucrats fear the loss of the programs on which
their power—indeed their very existence—depends.

Ulna speech to the Intemational Cargo Handling Coordinators
Association In May In Miami while serving In current capacity as
an officer In the Quartel-Skaarup group:
"Despite the near (but not complete) universality of actions ul­
timately hostile to shipping, one country stands out, however as
the most consistent and egregious offender. It contains the
world's largest unified market and the world's largest economy,
thus believing itself immune to the petty multilateral activities of
the diplomat, often preferring unilateral action instead....
It complains of international subsidies, yet has given its own
operators over $40 billion ih constant dollars since 1950.... It is
a country...which even today withholds from the open market
its own giant food aid and non-essential government cargoes,
preferring to pay 3 or 4 times fair market rates in order to suppli­
cate the demands of its declining maritime unions.... It is a
country that complains self-righteously atrout the faults of
everyone else and finds itself faultless.... It is, of (
own country, the United States."

f course, my

High Water, Darting Currents No Match for Orguit Crews
SIU crewmembers aboard Or-

gulf tugboats along the Mississip­
pi River and its tributaries are
being extra vigilant because of
high water and rushing currents
as they check on the barges being
pushed along the waterways.

Deckhand Chris Smith
reported from the tug J.S. Mc-
Dermott that he and other mem­
bers of the watch crew take extra
precautions because the rivers

Deckhand Chris Smith gets a
quick cup of coffee before going
on watch aboard the McDermott.

can be treacherous. "Besides the
usual concerns we have when the
river is normal, now we constant­
ly walk around the barges on all
shifts—night and day—to make
sure everything is tight and
secure," Smith said.

The McDermott sails on the
southern Mississippi River from
Orgulfs Moore's Landing stag­
ing area in Wyatt, Mo. to New
Orleans. The boat can push up to
50 barges loaded with grain, coal
and other items but has been
forced to reduce its capacity for
safety and navigational reasons.

Along the upper Mississippi,
flood waters have receded allow­
ing locks to reopen, and traffic
has started sailing again. How­
ever, tugs like Orgulfs Joey
Chotin also have to push reduced
loads.

The Chotin, one of the oldest
tugs in the Cincinnati-based
company's fleet, usually can
handle up to 15 barges. Coast
Guard restrictions have reduced
the Chotin to pushing 10 or fewer

barges at this time.
Despite the troubles created,

by nature. Cook Terry Godden
reported all was going well with
the crew. "We're happy to be
back to work," noted Godden.
The upper Mississippi as well as
the Illinois River had been closed
to tug/barge traffic over the
winter months. Loading stores for the McDermott Catching up on the latest news in

at Moore's Landing is Mate Shorty the Seafarers LOG aboard the
Williams. AfcDermoff is Cook Walter Wise.

Cook Terry Godden takes part in
a hazardous materials drill
aboard the Joey Chotin.

Proving the food aboard the Chotin is quite tasty are (left to right) Mate
Billy Hutchinson, Assistant Engineer Dan Richardson, Pilot Dewey
Carrington and Deckhand Daryl Bullock.

I '..I /•/•. -•/ ! / J



m

( ' '• fi

JUNE 1993 SEAFARERS LOG 13
:-r'^-

Seven Award Red
Seven students will enter col

lege in the fall as recipients of the
1993 Seafarers Scholarship Pro
gram. For two of them, it will be
a new and challenging ex­
perience. The other five have
taken some college-level courses
in the past, but now, with the
financial assistance from the
scholarship program, will have
the means to give full attention to
their studies.

What follows is a brie
description of the backgrounc
and goals of each of the college-
bound students.

Kenneth Andrew Hagan
Kenneth
Hagan of
Winston-
Salem, N.C.
is the recipi­
ent of the
four-year
scholarship
for $15,000.

Hagan, 36, entered the trainee
program at the Hany Lundeberg
School of Seamanship in 1980
and has returned several times to
upgrade his rating, most recently
as a recertified steward. He cur­
rently is sailing aboard Sheridan
Transportation's TTB Baltimore.

Hagan plans to attend the
University of North Carolina,
either in Greensboro or in Chapel
Hill, majoring in history and
anthropology. He also would like
to receive his teaching certificate
while in school with die intent of
teaching social studies.

"Fascinated by hobos, freight
trains, sea stories and the romance
of the open road," the deep sea
member started traveling at a
early age, financing his trips as a
ranch hand, carpenter, house
painter, bicycle messenger
taxicab driver and musician,
among other odd jobs.

Before starting his career as a
merchant mariner, he visited
many Aztec and Mayan sites
throughout Mexico and
Guatemala as well as the Pueblo
and Anasazi ruins of the
American Southwest. As a
seaman, his travels have enabled
him to see the Egyptian p3^amids
of Giza, Machu Picchu in Peru
and the major ruins of Greece,
Turkey and Italy.

In 1985 he spent six months
visiting Indonesia and Thailand
after completing an eight-month
tour on an oil tanker in the Far
East. And in the Philippines he
spent six weeks diving with an
underwater salvage operation to
recover artifacts from a Chinese
shipwreck which dated back to
the Ming Dynasty.

With all his work experience,
Hagan is, however, most proud of
having built his own house in the
last four years during stints he
was ashore. While high school
studies never held much of an in­
terest for the Seafarer as a
teenager, he has come to ap­
preciate the learning process and
envisions himself becoming a
teacher and advocate of educa­
tion.

He completed his GEO, and in
1987 and 1988 attended courses
at Salem College. He says he is
reminded of some advice an old
China Coast sea-dog gave him
eight years ago who said, "Get
yourself an education, experience
will take care of itself."

Hagan says he has never heard
truer words. "So I'm going to fol­
low his advice and pack up all

these work experiences and folc
them up neatly and keep them
close by in case I need them, and
I'm going to get myself an educa­
tion, and when I'm finished, wi
let the work experience that my
new skills prepare me for come
by its own accord."

Gerald Richard Shirley
Gerald Shir­
ley is starting
his 13th year
with the SIL
Presently sail
ing aboard the
Sea-Land
Tacoma, the
34-year-ol(

has been awarded a $6,000, two
year scholarship to complete his
bachelor's degree. He has at­
tended upgrading courses at the
Lundeberg School a number o
times, most recently in 1990 as a
graduate of the steward recer-
tification program.

Before joining the SIU, Shir­
ley spent diree years in the U.S
Navy arid received an honorable
discharge in 1981.

Now serving as a recertifier
steward aboard the Sea-Land
Tacoma, Shirley has spent the las
couple of years sailing as chie
steward aboard other Sea-Lanc
Service vessels. Prior to that, he
sailed aboard Maersk Line ves­
sels and before that he worked on
any vessel going anywhere" in

an attempt to work in as many
different environments as pos­
sible.

He spent a year on the SS In­
dependence in Hawaii which he
describes as "the hardest year of
labor, but the greatest year in in­
tense culinary learning due to the
exposure of the vast amount of
talent employed there."

After sailing and upgrading to
the position of recertified steward
in the summer of 1990, the Seattle
resident decided that his full
potential was yet to be reached. It
was then that he resolved to at-
end college and obtain
lachelor's degree, just as he had
intended when he originally
started going to sea.

His primary reason for going
to sea, he notes, was to acquire the
imds to attend college. "Travel­

ing and seeing the world was only
secondary and very nice by­

product of the endeavor."
He enrolled in Highline Com­

munity College in Des Moines,
Wash, for the fall quarter where,
after 15 years away from school,
le managed to carry a 3.81 grade
)oint average and make the
Jean's List.

With his scholarship award,
Shirley hopes to receive a
jachelor's degree in computer

science with a minor in business
and economics. He plans to con­
tinue at Highline Community

ollege and dien perhaps transfer
to a four-year degree program at
he University of Washington in
Seatde or Western Washington
Jniversity in Bellingham, Wash.

'^ell Forrest Simonsen
Neil Simon-

Piney Point, Md.

sen, 28, joined
the SIU in
1985 upon
graduation
from the
trainee pro­
gram at the
Lundeberg
School in
"Bom in San

lients See Education as Key
Francisco," he notes, "I was al
lowed to roam the town at will.
. usually this entailed hanging
around the wharf and visiting
whatever ships would allow me
aboard. This, coupled with my
favorite boyhood authors
[Joseph] Conrad and [Jack] Lon
don, I think it was to be expectec
that I join a seaman's union many
years later." The deep sea mem
ber currently sails as an AB
aboard the Sugar Islander.

Traveling has always been
part of Simonsen's life. Each
summer his parents would take
him and his sister on tours of the
U.S., Europe, North Africa, Haiti
and Guatemala, in the hopes o
exposing them to different politi­
cal and social systems. He at­
tended boarding school in
Germany as a teenager and used
his holidays to meet differen
people, learn a new language anc
travel extensively.

Simonsen spent a few years
sailing aboard the SlU-crewed SS
Independence and Constitution
around the Hawaiian Islands anc
aboard LNG vessels on the Japan
to Indonesia run. He spent some
time in Tokyo and supported him­
self by teaching conversationa
English—and, in turn, was able to
pick up the Japanese language.

With this experience behinc
him, Simonsen now is ready to
continue his formal education. He
has earned a number of credits at
Contra Costa College in San
Pablo, Calif, and the University
of Hawaii's Kapiolani Com­
munity College and has been sail­
ing in order to save money to
continue his studies.

As a recipient of the $6,000
two-year scholarship award, he
will be able to resume junior col­
lege in the fall at City College in
San Francisco. He chose this col­
lege because of the large number
of courses offered in Asian
studies and the fact that both
Japanese and German are taught.

Lcxjking further into the fu­
ture, Simonsen hopes to transfer
to the University of California at
Berkeley or Davis, or the
American University in
Washington, D.C. which are
known to have excellent
programs in his major—^intema-
ional relations.

Danielle Shanika Brooks
Danielle
Brooks is a

used
u n g

woman.
Graduating
this year from
Oliver Perry
Walker High

School in New Orleans, the 18-
^ear-old student plans to use her
bur-year scholarship award to

major in biomedical engineering
at Xavier University in Louisiana
and then Georgia Institute of
Technology in Atlanta.

The high school senior said
she had many positive influences
while growing up—nurses,
policewomen, secretaries and
eachers—but her curiosity in
Inding out how things work and
ier concern to better the condi-
lions of people everywhere led
lier to biomedical engineering.

Brooks is a well-rounded stu­
dent who participates in school-
jased activities as well as

community and church-related
ones. She has a grade point
average of 3.60 and is third in her

class of 200 seniors.
She has participated On the

volleyball and basketball teariis
and runs track. She also has been
an active participant in many o
her high school's extra-curricular
activities such as science club
vice president, honor society
secretary, student govemmen
treasurer. National Merit
Scholarship nominee and mem­
ber of the Afro-American Club.

Danielle has six brothers and
sisters. She is the daughter o
Geraldine Johnson-Brooks and
Pensioner Edward Brooks Jr.
who joined the SIU in 1959 anc
retired in 1990.

Christine W. Hall
Christine Hal
is proof that
you can do
anything at
any age, no
matter the
obstacles. The
30-year-olc
wife of

Seafarer Craig Hall is the mother
of two sons, ages six and four. In
applying for the four-year
scholarship award, she noted that
the SIU has been a big part of her
life. Her husband's father, Neal
D. Hail, was a former SIU mem­
ber, her husband has been a mem­
ber since 1981, and she, herself,
was a member from 1983 to 1985,
sailing as a purser aboard the
Delta Queen steamboat.

A resident of Genoa, Wis., she
returned to school (the University
of Wisconsin in LaCrosse) about
die time her husband started to
work on the Great Lakes in 1990.
She is majoring in parks and
recreation management and also
in archaeology, with a minor in
art.

She is an outstanding student
academically and maintains
demanding academic workload
along with a full schedule of
volunteering and student ac­
tivities—as well as helping raise
lier two sons.

Upon completion of her
course work. Hall hopes to obtain
a position in a park, preserve or
recreation area with archaeologi­
cal significance that will allow
ler to interpret to the public the
importance and care of our out­
door environment.

She especially enjoys working
with young people and hopes to
instill in them an appreciation of
nature and an understanding of
the American heritage.

Christine Hall's husband,
faig, has worked on the Missis­

sippi Queen, Delta Queen and SS
Constitution in his early SIU
years. Since 1990, he has worked
aboard OLS Transport and Han­
nah Marine vessels.

Jerry Lee Halsey Jr.
Jerry Halsey
IS a well-
rounded stu­
dent at
Bayside High
School in Vir­
ginia Beach,
Va.. Graduat­
ing this year,
he plans to

education at Old continue his
Jominion University in Norfolk,

Va. with a major in teaching. His
our-year award from the

Seafarers Scholarship Program in
he amount of $15,000 should
lelp defray some of the costs as­
sociated with reaching his goal.

The 18-year-old loves work­
ing with children and believes
education is the key to the future.
He plans to pass this belief on
through his work. "Children need
guidance," Halsey noted in his
scholarship application, "and I
hope that I can lead the children
of tomorrow into a brighter fu­
ture."

In high school, Halsey main­
tained excellent grades and was
involved in many activities. He
ranked 36th in his class of 350
students and took a strong
academic program—including
advanced calculus, Spanish and
honors English.

He participated in the debate
club. Student Council Associa­
tion, honor society and other
clubs. He also has been recog­
nized for participation in a
Spanish scholarship competition,
the science fair and the presiden­
tial academic fitness program and
has participated in church youth
group activities and in the sports
of football and basketball. With
this heavy load, Halsey also
found time to work in restaurants
and markets. Additionally, he
performed volunteer work in a
ocal political campaign.

Jerry Halsey is the son of Fran­
ces E. Halsey and Jerry Lee Hal­
sey Sr., a member of the SIU's
inland division since 1975, who
works as a deckhand with the As­
sociation of Maryland Pilots in
Baltimore, Md.

Michelle Ann
Rivera Parisi

Michelle
Rivera Parisi
completed her
high school
degree from
Papa Juan
XXIII High
School in
B ay amo n,

and is presently P.R. last year
completing the second semester
of her first year at Central Univer­
sity in Bayamon. She maintains a
3.38 grade point average, major­
ing in biology.

The 18-year-old student has
always been interested in veteri­
nary medicine, and has been of­
fered admission as a transfer
student in Purdue University's
School of Agriculture in West
Lafayette, Ind.

Her $15,000 Seafarers
scholarship award will help her
continue her .studies there, where
she will take two years of pre-
veterinary medicine classes. She
then plans to enter the School of
Veterinary Medicine for ,her de­
gree.

In high school, Michelle had a
superb academic record, taking
)oth advanced English and math­

ematics courses. She also was a
member of the National Honor
Society.

For the past two years, the
aspiring animal doctor has
worked as a volunteer at two
veterihary clinics and has served
as the secretary of the student as­
sociation of biology at Bayamon
Central University.

Michelle Rivera Parisi is the
daughter of Antoinette Rivera
and Raul Rivera, an SIU member
since 1962.

For the past several years, the
deep sea mariner has worked
aboard Sea-Land Service vessels,
most recently aboard the Sea-
Land Challenger.

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14 SEAFARERS LOG

••; •'•< •••f : r ; ',•..

JUHE1993 JURE 1993 SEAFARERS LOG 15

EVERYONE WINS!

F
OR MARITRANS AND THE SEAFARERS who crew the
company's tugboats and barges,
1992 was a virtually perfect perfor­
mance year. As a result of hard
work, attention to detail and the full
cooperation of management and
crewmembers, Maritrans com­

pleted more than 7,000 cargo transfers ac­
counting for deliveiy of approximately 10
billion gallons of oU — and only 22 gal­
lons, or about two teaspoonsful per ihillion
gallons moved, were spilled.

Last year, Maritrans was recognized for
its environmental protection efforts by the
National Environmental Development As­
sociation (a coalition of industry and
government representatives). Maritrans,
which operates on the Eastern Seaboard
and in the Gulf of Mexico, also earned the
best possible safety audit rating from the
International Loss Control Institute

(chartered by insurance clubs to conduct
audits of various companies).

"We're responsible for the environment
and we're proud of our safety record,"
stated AB/Tankerman Homer Rabideau,
who has worked aboard Maritrans tugs for
the past 12 years. "Everything this com­
pany does is geared toward safety, and it's
not like preaching. It's to everyone's
benefit."

Long before the Oil Pollution Act of
1990, Maritrans initiated CPA '90-type
reforms. The company first published a
Fleet Operations Manual in the 1970s,
standardizing safe operating procedures
for every vessel. Maritrans has published
formal oil-spill contingency and cleanup
plans since 1980. And in the 1980s,
Maritrans became the first tug and barge
company to develop computer-simulated
training programs to enhance wheelhouse
skills and proficiency.

li

"We make efforts well beyond what is
required by law," said John Burns,
Maritrans director of labor relations. "We
require greater endorsements, documenta­
tion and licenses than does the Coast
Guard. And our boats are quipped above
and beyond minimum requirements."

AB/Tankerman Todd Edwards,
Rabideau's shipmate aboard the tugboat
Columbia, noted that Maritrans crews
routinely conduct fire drills and safety
meetings. "The quality management pro­
gram also has a lot to do wiA our safety
record. We have good people working
here, we get any safety equipment we need,
and it's dl first-rate,," he said.

Indeed, the cooperation between
Maritrans officials and the workers aboard
the company's 35 tugs, 45 barges and
several oil terminals is captured in the
recently introduced quality program to
which Edwards referred. Beginning in
1990, Maritrans implemented a three-part
system which included briefing every
employee in the methods and processes of
quality improvement; restructuring
management to allow for and encourage
participation of all employees in decision­
making; and developing standards for a
"Partners in Excellence" agreement be­
tween crewmembers and management.

"We have used all of those ^ngs to be
more efficient and more effective," said
Bums. "We spent close to $2.5 million in
training, and certainly the quality improve­
ment process is not mandatory."

Jim Sanborn, executive vice president
of the company, which was incorporated
65 years ago and is headquartered in
Philadelphia, added, "Naturally, we
believe that our safety record is largely a
result of those programs."

'Quality Management'
In an ongoing effort to improve its

operations, Maritrans invested in the pro­

gram offered by the Quality College
founded by former ITT executive Philip
Crosby. Since its inception in 1979, the
college has educated thousands of repre­
sentatives from companies of widely vary­
ing sizes from throughout the world. It
generally is recognized by business leaders
worldwide as the best program of its type.

While the program's curriculum is ex­
haustive and at times fairly complex, it
boils down to getting everyone from an
organization involved in setting high
operating standards —"and then following
precise steps to ensure not only efficiency,
but also steady improvement. TTie program
emphasizes the importance of each
employee's work, as well as the value of
doing things right the first time, thereby
preventing accidents and avoiding un­
necessary repetition.

All Maritrans executives and
employees, including Seafarers and SIU
representatives, attended quality seminars
either in Tampa, Fla., Baltimore, Cherry
Hill, N.J. or at the college in Winter Park,
Fla.

"One thing I learned is that all work is
a process, even though you may not realize
it," said 26-year-old Deck/Utility Troy
Zimmerman, who sails aboard the En­
deavor and who attended the seminar in
Che^ Hill. "With a work plan, the job
inevitably goes a lot better.

"The quality management program
definitely has a lot to do with our safety .
record, which we're very proud of. It's also
easier now to have your voice heard by
management."

Mate Jim Zeller, 24, said the quality
program "eliminates any finger-pointing
and teaches individuals to t^e respon­
sibility. The man tying a line on deck is just
as important as the person running the
company. Because if the man tying the line
doesn't do his job correctly, eventually
there won't be any company."

(Br

/I

-rm":

,1 /Tl

Zeller, who joined the SIU three years
ago, added that the equipment aboard
Maritrans vessels is further evidence of the
company's commitment to safety. "We
carry fire suits, foam, self-contained
breathing equipment, fire monitoring sys­
tems, survival suits, damage-control
equipment (such as magnetic patches) and
more," he said. "I think quality breeds
safety. In the time I've been with
Maritrans, we've spilled next to nothing.
We're talking about gallons as opposed to
millions of barrels spilled by foreign-flag
ships."

Steward department members, who are
part of the crews on Maritrans' larger ves­
sels, also went through the program. Cook
Alvin Ellis, who joined the SIU in 1975
and has worked aboard Maritrans vessels
ever since, went to a seminar in Baltimore.
"I think it helped us become more of a
team," said Ellis, 62, who sails aboard the
Intrepid. "We now have better channels for
identifying problems and for corrective ac­
tion. We have a system, and management
does give you answers."

AB/Tankerman Charles Bigham,
another member of the Intrepid's crew and
a graduate of the Seafarers Harry Lun-
deberg School of Seamanship in 1979, also
attended the seminar in Baltimore. "To me,
one of the best parts was just getting
everyone from shore and from the boats
together to leam about each other's opera­
tions and any problems we might face,"
Bigham said.

Always Safety-Conscious
The Seafarers and Maritrans repre­

sentatives interviewed for this article
stressed that, while the quality program
helped fine-tune operations and was a fac­
tor in the near-perfect performance of
1992, the company and crewmembers al­
ways have been s^ety-conscious. For ex­
ample, in each of the past five years,
Maritrans has averaged less than one gal­
lon of oil spilled per one million gallons
carried.

"A lot of it comes down to using good
judgement," explained OS Phillip
Johnson, who sails aboard the Endeavor.
"If you have any doubt about whether or
not something is safe, don't do it.

"I've always believed that a safe crew
is a good crew."

AB/Tankerman Dolphin Moores, a
crewmember of the Columbia, cited the
Lundeberg School as the vital factor in the
efficiency of SIU members. "I've been
with the union for 15 years, and I'm certain
the main thing that helps us do our jobs
well is our school in Piney Point," said the

35-year-old Moores, who has upgraded
twice.

Another Seafarer who has upgraded
twice, 44-year-old AB Skip Graul,
pointed out that Maritrans crewmembers
have "a high level of pride in their work.
We always stress safety and cleanliness,
and if we see something's wrong, we fix
it." (Graul, who regularly sails aboard the
Patriot, comes from a family with a strong
maritime background. His father sailed on
the Murmansk Run during World War Has
a member of the Masters, Mates Pilots.)

Keeping Up-to-Date
In another move to enhance safety,

Maritrans recently installed a system
known as Intercon on the 255,0(X)-barrel
barge Ocean 255 and her tug, the Intrepid.
Intercon securely links the tug and barge
and allows the tug to push virtually all the
time when the barge is loaded. This results
in faster, more reliable operations.

Maritrans plans to install two more In­
tercon systems this year.

Additionally, personal computers are
being put on all of the boats. (Some already
are in place.) This will enable crewmem­
bers to use a wide range of programs, from
vessel-loading programs to comparatively
simpler functions such as menus.

The Maritrans fleet includes more than
500 shipboard workers and 160 more who
work ashore at the company's support
facilities and oil terminals. Some of the
barges can carry up to 417,(KX) thousand
barrels.

The crewmembers are represented by
either the SIU or the American Maritime
Officers (formerly District 2-MEB A). "We
wouldn't have the success we've enjoyed
without our partnership with the SIU and
the AMO," said Burns. "If situations
change, either beneficial or otherwise,
we're able to sit down with our employees
and come up with solutions in the best
interests of both parties."

Bums added tiiat Maritrans recognizes
and appreciates the high-level training that
Seafarers receive at the Lundeberg School.
"We're getting ready to send ^ people
through the school to get their tankermen's
endorsements," he said. "A lot of our crew­
members already have been through the
school, and many of the shoreside workers
also are Piney Point graduates.

"In the last several years, the vocational
staff at the school has been most helpful in
accommodating us and developing train­
ing programs which are extremely benefi-
cid to our employees."

\ •
r '

w-

%

iMim

OS/Cook Eduardo Arango puts
away stores aboard Columbia.

Securing a line on the Columbia
Is AB/Tankerman Todd Edwards.

AB/Tankermen Dolphin Moores (left)
and Homer Rabideau take a quick Computers like the one used by AB Skip Graul (above)
break from their maintenance work aboard the Patriot, are "just one more tool

aboard the Columbia. to help" operations, says Maritrans official John Bums.
j, , : • IHM,

M

1..- J.:.:—

I ' I
zee '

Maritrans vessels feature state-of-the-
art safety equipment, as well as basic
reminders like the one shown here.

Above: Deck/Utility Troy Zimmer­
man displays one of the survival

suits carried on board the-
Endeavor. At left, Zimmerman

makes an adjustment in the en-
gineroom as the tug prepares to

push a barge along the
Delaware River.

OS Phillip Johnson, who sails aboard
Making a log entry aboard the Endeavor, says the quality

the Endeavor ls Mate Jim Zeller. improvement process "definitely works."
1^ x-r

^7" rdx.

=S~> W-V-'J

Tying up the tugboat Endeavor
is AB/Tankerman Kevin Hill.

V-: i." .• ,

Setting the tension on the wench
atjoard the Roa/roke

is Deck/Utility Greg Gibson.
Cook Alvih Ellis has been a Seafarer and has
worked aboard Maritrans vessels since 1975.

:''i

Maritrans prides itself on safe operations and well-maintained vessels. AB/Tankerman Charles Bigham
Last year, the company received intemational recognition for its efficiency, readies a hose aboard Intrepid.

•"•'iv','.'i'- -*•

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•J ... ij /,• p I. . •. It ' I 9 , U. • 'n y y '• I ' ' .i'\' /. _ . - • "J- •' y .. •» /- ,

-HO. 1.
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16 SEAFARERS LOG JUNE 1993

.-5-:

M.J it. '••.

Restoring JFK's Racing Yacht
Is Labor of Love for Johnston

For retired Seafarer Johnny
Johnston, spring means opening
the 62-foot yawl Manitou to
visitors on weekends at the Paul
Hall Center for Maritime Train­
ing and Education.

Each year it takes lots of hard
work to get the former racing ves

m

Johnny Johnston stands at the pier
in Piney Point with the Manitou.

sel, once used by President John
F. Kennedy, ready for tourists and
other guests at the southern
Maryland center. This year is no
different, as Johnston anticipates
finishing final restorations some­
time this month to the 56-year-old
Manitou, which sustained
damage during a severe storm last
winter.

Johnston, a charter member of
the SIU who sailed in the deck
department and retired in 1974,
first started his volunteer work on
the Manitou \n 1990. "It was in
pretty bad shape," recalls
Johnston, 83. "I had the time and
the interest, so I volunteered to
get her back in shape."

In 1990 Johnston worked with
fellow pensioner William Drew,
who fixed the vessel's wiring, and
slowly but surely they got the
Manitou into good condition.

The Manitou suffered a set­
back during the winter storm,
which tore off the gangway and

caused other structural damage
Undeterred, Johnston led another
repair effort and now he says
"You can't even tell it was
damaged. All that's left to get i
ready is some priming, painting
and glazing, plus installing some
screens. It won't take long.

Enjoys the Work
Despite putting in long hours

on the boat, which in 1968 was
purchased by the Lundeberg
School and then added to the
school's fleet of historic sailing
and power vessels, Johnston says,
"I have enjoyed every day that I
have spent on her. With the help
of the marina personnel, she is in
ship-shape. We don't get to sail
her as much as we would like, but
she can be rigged to sail in
minutes."

When the Manitou is open to
visitors, Johnston—the vessel's
honorary captain—notes, "All
flags are hoisted, cushions are
placed in the cockpit, deck chairs
are set up and all lights below
deck are on. Most visitors like to
see how the living conditions
were."

Occasionally, Johnston makes
a guest list and, with the Manitou
operating under auxiliary power,
t^es as many as a dozen pas­
sengers up the St. Mary' s River-
which is not far from the vessel's
birthplace on Solomons Island,
Vld. in the Patuxent River.
Johnston points out that the

Manitou's 81-foot wooden main­
mast no longer is capable of hold­
ing her sails in a strong wind.)

Long History
Johnston—who still has his

original SIU membership book
rom 1938—takes pride in his
borough knowledge of the
Hanitou, which is made of oak,

carvel planked, with a teak deck
and m^ogany trim. (Fastenings
and deck hardware are of bronze.)
^ast year, after completing exten­
sive research he wrote a lengthy
paper about the vessel's storied
)ast, complete with details of
many of the ship's races and
owners.

The Manitou was built as a
racing vessel in 1937 at the M.M.
Davis and Sons yard on

Solomons Island. She was named

for the passage in northeastern
Lake Michigan where she often
passed in winning several races in
the '30s and '40s. The vesse
changed hands several times
before being donated to the Coast
Guard Academy in 1955.

Kennedy began sailing the
Manitou late in his presidency
After the boat was refitted with a
new engine and White House
conununications gear, the presi­
dent and his family began enjoy­
ing the vessel during the summer
of 1963. After Kennedy's death
that November, the Manitou was
returned to the academy to
resume her career as a training
vessel.

In 1968, the Lundeberg Schoo
purchased the Manitou from the
Defense Department Surplus
Sales Agency in a closed bid. The
vessel has been part of the
school's floating museum since.

Wedding Gift
"There is one story that I ran

across many times in my re­
search," Johnston recalls with a
augh. "When Jackie Kennedy

was engaged to a Greek tanker
tycoon, she asked him for the
Manitou as a wedding present.
The rich man offered any amount
the Seafarers Union wanted for
the yawl.

Well, (late SIU President)
I'aul Hall's reply to the man
who had his fleet under flags-of-
convenience—was, 'Money
can't buy the Manitou. However,
if you put 10 of your tankers
under the American flag, with a
Seafarers International Union
contract, we will gladly give the
>fawl to you.' Jackie never got the
Manitou."

The Manitou was purchased by the
lundeberg School in 1968.

• •• ,

Mike Oriando takes the oath of office as Deputy Pilot Commissioner.

Retired Official Uliike Oriando
Appointed to Maritime Post

Retired SIU official Mike Or­
lando recently was appointed as a
state maritime official by Mas­
sachusetts Governor William
Weld.

Orlando, 70, was named Deputy
Pilot Commissioner of District
Two in Massachusetts. His term
expires at die end of 1996.

District Two includes ports
from Salem, Mass. to the New
Hampshire border.

Among Orlando's duties will
be working with pilots to resolve

any of their problems; overseeing
the proper conditions of the har­
bors; and setting prices for pilot
fees.

This is Orlando's fifth ap­
pointment as a Deputy Pilot Com­
missioner. He previously was
appointed in 1966, 1969, 1972
and 1981.

Orlando served in various
capacities with the Seafarers and
formerly was an SIU official in
the northeastern fishing ports. He
also was an organizer.

Jack Caney Bedieil PmsUent
Of Long IslantI Labor CouttcH

Jack Caffey, SIU vice presi­
dent for the Atlantic Coast, has
been elected the new president of
the Long Island (N Y.) Federa­
tion of Labor, AFL-CIO, by its
executive board.

Caffey, who began his career
with the Seafarers in 1961 as a
deck department member, will
ill the last three years of the cur­
rent presidential term which ex­
pires at the federation's 1996
convention. (His predecessor
resigned from office earlier this
>fear.)

While Caffey will retain his
rcsitioh with the SIU, he also will
lead the labor council, which rep­
resents 150,000 union members
From Suffolk and Nassau coun­
ties. Included in the membership

are approximately 100 locals
made up of members from the
building
trades,
government
workers,
maritime
trades, retail
clerks and
communica­
tions tech­
nicians.

Among his
responsibilities as president, Caf-.
fey will help affiliated unions in
organizing and negotiation ef­
forts, promote Jrade unionism
within the community and assist
in the AFL-CIO grassroots efforts
in local, state and national legis­
lative and political matters.

Jack Caffey

The 56-year-old yawl sustained damage to its wooden hull during a severe storm last March.

Seafarers Support Sausage Makers

Seafarers from the port of Baltimore marched with other local
trade unionists to show their support for United Food and
Comrriercial Workers Local 27 members who were locked out
of their jobs last month during negotiations with the Parks
Sausage Company. Shown on the picket line are Ernest Greece
(left), president of the Metropolitan Baltimore Council of AFL-
CIO unions, and Steward/Baker Andre Gee.



11
i
•3
m
•AK

•m-
M
"M

jj,

JUNE 1993 SEAFARERS LOG 17

Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea
APRIL 16 — MAY 15,1993

•TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED ••REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups All Groups Trip All Groups

Class A Class B Class C Class A Class B i Class C Reliefs Class A Class B Class C

Port DECK DEPARTMENT
New York 34 27 10 28 18 7 9 62 37 15
Philadelphia 3 13 4 2 3 1 3 2 13 7
Baltimore 10 13 I 4 7 1 0 9 20 2
Norfolk 15 12 7 7 9 5 1 28 21 9
Mobile 13 16 3 11 22 1 2 15 18 6
New Orleans 24 29 2 19 17 1 3 34 32 10
Jacksonville 23 33 6 23 21 , 2 , • 9 , 44 48 9
San Francisco 31 21 • --'3 13 16 1 6 60 59 12
Wilmington 15 9 ^^••7 • : 14 10 1 11 32 29 13
Seattle 15 29 3 '= 14 •:uyi4 3 • 9 38 58 8
Puerto Rico 8 6 1 10 5 1 4 19 5 4
Honolulu 4 19 8 6 11 12 6 TO 24 14
Houston 22 25 3 20 17 1 10 45 60 15
St. Louis 4 2 0 0 1 0 0 4 3 2
Piney Point 3 14 0 1 2 0 1 3 16 1
Algonac 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 1
Totals 224 269 58 172 174 37 76 405 443 128
Port ENGINE DEPARTMENT
New York 14 18 0 12 6 0 3 37 37 5
Philadelphia 1 3 0 1 1 1 1 ^ I'T,:;,', 5 8 0
Baltimore 4 2 2 3 4 3 0 6 6 • 1
Norfolk 7 17 4 5 7 2 0 8 19 •. 5
Mobile 12 6 2 12 7 1 0 , 19 17 3
New Orleans 9 9 4 4 11 3 6 27 18 9
Jacksonville 16 21 11 15 14 3 6 24 32 23
San Francisco 9 19 2 6 10 0 4 32 40 9
Wilmington 9 11 4 5 6 1, v: : 1 16 22 12
Seattle 13 17 6 7 5 0 , 3 27 28 9
Puerto Rico 7 1 0 3 2 0 0 16 4 0
Honolulu 3 12 3 2 7 4 1 5 16 5
Houston 9 15 3 9 8 1 4 23 32 8
St. Louis 1 2 0 1 • • 2 0 0 0 3 0
Piney Point 0 7 0 0 1 0 1 4 28 0
Algonac 0 0 . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 114 160 41 85 91 19 30 249 310 89
Port STEWARD DEPARTMENT
New York 18 12 4 16 10 0 4 25 21 6
Philadelphia 3 3 -••• • 1 . 1 0 2 6 2 .
Baltimore 3 2 0 •• • 2 1 0 0 6 7 0
Norfolk 4 5; : 2 7 6 2 1 6 7 2 y,,.
Mobile 6 5 1 9 1 0 5 13 12 1
New Orleans 9 3 1 5 4 0 3 16 8 2
Jacksonville 8 7 3 10 4 1 5 18 10 4
San Francisco 38 13 0 19 6 0 7 87 33 5 ^
Wilmington 9 1 1 7 1 0 2 22 7 1
Seattle 11 7 1 7 0 0 6 31 14 . • 2
Puerto Rico 3 1 1 3 0 0 0 6 2 4
Honolulu 8 15. 15 10 17 9 20 20 23 21
Houston 12 7 0 6 5 0 2 18 10 0
St. Louis 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
Piney Point 3 13 0 2 7 0 1 6 22 2
Algonac 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 136 94 30 105 63 12 57 276 183 52
Port ENTRY DEPARTMENT 1

New York 8 32 12 7 19 2 0 18 78 44
Philadelphia 0 4 2 0 1 2 0 2 3 5
Baltimore 2 6 2 1 5 0 0 • '3 9 3
Norfolk 1 15 8 0 7 3 0 5 32 17
Mobile 1 16 2 4 14 0 0 1 26 3
New Orleans 6 17 10 5 9 3 0 10 45 25
Jacksonville 3 23 7 i 17 2 . 0 6 38 15
San Francisco 16 26 16 5 4 •^1 0 46 64 36
Wilmington 8 10 8 3 10 0 0 10 17 14
Seattle 11 17 7 4 15 1 0 13 21 16
Puerto Rico 5 6 3 4 6 1 0 10 14 6
Honolulu 8 52 130 2 32 86 0 14 89 163
Houston 3 12 5 4 6 1 0 8 29 11
St. Louis 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0
Piney Point 1 17 1 0 20 0 0 1 33 4
Algonac 0 • 3 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 0
Totals 73 258 213 40 170 102 0 147 505 362
Totals All
Departments 547 781 342 402 498 170 163 1,077 1,441 631
* '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 6f last month.
A total of 1,233 jobs were shipped on SlU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1,233 jobs shipped, 402 jobs
or about 33 percent were taken by "A" seniority members. The rest were filled by "B" and "C" seniority
people. From April 16 to May 15,1993, a total of 163 trip relief jobs were shipped. Since the trip relief pro­
gram began on April 1,1982, a total of 18,730 jobs have been shipped.

Vviff,;

i". •

July & August 1993
Membership Meetings

Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters
Piney Point

Tuesday: July 6*, Monday: August 2
*changed by Independence Day holiday •

New York
Tuesday: July 6, August 3

Philadelphia
Wednesday: July 7, August 4

Baltimore
Thursday: July 8, August 5

Norfolk
Thursday: July 8, August 5

Jacksonville
Thursday: July 8, Au^st 5

Algonac
Friday: July 9, August 6

Houston
Monday: July 12, August 9

New Orleans
Tuesday: July 13, August 10

Mobile
Wednesday, July 14, August 11

San Francisco
Thursday: July 15, August 12

Wilmington
Monday: July 19, August 16

Seattle
Friday: July 23, Monday: August 23*

'changed by Paul Hall holiday

San Juan
Thursday: July 8, August 5

St Louis
Friday: July 16, August 13

Honolulu
Friday: July 16, August 13

Duluth
Wednesday, July 14, August 11

Jersey City
Wednesday: July 21, August 18

New Bedford '
Tuesday: July 20, August 17

, ;

Each port's meeting starts at 10:30 a.m.

•' 'J

''MmSB,

Personals
ROGERBEROUD

Your daughter, Yvonne, is trying to locate you.
Please reach her by contacting Helen Re, her moAer-
in-law, at Box 26, Smith Ridge Road, South Salem,
NY 10590.

EDWARD HENRY RAPACKI
Please contact your old friend, Wanda (Mikles)

Cantor, at 118 Mountain Road, Sun Valley Condo,
GlenBumie, MD 21060.

WWII MERCHANT MARINERS
Any members who sailed or worked on the docks

during World War 11 are asked to contact Capt.
William J. Howard Jr. who is doing research about
the era. Capt. Howard's address is 428 Pennington
Drive, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060.

SPnef it io the/ Z3® ®

.. J' : :



18 SBAFAIIE8S LOG JlWf 1993

•» .1

'

Seafarers International
Union Directory

Michael Sacco
President
John Fay

Secretary-Treasurer
Joseph Sacco

Executive Vice President
Augustin Tellez

Vice President Collective Bargaining
GeorgeMcCartnw

Vice President West (joast
Roy A. "Buck" Mercer

Vice President Government Services
Jack CafTey

Vice President Atlantic Coast
Byron Kelley

Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters
DeanCoraey

Vice President Gulf Coast

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.
Baltimore, MD 21202

(410)327-4900
DULUTH

705 Medical Arts Building
Duluth, MN, 55802

(218)722-4110
HONOLULU
606 Kalihi St.

Honolulu, HI 96819
(808) 845-5222

HOUSTON
1221 Pierce St.

Houston, TX 77002
(713)659-5152

JACKSONVILLE
3315 Liberty St.

Jacksonville, FL 32206
(904)353-0987
JERSEY CITY

99 Montgomery St.
Jersey City, NJ 07302

(201)435-9424
MOBILE

1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy.
Mobile, AL 36605

(205)478-0916
NEW BEDFORD

48 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
9604 <5 4 Cr

Philadelphia,'PA 19148
(215)336-3818
PINEY POINT

P.O. Box 75
Piney Point, MD 20674

(301)994-0010
PORT EVERGLADES
2 West Dixie Highway

Dania, FL 33004
(305)921-5661

SAN FRANCISCO
350 Fremont St.

San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 543-5855

Government Services Division
(415)861-3400
SANTURCE

1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave.
Stop i6Vi

Santurce, PR 00907
(809)721-4033

SEATTLE
2505 First Ave.

Seattle, WA 98121
(206)441-1960

ST. LOUIS
4581 Gravois Ave.

SL Louis, MO 63116
(314) 752-6500

WILMINGTON
510 N. Broad Ave.

Wilmington, CA 90744
(310)549-4000

Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes
APRIL 16 — MAY 15,1993

CI^-Coirpany/Lakes L—Lakes NP—Non Priority
•TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED ••REGISTERED ON BEACH

All Groups All Groups All Groups
ClassCL ClassL ClassNP ClassCL ClassL ClassNP ClassCL ClassL ClassNP

Port DECK DEPARTMENT

Algonac
Port

0 28 5 0 15 0
ENGINE DEPARTMENT

0 45 12

r
Algonac
Port

0 11 6 0 4 1
STEWARD DEPARTMENT

0 18 8 • • •
Algonac
Port

0 .;;v2 0 0 4 0
ENTRY DEPARTMENT

0 8 •• 2

Algonac ;• 25 6 0 0 0 0 30 20

Totals All Departments 0 66 17 0 23 1 0 101 42
* "Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month.

Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters
APRIL 16 — MAY 15,1993

•TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED
.All Groups

aass A Class B Class C
Region
Atlantic Coast
Gulf Coast
Lakes & Inland Waters
West Coast
Totals
Region
Atlantic Coast
Gulf Coast
Lakes & Inlanil Waters
West Coast
Totals
Region
Atlantic Coast
Gulf Coast
Lakes &Tnland Waters
West Coast

Totals

.All Groups
Class A Class B Class C
DECK DEPARTMENT

••REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups

Class A Class B Class C

2
4

24
2

32

1
0

18
0

19

2
0
6
1
9

0
3
0
0
3

0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0

0
17
0
4

21

0
3
0
0
3

0
^ 3
0
0
3

5
0

6
80
91

0
1
0
0
1

0
4
0

40
44

ENGINE DEPARTMENT

1
0
4
0
5

0
0
0
0
0

0
1
0
0

1
STEWARD DEPARTMENT

1
0

2
1
4

0
1
0
0

1

0
1
0
3
4

45
8

48
3

104

7
0

33
0

40

6
1

13
1

21

2
4
0

1
7

'l-
0
0

0

1

0
0

0
1
1

0
27
0

25
52

0
6

0
6

0
6
0
1
7-

' *

Totals All Departments 60 27 90 49 165 65

* "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.

^re You Missing Important Mail?
In order to ensure that each active

member and pensioner receives a copy
of the Seafarers LOG each month—as
well as other important mail such as W-2
forms, pension and welfare checks and
bulletins or notices—^your correct home
address must be on file with the union.

If you have moved recently or feel

that you are not getting your union mail,
please use the form on this page to update
your home address.

Your home address is your permanent
address, and this is where all official
union documents will be mailed (unless
otherwise specified).

If you are getting more than one copy

of the LOG delivered to you, if you have
changed your address, or if your name or
address is misprinted or incomplete,
please complete the form and send it to:

Seafarers International Union
Address Correction Department
5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, Maryland 20746

: HOME ADDRESS (PLEASE PRINT) June 1993
T
I

» Name

Phone No. (_

Address

Social Security No.

n Active SlU

Book No.

_J Pensioner
• Other

This will be my permanent address for all official union mailings.
This address should remain In the union file unless otherwise changed by me personally.

(Signed)
6/93.

I
J

•1^
:.r'i



•- :-;v

JUNE 1993 SEAFARERS LOG 19

The Seafarers Pension Plan
this month announces the

retirements of 20 members.
Twelve of those signing off

sailed in the deep sea division,
while three sailed inland and
five on the Great Lakes.

Brothers Christian Chris-
tensen and Gerald Sinkes com
pleted recertification courses at
Piney Point. Brother Christen-
sen graduated from bosun recer­
tification in 1974 while Brother
Sinkes finished steward recer­
tification in 1986.

Of the retiring Seafarers, 10
served in the military: seven in
the Army, and one each in the
Marine Corps, Navy and Air
Force.

Out of all of the Seafarers
signing off this month.
Brothers Christensen and Enri­
que Hernandez sailed the
longest—^both receiving their
fmst books in 1947.

Brief biographical sketches
of Brothers Christensen, Sinkes
and Hernandez as well as the
other new pensioners follow.

DEEP SEA
DONALD CALDER, 65,

joined the
Seafarers in
1968 in the
port of
Philadel­
phia. Bom
in England,
he sailed as
anFOWT.

Brother Calder retired to North
Cambridge, Mass.

CHRISTIAN CHRISTEN­
SEN, 77,
joined the
SIU in 1947
in the port
of Galves­
ton, Texas.
A native of
Copen­
hagen, Den­
mark, he completed the bosun
recertification course at the
Lundeberg School in 1974.
Brother Christensen resides in
San Jose, Calif.

ROBERT FAVALORA,54,
joined the
union in
1969 in the
port of New
Orleans, A
Louisiana
native, he
sailed in the
deck depart­

ment. Brother Favalora cal
Madiville, La. home.

WILLIAM
GOINES,
65, joined
the
Seafarers in
1974 in his
native New
Orleans. He
sailed as a
chief cook. Brother Goines
served in the U.S. Army from
1946 to 1948. He stiU calls
New Orleans home.

DUDLEY
GRANT,^
65, joined
the SIU in
1959 in the
port of New
York. Bom
in St. Vin­

cent, West Indies, he sailed as a

To Our New Pensioners
... Thanks for a Job Well Done

Each month in 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.

third cook. Brother Grant
retired to San Francisco.

ENRIQUE
HERNAN­
DEZ, 66,
joined the
union in
1947 in the.
port of Bal­
timore. A na­
tive of Vega
Alta, P.R., he sailed as a chief
cook. Brother Hemandez
upgraded at Piney Point fre­
quently. He resides in
Bayamon, P.R.

LOUIE
YEU
JEUNG, 69,
joined the
Seafarers in
1981 in the
port of
Honolulu.
Bom in

Califomia, he sailed in the
steward department. Brother
Jeung calls San Francisco
home.

RUSSELL MANCINI, 65,
joined the SIU in 1967 in the
port of Wilmington, Calif. A na­
tive of Portland, Maine, he
sailed as a QMED. Brother
Mancini upgraded at the Lun­
deberg School frequently. He
served in the U.S. Marine
Corps from 1945 to 1946.
Brother Mancini retired to
Westminster, Calif.

GERALD
SINKES,
65, joined
the union in
1946 in the
port of New
York. Bom
in Illinois,
le com-t leted the recertified steward

course at Piney Point in 1986.
Brother Sinkes resides in North
Vemon, Ind.

FRANK
SIRIG-
NANO, 71,
joined the
Seafarers in
1972 in the
port of New
York. A na­
tive of

Brooklyn, N.Y., he upgraded to
assistant cook in March 1978 at
the Lundeberg School. Brother
Sirignano served in the U.S.
Army from 1941 to 1945. In be­
tween shipping, he worked in
the Jacksonville, Fla. hall. His
last voyage was on the Sea-
Land Crusader. Brother Sirig­
nano lives in Jacksonville.

ANDRES SUAREZ, 71,
joined the
SIU in 1971
in the port
of New
York. Bom
in Puerto
Rico, he
sailed in the
engine

department. Brother Suarez
resides in Bronx, N-Y.

LESLIE
TOLLETT,
65, joined
the union in
1968 in the
port of San
Francisco. A
native of
Los An­

geles, he sailed as a QMED.
Brother Tollett upgraded at the
Lundeberg School in 1979. He
served in die U.S. Army from
1945 to 1947. Brother Tollett
calls San Francisco home.

IJ
INLAND

RAYMOND
ALCORN,
63, joined
the 1
Seafarers in
1980 in the
port of Jack­
sonville,
Fla. An Il­
linois native, he sailed as a
chief mate aboard Crowley tug­
boats. Boatman Alcom
upgraded frequently. He served
in the U.S. Navy from 1950 to
1975. Boatman Alcom retired
to Neptune Beach, Fla.

HENRY
EL-
BOURNE,
65, joined
the SIU in
1965 in the
port of Bal­
timore. Bom
in Rock

Hall, Md., he sailed as a chief
engineer. Boatman Elboume
served in the U.S. Air Force
from 1947 to 1950. He resides
in Baltimore.

RICHARD NELSON, 47,
joined the union in 1976 in the
port of Port Arthur, Texas. A
Texas native, he sailed as a cap­
tain. Boatman Nelson served in
theU.S". Army from 1963 to
1966. He calls Port Arthur
home.

GREAT LAKES
RAYMOND
BUZWAH,
64, joined
the SIU in
1962 in the
port of
Detroit Bom
in Canada,
he sailed in
the steward department. His
last vessel was the William R.
Roesch. Brothra- Buzwah resides
in Port Huron, Mich.

RAYMOND DeLEARY, 62,
joined the union in 1960 in the
port of Detroit. A native of
Muncey, Ontario, he sailed as a
dredgeman. Brother DeLeary
served in the U.S. Army in
1952. He calls Superior, Wis.
home.

FRANK
LAPCZYN-
SKI, 64,
joined the
Seafarers in
1964 in the
port of
Detroit.
Bom in Al­

pena, Mich., he sailed as a
bosun. Brother Lapczynski
served in the U.S. Army from
1946 to 1948. He still calls Al­
pena home.

ROBERT
SMITH, 58,
joined the
SIU in 1960
in the port
of Detroit. A
Michigan na­
tive, he
sailed as a
conveyorman Brother Smith
served in the U.S. Army from
1955 to 1957. He retired to
Manistique, Mich.

WILLIAM
SPARKS,
65, joined
the union in
1967 in the
port of
Detroit.
Bom in
Arkansas,

he sailed as a wheelsman.
Brother Sparks resides in Hol­
land, Mich.

Wilkes GaUey Aces MSG QmUy h^yedkm
Hard work and dedication

among SIU steward department
members aboard the USNS
Wilkes proved to be an over­
whelming success when their
team efforts led to a remarkable
score of 99 percent (out of a pos­
sible 100) on a recent Quality As­
surance Inspection conducted by
the Military Sealift Conunand
(MSG) on April 7.

Chief Steward Ben Hender­
son reported, "Only by the
steward department working
closely together as a team could
such a high score be possible. We
are very proud of our accomplish­
ment ahd have served not only our
ship but also our union well by
achieving such high results as
SIU members."

Brother Henderson also
reported in the ship's minutes that
the Wilkes' storerooms are well
supplied, clean and in good order.

and the crewmembers thanked
the entire steward department for
providing excellent meals.

In a written report filed with
the MSG, the Wilkes crew was
praised for its outstanding work.

The inspector wrote, "The Wilkes
has an excellent program in place
for cleanliness. Absolutely no
grease buildup [exists], and
storerooms are in excellent and
neat condition."

, SH\P

The Wilkes galley gang Is (from left, kneeling) ACU Jimmie Hill, SA
Cameron Brintley, SA Robinson Tacang, SA Phillip Morris, SA Adele
George, (second row) Chief Steward Ben Henderson, Chief Purser
Dennie Cook, Chief Cook John Gehring, SA Suzanne Van Schoor, SA
Jack Mohamad, Cook/Baker Kerry Roby and Nurse Thomas Jensen.

SAs Phillip Morris (left) and
Adele George (right) are Piney

IS from the U.S. Point graduates
Virgin Islands who now sail in
the steward department aboard
the Wilkes.

Chief Stewad Ben Henderson (left) poses with Chief Cook John
Gehring after the military's Quality Assurance Inspection on April 7
in which they scored 99 percent, a very close to perfect score.

W-r-fcSw,., . m---

p.. .i:



20 SEAFAKERSLOe MNEisaa

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In^iiiiig Seafarer
Question: How do you feel about the

Coast Guard assessing fees to acquire
or renew a merchant marine docu
ments?

(Asked of SIU members on ships in
Toledo and Lorain, Ohio and Erie, Pa.).

Alan Maury,
AB—^It's terrible
and everyone is
trying to figure
out what to do to
get around it. The
Coast Guard is
overstepping their
power by going
into the private

lives of seamen. It is really none of their
business. The past eight years under
Reagan and Bush changed the Coast
Guard into a police agency for the
government. It's Very unfair.

Boh Eva void,
AB/Watchman-
We pay enough
in taxes. We
shouldn't have to
pay out more be­
cause we are
seafarers.

Robert Heath,
Second Cook—
We get taxed
enough. It
shouldn't come
out of our pock­
ets. The Coast
Guard gets paid
enough. I think
it's ridiculous for

them to charge us to better ourselves.

Roy Calo,
Second Cook—It
is crazy to charge
us to get a new
document when
we upgrade. Why
should it come
out of my pocket
when I upgrade .
my skills and im­
prove myself so that I can get better
jobs? It is really unfair.

A1 Damer, Deck­
hand—It is taxa­
tion without repre­
sentation. We
don't like taxes
being put on us
without our say.
They are hitting
the merchant
mariner from

every angle possible.

Tom Chahot,
AB/Watchman—
Just another tax to
hold your job. We
all agree it's not
fair. We've gone
so long without it.
The merchant
marine is hurting
out here on the
Great Lakes and
now they do this and it hurts us even
more. V^at about the young guys start­
ing out?

John Olsen,
Wiper—^They are
trying to get us to
financially support
the Coast Guard
for bettering oursel
ves. It is way too
steep. If Ihey must
make us pay, it
should be less or

the mariner should make more to afford
it. It isn't right to pay for our jobs.

landy Frank,
Gateman—I don't
see why we must
support the Coast
Guard. We work
iiardforour
money.

John
Frankovich, Con-
veyorman—I
don't see why we
should get them
renewed. Why
should we pay for
something we al­
ready got? Sounds
like the Coast

Guard is looking for a steady income
From the merchant mariner.

coHwem 7dm
POLITICAL
ACTfON
DONATION

Know Your Rights
FINANCIAL REPORTS. The con

stitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District makes specific
provision for safeguarding the
membership's money and union finances
The constitution requires a detailed audi
by certified public accountants every
year, which is to be submitted to the mem­
bership by the secretary-treasurer. A yearly
finance committee of rank-and-file mem­
bers, elected by the membership, each year
examines the finances of the union and
reports fully their findings and recommen­
dations. Members of this committee may
make dissenting reports, sp^ific recom­
mendations and separate findings.

TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of the
SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland
Waters District are administered in ac­
cordance with the provisions of various
trust fund agreements. All these agree­
ments specify that the trustees in charge
of these funds shall equally consist of
union and management representatives
and their alternates. 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 headquarters 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
available in all union halls. If members
jelieve 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 Appeals Board by certified
mail, return receipt requested. The proper
address for this is:

Augustin Tellez, Chairman
Seafarers Appeals Board

5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746

Full copies of contracts as referred 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 con­
ditions under which an SIU member works
and fives aboard a ship or boat. Members
should know their contract rights, as well as
their obligations, such as fifing for overtime
OT) on die proper sheets and in the proper

manner. If, at any time, a member believes
that an SIU patrolman or other union official
ails to protect their contractual rights
properly, he or she should contact the
nearest SIU port agent.

EDITORIAL POLICY — THE
SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG
traditionally has refrained from publish­
ing any article serving the political pur­
poses 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 established policy has been reaf-
Irmed by membership action at the Sep­
tember 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 ex­
ecutive board may delegate, from
among its ranks, one individual to carry
out this responsibility.

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 or she
should not have been required to make such
payment, this should immediately be
reported to union headquarters.

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
AND OBLIGATIONS. Copies of the
SIU constitution are available in all union
halls. All members should obtain copies of
this constitution so as to familiarize them­
selves with its contents. Any time a member
feels any other member or officer is at­
tempting to deprive him or her of any con­
stitutional right or obligation by any
methods, such as dealing with charges, tri­
als, etc., as well as all other details, the
member so affected should immediately
notify headquarters.

EQUAL RIGHTS. All members are
guaranteed equal rights in employment
and as members of die SIU. These rights
are clearly set forth in the SIU constitution
and in the contracts which the union has
negotiated with the employers. Conse­
quently, no member may be discriminated
against because of race, creed, color, sex,
national or geographic origin. If any
member feels that he or she is denied the
equal rights to which he or she is entitled,
the member should notify union head­
quarters.

SEAFARERS POLITICAL AC­
TIVITY DONATION — SPAD. SPAD
is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds
are used to further its objects and purposes
including, but not limited to, furthering
the political, social and econoniic inter­
ests of maritime workers, the preservation
and furthering of the American merchant
marine with improved employment op­
portunities for seamen and boatmen and
the advancement of trade union concepts.
In connection with such objects, SPAD
supports and contributes to political can­
didates for elective office All contribu­
tions are voluntary. No contribution may
je solicited or received because of force,

job discrimination, financial reprisal, or
threat of such conduct, or as a condition
of membership in the union or of employ­
ment. If a contribution is made by reason
of the above improper conduct, the mem-
jer should notify the Seafarers Interna­

tional Union or SPAD by certified mail
within 30 days of the contribution for
investigation and appropriate action and
refund, if involuntary. A member
should support SPAD to protect and fur­
ther his or her 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 or she hais been denied the con­
stitutional right of access to union records
or information, the member should imme­
diately notify SIU President Michael
Sacco at headquarters by certified mail,
return receipt requested. The address is:

Michael Sacco, President
Seafarers International Union

5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746.

ft;:.



^ • •

JUNE 1993
\

XAFARBKIMI 21

Digest of Ships Meetings
The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union ship-

board minu^s as possible. On occasion, bwause of space
limitations, some win be omitted.

Ships minutes first are reviewed by the union's contract department.
Those issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the
union upon receipt of the ships minutes. The minutes are then for­

warded to the Seafarers LOG.

OOCL INSPIRATION (Sea-
Land Service), December 13,
1992—Chairman John Bertolino,
Secretary Edward Collins, Educa­
tional Director Jerry Dellinger.
Chairman announced payoff and
asked members to donate to SPAD
and movie fund. Secretary thanked
crewmembers for keeping pantry
clean and urged them to upgrade at
Paul Hall Center. Treasurer
reported $68 in ship's fund. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crew asked contracts department
to look into extending vacation
time. Crew requested new chairs
for crew lounge and thanked
steward department for job well
done. Next port: Charleston, S.C.

OOCL INSPIRATION (Sea-
Land Service), December 20,
1992—Chairman F. Goethe,
Secretary V. Harper, Educational
Director D. Bush. Chairman urged
members to take advantage of Lun-
deburg School and donate to
SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Crew asked contracts
department to look into improved
dental and optical benefits and
clarification of watchstanding
wheel relief. Crew gave vote of
thanks to steward department. Next
port: Charleston, S.C-

LNG LEO (ETC), January 31—
Chairman Albert IMckford,
Secretary Henry Jones Jr., Educa­
tional Director John Wong, Deck
Delegate Michael Presser, Engine
Delegate M J. Brennon, Steward
Delegate A. RIppel. Chairman
reminded members to support
SPAD and upgrade skills at Piney
Point. He reminded crewmembers
to respect one another. Educational
director urged menibers to upgrade
at Lundeburg School. Treasurer
reported $700 in ship's fund and
$40 in SlU communication fund.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Chairman reminded crew to keep
recreation room clean and stop
noise in passageways at night.
Crew gave steward department
vote of thanks. Next port: Arun, In­
donesia.

RICHARD G. MATTHIESEN
(Ocean Shipholding), February
11—Chairman J.T. Martin,
Secretary C. Mosley, Educational
Director Wendell Parrish, Deck
Delegate George Jordanides, En­
gine Delegate Dean Dobbins.
Treasurer reported $218.19 in
ship's fund and $108 in crew's
fund. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Crewmembers requested
patrolman in next port. Crew
thanked galley gang for great food

Shipboard Camaraderie

QMED/Pumpman Monte
Beck (left) and Chief Cook
Jack Hart attend a union
meeting aboard the ITB
Philadelphia.

and Job well done. Chairman
reminded crewmembers not to
slam doors and to keep crew
lounge doors closed. Next port:
Long Beach, Calif.

SEA-LAND INDEPENDENCE
(Sea-Land Service), February 3—
Chairman Francis Adams,
Secretary Nancy Heyden, Educa­
tional Director Chris Devonish,
Deck Delegate Victor De Jesus,
Engine Delegate Saleh Ali,
Steward Delegate Cecil Gubish.
Chairman reported everything run­
ning smoothly. He encouraged
crewmembers to write senators and
congressmen urging support of
merchant marine. He thanked all
union members who helped cam­
paign for the new Democratic ad­
ministration and reminded crew to
donate to SPAD and MDL. Educa­
tional director encouraged crew to
upgrade at Lundeberg School and
get GED if needed. Treasurer gave
vote of thanks to Tom "Mad
Mikey" Bullen for tapes on invest­
ments. He reported $60 in ship's
fund and $70 in movie fund. En­
gine delegate reported beefs and
disputed OT. No beefs or disputed
OT reported by deck or steward
delegates. Crew thanked manager
of Seaman's Club in Yokohama,
for delivering Seafarers LOGs.
Crew requested new VCR and
were reminded to rewind tapes and
put them back in jackets. Next
port: Long Beach, Calif.

SEAUFT ANTARCTIC (IMC),
February 1—Chairman R. Huyett,
Secretary E. Dumont, Educational
Director S. Haudsford, Deck
Delegate Brian Johnston, Engine
Delegate James Williams,
Steward Delegate M. Abdulla.
Chairman reported crewmembers
saving ship's fund to purchase exer­
cise equipment.

CLEVEL>D\fD (SealiftBulkers),
March 12—Chairman Shawn Orr,
Secretary Michael Baker, Educa­
tional Director D. Melanio,
Steward Delegate Miguel Vinca.
Chairman reported dryer in crew
laundry fixed and all crewmembers
due transportation upon arrival.
Secretary notified crew that letter
was sent from last jwrt guesting
patrolman upon arrival in Hawaii.
Educational director urged mem­
bers to take advantage of Piney
Point and upgrade. Treasurer
reported purchase of six movies.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crew asked contracts department
to clarify time crewmembers can
stay on board and DEU's specific
sanitation duties. Crew reported
dishwashers and refrigerator need
repairs. Next port: Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii.

COVE TRADER (Cove Ship­
ping), March 28—Chairman C.E.
Fryer, Secretary G. Quinn, Educa­
tional Director A. Hickman, Deck
Delegate D. Calotter, Engine
Delegate L. Reynolds, Steward
Delegate D. Payne. Chairman
reminded crew to help separate
plastics and keep galley spaces
clean. Educational director urged
members to upgrade at Lundeberg
School. Deck delegate reported
beef. No beefs or disputed OT
reported by engine delegate.
Steward delegate reported every­
thing running smoothly. Crew gave
vote of thanks to steward depart­
ment. Next port: Tampa, Fla.

JULIUS HAMMER (OCCI),
March 14—Chairman Richard

Nicholas, Secretary F. Corder,
Deck Delegate Tom Orzechowski,
Steward Delegate Frahklyn Cor-
dero. Chairman reported Seafarers
LOGs received but other mail very
slow. Secretary requested
refrigerators for individual rooms.
Deck delegate reported beefs and
disputed OT. No beefs or disputed
OT reported by engine or steward
delegates. Crew asked contracts
department to look into improved
care for dependents and better den­
tal and eye care. Crew requested
new shortwave radio and VCR.
Crew thanked galley gang for job
well done. Next port: Tampa, Fla.

LIBERTY STAR (Liberty
Maritime), March 7—Chairman
Ray Todd, Secretary H. Williams,
Educational Director James
Thihodeau, Engine Delegate Isaac
Rowel, Steward Delegate Gerardo
Lopez. Chairman reported ship en
route to Poland with grain and
com. He announced payoff in New
Orleans during first week of April.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crew praised galley gang for good
job.

LNG ARIES (ETC), March 21—
Chairman Ulus Veach, Secretary
Doyle Cornelius, Educational
Director Riley Donahue, Deck
Delegate Raphael Vargas, Engine
Delegate Kevin Conklin, Steward
Delegate Udjang Nurdjaja. Chair­
man thanked crewmembers for
cooperation in keeping noise down
while others are sleeping. Secretary
thanked entire crew for keeping
lounge clean. Educational director
reminded all crewmembers to
upgrade at Lundeberg School and
announced posting of upgrading
schedule. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Crew gave vote of thanks
to steward department for poolside
barbecues.

NEWARK BAY (Sea-Land Ser­
vice), March 23—Chairman Fred
Collins, Secretary Jerome Jordan,
Educational Director Richard
Johnsen, Deck Delegate Tommy
Benton, Engine Delegate Philip
Pardovich, Steward Delegate Wil­
lie Grant. Chairman announced
payoff upon arrival. Secretary
thanked crewmembers for keeping
ship clean and gave special thanks
to steward department for good
job. Educational director reminded
members of importance of upgrad­
ing at Lundeburg School. No beefs
or disputed OT reported. Crew­
members thanked galley gang for
job well done. Next port: Charles­
ton, S.C.

OMI COLUMBIA (OMICorp ),
March 31—Chairman A J. Eckert,
Secretary P.P. Lopez, Deck
Delegate W.K. Blankenship, En­
gine Delegate T.F. Evans, Steward
Delegate J.A. Barahona. Chair­
man reported captain happy with
the way crew did jobs. He
reminded crewmembers to clean
rooms and make sure keys are
turned in before signing off. He
thanked and told crew it was a
pleasure sailing with such a good
group. Educational director urged
members to upgrade at Paul Hall
Center and keep up with dues. No
beefs or disput^ OT reported.
Crew asked contracts department
to look into mandatory retirement
at age 62. Crew gave vote of
thanks to galley gang for job well
done. Next port: Portland, Ore.

OMI WILLAMETTE (OMI
Corp.), March 27—Chairman M.
McDuffie, Secretary R. Scott,
Educational Director F.V. Vogler,
Deck Delegate Frank Lyle. Chair­
man announced payoff in Houston.
He reported more union meetings
needed to keep in touch with union
values. No beefs or disputed OT
reported.

OVERSEAS NEW ORLEANS
(Maritime Overseas), March 23—
Secretary Cariito Navarro.
Secretary reported good trip with
no beefs or disputed OT. Educa­
tional director urged members to
upgrade at Piney Point for job

security. Crewmembers asked con­
tracts department to look into im­
proved death benefits and glasses
and prescription programs. Crew
gave vote of thaiiks to steward
department. Next port: Deer Park,
Texas.

OVERSEAS OHIO (Maritime
Overseas), March 22-^hairman
George Schuj, Secretary Earl
Gray, Educational Director D.
Bautista, Deck Delegate Thomas
Howell, Engine Delegate W.
Behan, Steward Delegate Shari
Smitson. Chairman reported
smooth sailing and payoff. He
urged members to keep in touch
with union by attending all meet­
ings. Secretary announced next
voyage will be to West Coast. He
urged crewmembers to attend Lun­
deberg School and upgrade skills.
Educational director encouraged

Crew asked contracts department
to look into improved medical
coverage and death benefits.

SEA-LAND DISCOVERY (Sea-
Land Service), March 21—Chair­
man Nelson Sala, Secretary J.
Colls, Educational Director Joseph
Shuler, Deck Delegate Ramon
Castro, Engine Delegate Juan
Guari, Steward Delegate Dimas
Rodriguez. Chairman announced
payoff and reported crew needs
new VCR. Secretary reported
everything running smoothly with
no beefs or disputed OT. Chairman
announced vessel in shipyard first
week of June. Crew thanked galley
gang for job well done. Next port:
Elizabeth, N.J.
SEA-LAND INDEPENDENCE
(Sea-Land Service), March 28—
Chairman Francis Adams,
Secretary Nancy Heyden, Educa-

Cookout Is a Group Effort

The steward department on board the Sea-Land Pacific gets great
marks from the crew for Its shipboard barbecues. From the left are
Chief Cook Don Spangler, Steward George Bronson and AB Mel
Talaloto

members to take advantage of
Piney Point and continue supplying
SlU vessels with best possible
seamen. Crewmembers voted to
use $50 of ship's fund for fresh fish
in Honolulu. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Crew gave vote of
thanks to steward department for
job very well done.

OVERSEAS PHILADELPHIA
(Maritime Overseas), March lb-
Chairman Thomas Bluitt,
Secretary J. Rivera, Educational
Director Patrick Coppola, Deck
Delegate Keith Bennett^ Engine
Delegate Abdulrud Atiah. Educa­
tional director reminded members
to go to Paul Hall Center and
upgrade in order to better oneself.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crew gave vote of thanks to galley
gang .for good job. Next port:
Tampa, Ra.

SEA-LAND ANCHORAGE
(Sea-Land Service), March 31—
Chairman Garry Walker,
Secretary J. Wright, Educational
Director K. Bertel, Deck Delegate
Steve Castle, Engine Delegate
Raymond Clock, Steward
Delegate William Bryley. Chair­
man announced payoff and
reminded crewmembers signing off
to leave rooms clean with fresh
linen. He reminded all crewmem­
bers to check with boarding patrol­
man. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Crew discussed NAFTA
and Seafarers' involvement. Crew
reported waiting on information
from contracts department regard­
ing new contract. Crew gave vote
of thanks to steward department,
^lext port: Tacoma, Wash.

tional Director Raymond Machaj,
Engine Delegate Saleh Ali,
Steward Delegate Cecil Guhisch.
Chairman discussed politics with
crewmembers and encouraged
SPAD and MDL donations. He
thanked all departments for doing
jobs in professional SIU way.
Educational director urged mem­
bers to upgrade skills at Piney
Point and donate to SPAD. Deck
delegate reported beefs and dis­
puted OT. Disputed OT reported
by engine and stewartldelegates.
Crewmembers requested new
movies and VCR for crew lounge.
Crew gave vote of thanks to
steward department. Next port:
Long Beach, Calif.

SEA-LAND CHALLENGER
Sea-Land Service), March 7—
Chairman Barry Carrano,
Secretary Norman Duhe, Educa­
tional Director Dann Manthei,
Oeck Delegate Juan Ayala, En-

, ;ine Delegate SIma Padilla,
< Steward Delegate Pedro Santos,
^o beefs or disputed OT reported.

SEA-LAND PACIFIC (Sea-Land
Service), March 14—Chairman
Lothar Reck, Secretary George
M. Bronson, Educational Director
F. Fredrickson, Deck Delegate
Greg Johnson, Engine Delegate
Prentiss Smith, Steward Delegate
Donald Spangler. Chairman
reported crewmembers need new
washing machine and dryer. He
remind^ crew to keep living
quarters clean and gadier plastic
and aluminum in separate bags. He
encouraged crewmembers to
donate to SPAD. Secretary
reported 13 movies brought aboard
in Kaohsiung by AB Mel Talaloto
and DEU Scott Melle. Educational
director lu-ged members to upgrade
skills at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer
reported $80.34 in ship's fund and
$82 in movie fund for next trip. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crew gave vote of thanla to
stewa^ department for cookouts.
Request was made for no smoking
in crew mess hall. Next port:
Tacoma, Wash.

SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE
(Sea-Land Service), March 28—•
Chairman Richard Moss,
Secretary H. Johnson. Chairman

Continued on page 22

• \ .. I



-•^ t-., , ^ s

22 SEAFABEHSIOQ JUNE 1993
,>:-••> r ,

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• ' •' -• • •• V •••//'

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Ships Digest

Continued from page 21

announced payoff and thanked
steward department for job well
done. He reported smooth sailing
with no beefs or disputed OT. Next
port: Charleston, S.C.

SEA-LAND PRODUCER (Sea-
Land Service), March 28—Chair­
man J. Edwards, Secret^ L.
HofTman, Educational Director G.
Cruzen, Deck Delegate R. Vicari,
Engine Delegate L. Diaz, Steward
Delegate M. AbouIIa. Chairman
announced relief bosun will come
aboard in Long Beach, Calif, for
two trips. Educational director
reminded members to upgrade at
Piney Point. Treasurer reported
$55 in crew's fund. No beefs or dis­
puted OT reported. Crew asked
contracts department to look into
dental plan. Chairman reminded
crewmembers to lock library while
in port due to missing video tapes.
Next port: Oakland, Calif.

SEA-LAND TRADER (Sea-
Land Service), March 23—Chair­
man Mike Willis, Secretary Jim
Weed, Educational Director
Mihone Sabin, Deck Delegate
Tom Mylan, Engine Delegate
W.J. Lee Jr., Steward Delegate
Charles Atkins. Chairman reported
captain requested all OT be put on
separate sheets of paper to be
turned in for payment. Educational
director reminded members to
upgrade skills at Piney Point. Deck
delegate reported disputed OT. No
beefs or disputed OT reported by
engine or steward delegates. Chair­
man announced patrolman board­
ing ship at payoff. Crew requested
vessel be sprayed for bugs and
pests every time ship finishes
voyage. Chairman and crewmem­
bers thanked galley gang for good
food and service. Next port:
Tacoma, Wash.

SEA-LAND VALUE (Sea-Land
Service), March 21—Chairman D.
Leon Jr., Secretary J. Grundy III,
Educational Director Steve Miller,
Deck Delegate Tom Kilbride, En­
gine Delegate Gerard Rogers.
Chairman reported crew lounge
needs two new chairs and sug­
gested phone be put in chief cook's
room in case of accident or ill
health. Secretary gave vote of
thanks to deck department and en­
gine room with special thanks to
chief electrician. Steward delegate
reported beef. No beefs or disputed
OT reported by deck or engine
delegates. Chairman gave special
vote of thanks to steward depart­
ment for hard work and good job
by all. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J.

SEAUFTATLANTIC (IMC),
March 10—Chairman Carlos
Loureiro, Deck Delegate Doug
Lawton, Engine Delegate William
Keble, Steward Delegate Brian
Lindsley. Chairman announced
payoff. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Chairman reminded crew-

members not to stand on equip­
ment in lifeboats and to shut down
fire hoses tightly after using fire
pump. Next port: Houston.

SEAUFT ATLANTIC (IMC),
March 29—Chairman Carlos
Loureiro, Secretary O. Angeles,
Deck Delegate Doug Lawton, En­
gine Delegate William Keble,
Steward Delegate Joseph Ryan.
Chairman announced payoff in
Beaumont, Texas. Educational
director encouraged eligible mem­
bers to upgrade at Piney Point. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crew asked contracts department
to look into collecting retirement in
luinp-sum payment before age 65.
Steward department requested
larger variety of stores in order to
add items to menu. Next port:
Tampa, Fla.

SUGAR ISLANDER (Pacific
Gulf Marine), March 26—Chair­
man William Dean, Secretary
Ceasar Blanco, Educational Direc­
tor Clifford Hall. Chairman en­
couraged members to go to Paul
Hall Center and upgrade skills.
Secretary reminded crew of impor­
tance of SPAD donations. No beefs
or disputed OT reported. Crew re­
quested carpet cleaning and new
VCR. Next port: Galveston, Texas.

USNS BARTLETT (Bay Ship
Management), March 28-^hair-
man Tbomas Gagnon, Secretary
Charles Fincher, Educational
Director Eric Sutton; Deck
Delegate Henry Morin, Steward
Delegate James Jordon. Educa­
tional director encouraged crew-
members to upgrade at Piney
Point. Mobile Patrolman Ed Kelley
deWw&red Seafarers LOGs to crew-
members at payoff. Crewmembers
voted to buy new VCR. Chairman
announced Bay Ship and MSG rep­
resentatives will meet ship upon ar­
rival in New Orleans if
crewmembers have questions.
Crew requested a grill for cookouts.

USNS WILKES (Bay Ship
Management), March 29—Chair­
man Tom Trehern, Secretary Ben
Henderson, Educational Director
Clarence Brown, Deck Delegate
J. Davis, Steward Delegate
Donald Mann. Chairman an­
nounced safety bonus for Decem­
ber 1992 and January 1993 and
reminded crew to read memo on
jobs. Secretary reported storerooms
well supplied, clean and in good
order. Treasurer reported $190 in
ship's fund. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Crew voted to keep
TV on during meal hours in crew
mess hall. Crew reported safety
bonus had not been received. Next
port: Honolulu.

CAPE HENRY (lOM), April
13—Chairman Tbomas Votsis,
Secretary A1 Holland, Educational
Director Irwin Rousseau, Deck
Delegate Troy Cooley, Engine
Delegate Troy Flemming,
Steward Delegate James Alston.
Chairman announced no beefs or
disputed OT reported and thanked
crew for job well done. He en-

i

Tying Up Loose Ends

The crew lounge of the Sea-Land Crusaderv/as the location of the
ship's union meeting in Port Elizabeth, N.J. recently. From the left
are OMU Alfred Gonzalez, Steward Nick Andrews, OMU Angel
Hernandez, AB Reyes Flores, SlU Assistant Vice President Ker-
mett Mangram and Bosun Rafael Vega.

couraged members to upgrade at
Lundeburg School, keep up dues
and contribute to defense league
fund. Crew thanked galley gang for
good job. Next port: Oakland,
Calif.

CHARLESTON (Apex Marine),
April 13—Chairman Anthony
Maben, Secretary R. Poovey,
Educational Director Richard
Gracey, Deck Delegate Gary
Gambrel, Engine Delegate A.
Wadsworth. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Crew thanked
steward department for great
meals. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J.

LIBERTY BELL (Liberty
Maritime), April 11—Chairman C.
Loveland, Secretary Bud
Marchman, Educational Director
Mark Ruhl. No beefs or disputed
OT reported.

MOKU PAHU (Pacific Gulf
Marine), April 18—Chairman
D.M. Ticer, Secretary A.F. Sun-
cin. Educational Director G. Dabl,
Steward Delegate John Pratt.
Secretary reminded crewmembers
to keep mess hall clean. No beefs
or disputed OT reported. Crew
received payoff. Entire crew gave
vote of thaidcs to steward depart­
ment.

OOCL INNOVATION (Sea-Land
Service), April 4—Chairman F.
Goethe, Secretary V. Harper,
Educational Director V. Bolton,
Deck Delegate A. Fabre, Engine
Delegate G.A. Yore, Steward
Delegate M.A. Harris. Chairman
reminded crewmembers to check
for safety violations and notify
department heads. Treasurer
reported $75 in ship's funds. No
)eefs or disputed OT reported.

Chairman announced response
Tom contracts department regard­
ing emergency leave. He reminded
crewmembers to return all movies
to movie locker. Crew gave vote of
thanks to galley gang. Next port:
Elizabeth, N.J.

OVERSEAS HARRIETTE
Maritime Overseas), April 11—

Chairman Carlos Spina Jr.,
Secretary T. Davalie. Chairman an­
nounced Seafarers LOGs received.
Je reported all departments have
)een extra cooperative. Secretary
reported new stores will be pur­
chased in Durban, South Africa
when stopping for bunkers. Educa­
tional director reported ship's read­
ing material the best there is, and
VCR will be fixed next port. Deck
delegate reported beefs. No beefs
or disputed OT reported by engine
or steward delegates. Steward
delegate reported crew thinks food
is excellent. Captain complimented
galley gang on job very well done.

RALEIGH BA Y (Sea-Land),
April 4—Chairman Howard
Cnox, Secretary J. Speller, Educa­

tional Director David Dukehart.
Educational director reminded
members to upgrade at Paul Hall
Center and put movies away after
viewing. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Crew gave vote of thanks
to steward department for job well
done.

RICHARD G. MATTHIESEN
Ocean Shipholding), April 15—

Chairman J.T. Martin, Secretary
IZ. Mosley, Educational Director
' V. Parrish, Deck Delegate
Vayne Cosey, Engine Delegate
Jean Dobbins, Steward Delegate

S. Sparks. Treasurer reported
$254.44 in ship's fund and $86.61
in crew's fund. No beefs or dis-
juted OT reported. Chairman an­

nounced company bought new TV
br crew lounge. Crew reported
new washing machine will be
brought aboard in San Diego.
Chairman reminded members not
to slam doors and to keep crew
ounge door closed. Crew thanked
;alley gang for good meals and

keeping tidy ship.

SEA-LAND CHALLENGER
Sea-Land Service), April 4—

Chairman Roy Williams,

Secretary Norman Dube, Educa­
tional Director Dann Manthei.
Crew asked contracts department
to look into improving death
benefits and pension plan. Crew
thanked galley gang for good food
and service.

SEA-LAND DEVELOPER (Sea-
Land Service), April 4—Chairman
T. Murpby, Secretary L. Finn,
Educational Director J. Ross, Deck
Delegate Steven Baker, Steward >
Delegate James Boss. Chairman
announced payoff April 11 and
reported everything going well
with professional and hard-work­
ing crew. Secretary thanked crew
for keeping ship clean. Educational
director reminded members to
upgrade at Lundeberg School and
donate to SPAD. Treasurer
reported 25 new movies purchased.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crewmembers asked contracts
department for update on negotia­
tions. Next port: Tacoma, Wash.

SEA-LAND EXPLORER (Sea-
Land Service), April 18—Chair­
man Oscar Wiley, Secretary D.
Clay, Educational Director G. Pol­
lard Lowsley, Deck Delegate Wil­
liam Murpby. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Crew
reported safe, accident-free voyage
with fine job done by steward
department. Crew thanked GSU for
keeping sparkling clean decks and
mess hall. Next port: Long Beach,
Calif.

SEA-LAND HAWAII (Sea-Land
Service), April 1—Chairman Wal­
ter Weaver, Secretary G.S.
Lyncb, Educational Director Jose
Del Rio, Deck Delegate Lee
Selico, Engine Delegate Ricky
Williams, Steward Delegate
Joesepb Laureta. Chairman noted
kudos from captain for fine perfor­
mance by all crewmembers
through bad weather. Secretary
reminded crew to secure recreation
room chairs in bad weather and
keep pantry area clean. Educational
director informed members about
safety meeting items and reminded
them of opportunities available for
those who upgrade at Paul Hall
Center. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Secretary reported new
VCR for next voyage will come
aboard upon arrival in port. Crew
announced new books revived
will be turned over to Seaman's
Club in Yokohama because there
are not enough shelves to keep
them all on board. Next port: Long
Beach, Calif.

SEA-LAND INTEGRITY (Sea-
Land Service), April 11—Chair­
man Jose Ross, Secretary K.D.
Jones, Educational Director Den­
nis Baker, Deck Delegate A.
Haarmann, Engine Delegate
Philip Zalewski, Steward Delegate
Charles RatcIifT. Chairman
thanked crewmembers for job well
done. Secretary commended crew­
members for heroism and skillful
performance on rescue of eight
English seamen aboard the Vander-
decken. Educational director
reminded members to upgrade at
Piney Point. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Chairman urged crew
to donate to SPAD. Crew thanked
steward department for job well
done during rescue mission. Next
port: Charleston, S.C.

SEA-LAND NAVIGATOR (Sea-
Land Service), April 11—Chair­
man Howard Gibbs, Secretary
Louis Nicoud, Educational Direc­
tor Walter Stevens, Deck Delegate
Sean O'Doherty, Engine Delegate
Robert Zurflub, Steward Delegate
Raymond Garcia. Educational
director urged members to upgrade
at Piney Point. No beefs or dis­
puted OT reported. Crew thanked
galley gang for good food and
clean ship. Crew also gave special
vote of thanks to deck delegate
Sean O'Doherty for good job. Next
port: Tacoma, Wash.

SEA-LAND PRODUCER (Sea-
Land Service), April 18—Chair­

man Carrol Heick, Secretary L.
Hofiman, Educational Director J.
Smitko, Deck Delegate R. Vicar-
ri. Engine Delegate J. Smiley,
Steward Delegate M. Abdullah.
Chairman announced payoff.

Mobile Meeting

OS Angel Passapera attends
a union meeting on board the
American Heritage during a
recent stop in Mobile, Ala.

Educational director reminded
members to attend Lundeburg
School and upgrade skills.
Treasurer reported $55 in ship's
fund. No beefs or disputed OT.
Chairman reported videotapes will
continue to be purchased at rate of
15 to 20 per month from crew
entertainment fund. Next port: Oak­
land, Calif.

SEA-LAND RELIANCE (Sea-
Land Service), April 8—Chairman
R. McGonagle, Secretary G. Siv-
ley. Educational Director A.
Jaramillo, Deck Delegate Thomas
Scbroeder, Engine Delegate R.
Wasserman, Steward Delegate
John McCree Jr. Chairman asked
crew not to remove safety belts
fiom stack, they are for gangway
only. He thanked crew for smooth
trip. Educational director stressed im­
portance of donating to SPAD. No
beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew
thanked galley gang for job well
done. Ne^t port: Tacoma, Wash.

SEA-LAND SPIRIT (Sea-Land
Service), April 11—Chairman
Christopher LoPiccolO, Secretary
H. Curry, Educational Director H.
Manzer. Educational director
reported two crewmembers from
engine department going to Piney
Point to upgrade skills. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Chairman
thawed crew for donations that
made new gym possible. Crew re­
quested transportation from ship to
gate. Next port: Oakland, Calif.

UST PACIFIC (lOM), April 8-
Chairman W. Csapo, Secretary R.
Evans, Educational Director A.
Mercado, Engine Delegate K.
Graham, Steward Delegate K.
Swain. Chairman reported mail
problem discussed with captain. He
noted packages must be smaller
and addresses printed clearly and
accurately. He also reported cotton
coveralls will be on board in next
port. Educational director en­
couraged members to upgrade at
Paul Hall Center and take ad­
vantage of fine facilities and educa­
tion. Treasurer reported $50 in •
ship's fund. New treasurer AB
Andy Barrows elected. No beefs
or disputed OT reported. Crew
reported Seafarers LOGs not yet
received. Crew suggested rewinder
for VCR be purchased. Crew dis­
cussed Coast Guard policy on
respirators for those with facial
hair. Crew reported new washing
machine and dryer needed. A vote
of thanks given to steward depart­
ment for job well done. Next port:
Galveston, Texas.

•^v



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' v-

JUNE 1993 SEAFARERS LOG 23

Final Departures
DEEP SEA
RICHARD BLAKE

Pensioner
Richard
Blake, 73,
passed away
April 8.
Bom in Min­
nesota, he
joined the
Seafarers in

1942 in the port of New York.
He sailed in the deck department.
Brother Blake began receiving
his pension in September 1974.

NATHAN COLLINS
Nathan Collins, 39, died
Febraary 24. A native of
Weatherford, Texas, he joined
the SIU in 1991 in the port of
Houston. Brother Collins sailed
in the deck department.

GABRIEL MORALES
Pensioner Gabriel Morales, 73,
passed away April 17. Bom in
Puerto Rico, he joined the union
in 1968 in the port of New York.
Brother Morales sailed in the
deck department. He served in
the U.S. Army from 1945 to
1946. Brother Morales retired in
October 1985.

ROBERT ROSADO
Robert Rosado, 36, died Septem­
ber 21,1992. A New York na­
tive, he graduated from the
Lundeberg School in 1979.
Brother Rosado sailed in the

. deck department. He i|pgraded at
Piney Point in 1982. Brother
Rosado served in the U.S. Navy
from 1975 to 1978.

LESTER STONEBRAKER
Pensioner
Lester
Stonebraker,
72, passed
away April
24. Bom in
Tyrone, Pa.,
he joined the
Seafarers in

1970 in the port of Baltimore. He
sailed in the deck department.
Brother Stonebraker served in
the U.S. Navy from 1944 to
1946. He began receiving his
pension in Febraary 1992.

CHARLES WESLEY
Pensioner Charles Wesley, 68,
died March 18. A Califomia na­
tive, he joined the SIU in 1978 in
the port of San Francisco. He was
a member of the Marine Cooks
and Stewards (MCS) before that
union merged with the SIU's At­
lantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland
WatCTS Division (AGLIWD).
Brother Wesley sailed as a chief
cook and upgraded frequently at
Piney Point He retired in February
1987.

DONOVAN HUGHES
Pensioner
Donovan
Hughes, 55,
passed away
March 24.
Bom in
Honolulu, he
joined the
union in

1959 in the port of San Francis­
co. Brother Hughes sailed in the
steward department. He served in
the U.S. Army from 1956 to
1959. Brother Hughes began
receiving his pension in January
1988.

r, , -y \

OSKARKALA
Pensioner
Oskar Kala,
87, died
April 30. A
native of Es­
tonia, N.Y.,
he joined the
Seafarers in
1941 in the

port of New York. Brother Kala
sailed as a chief electrician. He
retired in November 1972.

FERLTONMEARS
Pensioner
Ferlton
Mears, 62,
passed away
May 2. Bom
in Wacha-
preague, Va.,
he joined the
SIU in 1955

in the port of Norfolk, Va.
Brother Mears completed the
bosun recertification course at
the Lundeberg School in 1975.
He began receiving his pension
in August 1983.

JOSEPH MUCIA SR.
Pensioner
Joseph
Mucia Sr.,
65, died
April 11.
Bom in
Brooklyn,
N.Y.,he
joined the

union in 1947 in the port of New
York. Brother Mucia completed
the bosun recertification course
at Piney Point in 1979. He served
in the U.S. Army from 1954 to
1956. Brother Mucia retired in
August 1989.

JESUS DELOS REYES
Pensioner
Jesus Delos
Reyes, 77,
passed away
April 28. A
native of the
Philippines,
he joined the
Seafarers in

1964 in the port of New York.
Brother Reyes completed the
steward recertification course at
the Lundeberg School in 1977.
He began receiving his pension
in January 1982.

ELMER RUSHING
Pensioner Elmer Rushing, 80,
died April 13. Bom in Mississip­
pi, he joined the SIU in 1940 in
the port of New Orleans. Brother
Rushing sailed as a bosun. He
retired in May 1974.

GAVINO SANDIEGO
Pensioner Gavino Sandiego, 86,
passed away December 18,1992.
A native of the Philippines, he
joined the Marine Cooks and
Stewards in 1957 in the port of
San Francisco, before that union
merged with the AGLIWD.
Brother Sandiego began receiv­
ing his pension in August 1972.

LAKES
JOSEPH CHERUBINI

Joseph
Cherabini,
65, died
April 14.
Bom in
Calumet,
Mich., he
joined the

union in 1979 in the port of
Frankfort, Mich. He sailed in the
steward department. Brother
Cherabini served in the U.S.
Army from 1950 to 1952.

JAMES SMITH
Pensioner
James Smith,
76, died
April 20.
Bom in
Germfask,
Mich., he
joined the
Seafarers in

1958 in the port of Detroit.
Brother Smith sailed in the en­
gine department. He served in
the U.S. Army from 1941 to
1945. Brother Smith began

receiving his pension in April
1982.

FRANCISMOEN
Pensioner Francis Moen, 74,
passed away April 25. A native
of Bagley, Minn., he joined the
SIU in 1960 in the port of
Detroit. Brother Moen sailed in
the engine department. He served
in the U.S. Army from 1943 to
1946. Brother Moen retired in
April 1984.

RAILROAD MARINE
JOHN ROSCHEFSKY
Pensioner John Roschefsky, 84,
died April 9. Bom in Staten Is­
land, N.Y., he joined the SIU in
1960 in the port of New York.

He sailed as a mate. Brother Ros­
chefsky began receiving his pen­
sion in Nfey 1974.

WILLARD BLAKE
Prasioner
Willard
Blake, 76,
pitesed away
April 8. A
Virginia na­
tive, he
jcuned the
union in

1960 in ihe port of l^ptfolk, Va.
Brother ̂ lake sailed in the deck
department with Chessq)eake and
Ohio Rhiiroad. He sdved in the
U.S. NaW from 1944 to 1945.
Brother make, retired in April
1971.

LHG Leo Cnw HoUs ManoM for Bosun muamSi^

on tbe highland4>agpipes.
They are, from left, QMED John Smith, OS Francis Smith, AS Ed Gontha, AB Kenji Hofftnan, QMED
Tim Vanpelt, Recertified Bosun Jack Davis and Captain N.M. Smith.

Crewmembers gather in^iience as the ca^ain plays "AmMing Grace"
cis Smi

QMED John Smith scatters the
ashes of his father, William J.
Smith, off the side of the Leo.

SIU crewmembers aboard
the LNG Leo joined together in
prayer, music and fellowship to
bid farewell to Recertified
Bosun William J. Smith, who
passed away January 17.

The vessel stopp^ at 10 a.m.
on Sunday, March 21 in the
South China Sea, between the
mainland of China and Taiwan,
to hold a special memorial ser­
vice for the late bosun as he had
requested before his passing.

His son, QMED John H.
Smith, and his brother, OS
Francis H. Smith, were
honored guests as well as Bosun
John Davis, who sailed with the
late recertified bosun for many

years.
Master N.M. Smith (no rela­

tion) read Psalm 23 as the ashes
of Brother Smith were con­
signed to the sea by his son.

The ceremony concluded
with the master playing "Amaz­
ing Grace," "Rowers of the
Forest" and "LochabwNo More"
on the highland bagpipes.

Born January 29, 1927,
Bosun Smith joined the
Seafarers in 1947 in his native
Philadelphia and retired in
January 1986. Late last month,
he was inducted into the
Philadelphia Boxing Hall of
Fame for his prize fighting
career in that city.

Seafarers Take Part in Chavez Funeral Procession

£>an uwgo Union-Tilbune/Don Kohbaiwr
White-capped Seafarers join an estimated 35,000 mourners in the three-mile funeral procession of
Cesar Chavez, president of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO (UFW), who died April
23 in San Luis, Ariz, at the age of 66.

.fi

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24 SEAFARHISLOG
<:• Vv.'

JUNE 1993

Reiss Crewmembers Prefer
Lakes Jobs to Florida Sun

Florida may have the climate,
but the Great-Lakes have the jobs,
according to two SIU Sunshine
State residents who sail aboard
the Richard Reiss.

ABs Larry English and Alan
Maury make the commute each

; spring to sign on to the bulkers that
sail the Great Lakes. This year the

I duo is sailing aboard the Erie Sand
I Steamship Co. self-uhloader.

Maury, who hails from Largo,
Fla., was teaching school when
friends told him about the mer­
chant marines. "I figured I would
try it out once and see what it was
like," Maury recalled about his

first trip in 1974 which was on a
Steinbrenner vessel. "I never left
to go back to teaching."

English already had sailing in
his blood. The Shady Grove, Ra.
resident had completed a tour of
duty with the Navy when he
joined the SIU as a deep sea mem­
ber. He sailed three years aboard
Seatrain and other vessels to Viet­
nam before switching to the Great
Lakes in 1976.

Residing in Florida and sailing
on the Great Lakes allows the
deck department members to
"live and work in good climates
year-round," English noted. "At

the beginning and end of the [sail­
ing] season, the weather may be
bad, but we're used to it and ex­
pect it up here."

"Besides, we know what we
have to look forward to when we
sign off," added Maury.

Both members noted they
have relatives living along the
Lakes who help to close some of
the distance between the water­
ways and Florida.

The 620-foot Reiss carries r
rock, sand and salt to ports along
the lower Lakes. The yessel was AB/Wheelsman Larry English
built in 1943 and converted to a makes the annual trek to the

One of the tasks for Oiler Doug Rumball is cleaning the strainers for
oily water in the cooling water separator. OS Kevin Bleau carries stores across the deck while the vessel is docked in the port of Erie, Pa.



JUNE 1993

Experts Warn Congress: Pipelines Are Biggest Oii Poiiulers
Continued from page 4
ecological effects can be devas­
tating) inland spills from
pipelines can produce
groundwater contamination that
persists for decades and may
never be completely cleaned up."

Distorted Facts
The chief executive officer of

Colonial, Donald R. Brinkley, in
his written submission to the sub­
committee, countered the tes­
timony that pipelines are riddled
with safety problems. "Data
show that pipelines are the safest
mode of transportation for
petroleum and petroleum
products," he said. He added that
"Colonial's record is significant­
ly better than that of the oil
pipeline industry in general."

Rackleff pointed out in his
written testimony that repeatedly
"Colonial Pipeline has mis­
represented both its company
record and the industry record of
spills and leaks."

Rackleff s group reviewed
data Colonial had distributed to
North Florida residents stating

that in 1990 pipelines spilled
18,709 gallons per billion ton-
mile while water carriers spilled
44,458 gallons per billion ton-
mile. Colonial claimed the data
came from DOT. However DOT
disavowed the data.

Colonial's statistics appeared
to come from the government's
Emergency Response Notifica­
tion System, Rackleff said,
"which counted less than 20 per­
cent of the volume of oil pipeline
spills in the 1980's." Colonial
"ignored the more accurate OPS
data."

Looking at 1991 and 1992
data. Colonial Pipeline "alone
spilled more than did all the
t^ships and barges throughout
the United States," Rackleff said.

Lack of Regulation
Marine transportation of oil

and petroleum products is highly
regulated, particularly since
enactment of the Oil Pollution
Act of 1990 (OPA '90), passed by
Congress in the wake of the
Exxon Valdez spill. Pipeline
regulations are much less strin-

Sill Pushes Legislation to Protect
Seamen on Rieiaway-Flag Vessels
Continued from page 4

"H.R. 1517 is a chance for the
United States to assert its moral
leadership in the world," Turner
testified during the hearing.
"There are times when the United
States — the world's only super­
power and most stable long-term
democracy — must step out in
front when it comes to addressing
human suffering and the exploita­
tion of human beings."

Turner noted that in the area of
environmental protection the
U.S. took the lead in the world
with the passage of the Oil Pollu­
tion Act of 1990, a bill which
requires all vessels regardless of
nationality operating in
American waters to comply with
its strict procedures and rules.

"What can be done for the, en­
vironment can also be done in
behalf of human beings," Turner
concluded.

In opening the hearing, Sub-
conunittee Chairman Austin J.
Murphy (D-Pa.) stated passage of
the bill would help to put
"American shipping lines and the
foreign shipping lines on a level
playing field. [One of] the unfair
advantage that foreign lines have
over American lines is wiped
away when this legislation is
enacted."

Murphy also noted, "Foreign
ship operators gain all the
benefits of American commerce
without having to obey any
American worker protection
statutes. These shipping lines find
themselves in the enviable posi­
tion of having their cake and
eating it too. This situation
creates an unfair double standard
and leaves American shipping at
a decided disadvantage."

John Sansone, who oversees a
team of eight U.S.-based FOC in­
spectors for the International
Transport Workerk Federation
(ITF), stated in testimony before
the subcommittee, "One does not

need to be a union official, only
someone with a keen eye and a
concern for people to observe that
foreign seamen on ships entering
United States ports are often
forced to perform their jobs under
unsafe and unhealthy conditions
and that they often act in ways
that suggest tihey are fearful of the
ship masters they work under."

Sansone stated he had tes­
tified before Congress about
working conditions on runaway
ships in October 1989 only to see
the situation get worse since then.
Among the problems he listed are
poor health and safety conditions
where food is improperly stored
and drinking water is con­
taminated; cramped living
quarters; undermanned vessels
with overworked crews 'Toiced to
work long hours at sometimes
dangerous jobs" and wage cheating.

After providing several
specific examples of how
runaway ships take advantage of
their crews, Sansone said when
the Coast Guard goes to inves­
tigate, "Foreign-flag ships can
simply sail away from respon­
sibility for their actions."

Thomas J. Schneider, speak­
ing on behalf of AFL-CIO
Maritime Committee, pointed
out, "There is no legal or political
validity to the argument that con­
gressional jurisdiction should
stop at the water's edge. Many
laws, most recently the Oil Pollu­
tion Act, project U.S. concems
and interests into the world
marketplace."

Supporting the remarks of the
Turner, Sansone and Schneider,
Deacon Robert M. Balderas, the
national director of the
Apostleship of the Sea, asked the
subcommittee, "How long are we
going to protect the unscrupulous
shipowner?" The subcommittee
has planned several visits to
where runaway-flag vessels are
docked before taking further ac­
tion on the bill.

gent and as a result they "are not
protecting the environment and
public safety at the local level,"
Rackleff said.

One difference in regulatoty
standards highlighted in
Rackleff s testimony is the level
at which a spill must be reported.
Hazardous liquid pipeline
operators are required to report
spills or leaks of more than 2,100
gallons or that involve $5,000 or
more in damages, or result in in­
juries or death.
inspection Devises, Doubie-Skins

Pipeline companies should be
required to "report all spills over
one gallon, or [that] produce a
visible sheen on waters, or that
result in injury or $ 100 in damage
to company, private or public
property," suggested Rackleff.
"This would make petroleum
pipeline incident reporting re­
quirements consistent with re­
quirements for other forms of
petroleum transportation."

The acting head of the govem-
ment agency charged with
pipeline safety noted that the
regulations currently in effect do
not go far enough in monitoring
the nation's 1.7 million miles of
gas pipelines and 152,000 miles
of liquid pipelines.

"Existing federal resources
alone will not adequately ensure
the safe operation of pipeline
facilities, given the size of the
regulated community and the
complexity of operations." said

Rose A. McMurray, acting ad­
ministrator of DOT'S Research and
Special Programs Administration,
which encompasses OPS.

The GAO representative tes­
tifying at the hearing pointed out
that the government's National
Transportation Safety Board
(NTSB), the agency which inves­
tigates transport accidents and
makes safety recommendations,
had made a number of sugges­
tions in the area of new pipeline
regulations.

Li said despite these recom­
mendations, there are no federal
regulations requiring the periodic

'Existing federal
resources alone will
not adequately
ensure the safe
operation of pipeline
facilities...*

— DOTS Rose McMurray

use of instrumented inspection
devices (known as "smart pigs"),
periodic hydrostatic testing or the
installation of remotely control­
led valves. The institution of these
measures would be a good step in
the direction of more responsible
government regulations.

Rackleff urged Congress to be
"more specific and forceful about
technical standards" for

pipelines. He said his group ad­
vocates the use of double-wall
pipe with continuous leak detec­
tion mechanisms for hazardous
liquid pipelines in environmen­
tally sensitive and hjgh-density
population areas.

Double-skin pipelines "can
offer enhanced protection much
the same as double-hull tankers,
double-wall underground storage
tanks, and secondary contain­
ment of aboveground storage
tanks," Rackleff said.

While the concem of Congress
and the public recently has
focused on preventing oils spills
from tankers, barges and ships in
general, the testimony of the ex­
perts from government and the
private sector at the pipeline
safety hearing indicates that the
nation would be well seryed by a
stricter regulatory regime on
pipelines.

The SIU is part of a coordinat­
ing organization which works to
prevent further invasion of
Florida communities by
pipelines. The Florida Al­
liance—which brings together
private citizens, community
groups, public bodies, pilots' as­
sociations, marine industry repre-
sentatives and insurance
companies—also is working to
secure safety standards for the
nation's pipeline operations
which will minimize the risks and
dangers now present in this
method of cargo transport.

Sign Up for Piney Point Vtwation
Memorial Day signals the

beginning of summer. And sum-
m«time means a chance for a
well-earned vacation.

But, just what is a summer
vacation? Do the very words con­
jure up thoughts of lying on the
beach . . . fishing. . . sailing. . .
sightseeing... reading... swim­
ming . . . spending quality time
with the family?

A vacation can be all those
things—and more—for SIU
members and their families by
taking advantage of the Paul Hall
Center for Maritime Training and
Education, the complex embody­
ing die Harry Lundeberg School
of Seamanship in Piney Point,
Md. .

Piney Point vacationers can
enjoy the school's comfortable
accommodations, use of the
recreational activities (including
fishing, boating, tennis, swim­
ming, exercise room, sauna, arts
and crafts) and three meals a day.

But perhaps the best part of all is
the location. The school is
situated in St Mary's County,
just a little more than an hour's
drive to many areas of historical
importance and current enjoy­
ment.

There's Washington, D.C., of
course, and aU the excitement of
the nation's capital ... or Bal­
timore, Md., home of the Bal­
timore Orioles baseball team ...
or Arlington, Va., site of the Pen­
tagon and Arlington National
Cemetery... or Alexandria, Va.,
where George Washington built
his home, Mt. Vernon.

But one does not have to travel
even that far. Many activities arid
events have been planned in
Southern Maryland—seafood
festivals, art exhibitions, antique
and craft shows, concerts and
theater productions.

Space is still available, so send
the completed application form as
soon as possible.

UNIONMEMBER
VACATION RATES
A vacation stay at the

Lundeberg School is
limited to two weeks per
family.

Member $40.40/day

Spouse $ 9.45/day

Child $ 9.45/day

Note: There IS no
charge for children under
the age of 12. The prices
listed above include all
meals.

Send completed ap­
plication form to Seafareis
Training & Recreation
Center, Piney Point, MD
20674 or call (301) 994-
0010.

SEAFARERS TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER
Vacation Reservation Information

Name:

Social Security number: Book number.

! Address:

Telephone number.

Number in party / ages of children, if applicable:

Date of arrival: 1 st choice: 2nd choice: ardcholce:

Stay is limited to two weeks.
Date of departure:.

Send this compieted application to the Seafdrars Training A Recreation Center,
6/93

L—...
P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674. — ^

SEAHUmiSLOG 2S

•P

•• • .J.:'; -, I''

h l-.v.-rr. ' '! -i" • T :



26 SBAFARERSLOG mm 1993

t-'

Lundeberg School Graduating Classes

Trainee Lifeboat Class 510—Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 510 are
(from left, kneeling) Eric Lund, Jeramia Cooper, Eddie Pippins, Edwin Fuller, Vincent
Igneri, Stepfien Berube, Lance Dyer, (second row) Jake Karaczynski (instructor), Eric
Foultz, Ismael Fernandez, Steven Nelson, Patrick Vandegrift, Robert Bilger, Cfiristian
Beckas, (tfiird row) Jason Stanish, Lee Harmason, Patrick McPtierson, Michael
Zabielski and Jerry Lott Jr.

Able Bodied Seaman—Completing the AB course on April 27 are (from left,
kneeling) Ben Cusic (instructor), Jon Eipp, Jack Mills, Robert Costantino, David Albert,
David Stanford, Edgar Diaz, (second row) Ricardo Sebastian, Waymon Sellers, Paul
Carlton, Richard Barron, Jeffrey Hockfeld, Walter Oswald, Robert Dusich, (third row)
Brad Haines, Rudolph Hyndman, Robert O'Connell, Keith Innes and Douglas Tuten.

Fireman, Oiler, Watertender—^Working their way up the engine department

Radar—Renewing their radar endorsements on April 23 are (from left, kneeling)
Bruno Kalmeta, Chuck Hodges, John Brown, Dave Wendle, Albert Wheeler, Herman
Rohrman, (second row) Richard Benoit, Charlotte Winstead, (third row) Patrick Rawley,
George Keblis, Paul Grepo, James Brown (instructor), David Brusco and Joseph Humphrey.

ratings are (from left, kneeling) Matilde Zuniga, Joseph Perry, Deniel Butler, Jason Bonefont,
Brandon Shannon, Allan Rogers, Gregory Carroll, (second row) Gerard La Porte, Richard
Dunston, John Kissanis, Charies Donley, John Thompson, Vincent Merenda; John Miller,
Alton Hickman, Kroeger lobst, (third row) Daniel Johnston, Alfred Herrmann, Jeffrey Stuart,
Brian Gelaude and Daniel Hdskins.

Third Mate—Completing the third mate course on
April 16 are (from left, front row) Ray Raykowski (instructor),
James Tracey, Thomas Dowdell, Larry Sims, (second row)
Philip Wilson, Calvin Miles and Donald Peterson. Not pic­
tured are James Watts and John Toomey III.

Upgraders Lifeboat—Certificates of training
were received by the April 6 class of upgraders. They are
(from left, kneeling) Jake Karaczynski (instructor), Gary
Mooney, James Gibson, (second row) Dimarko
Shoulders, John Lange and Larry Pittman.

Weldin g—Members of the April 21 class in welding
^ft, kneeling) Mark Stewart, John Phillips, are (from

Woodrow Smith Jr., (second row) Bill Foley (instructor),
John Copeland Jr., Ray Culpepper, Richard Hollis and
Edward Jansen.

Cellestial Navigation—Graduating from the
cele^ial navigation course on April 8 are (from left) Jim

Hazardous Materials—Completing the first 40-

Brown (instructor), Phil Rawley, Klein Smith, John Brown,
Joseph Humphrey and Michael Presser. Not pictured is
John Bigger.

Radar—Renewing their radar endorsements on March
3 are (from left, front row) Jon Watson, Warren Miller,
(second row) Geof Murphy, George R. Wilson, Ricd Ander­
son and Jake Karaczynski (instructor).

hour HAZMAT course are (from left, kneeling) Thomas
Johnson, Ronnie Langley, Richard Thomas Pilkerton,
Buzzy Higgs, Paul Wathen, (second row) Michael
Presser, Mark Goddard, Allen Hurry, Joseph Turner and
Jerry Cutchember,

/ .



• - j

:K«:
• •'1: •••-''•,'»;''''-'i^

v'^ • ;

MNE1993 SEAFARBtSLOG 27

LUNDEBEHG SCHOOL
1993 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE

The following is the current course schedule for classes beginning between July
November 1993 at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship

located at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point,
'Md. AU programs are geared to improve job skills of Seafarers and to promote the
American maritime industry.

T^e course schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the
maritime industry and—^in times ofconflict-—the nation's security.

DeckUpi

.,Coursev''"v::

fradhty Courses
Check-In Completion

DeckUpi

.,Coursev''"v:: Date Date

Able Seaman July 19 August 27
September 13 October 22
November 8 December 17

All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class.
Shipbandling . August 23 September 3

,.k-.kk;likkk/r: September 27 Octobers
November 8 November 19

. Badar Observer - Unlimited July 12 July 16
August 16 August 20
September 20 September 24

yd" November 1 Novembers
Celestial Navigation ' July 19 August 13

November 22 December 17
IMrdMate August 30 December 10

Safety Specialty Courses
Check-In Completion

Course Date Date

Recerttflcatlon Programs

Course
Check-In
Date

Completion
Date

Bosun Recertification October 4 November 8

Steward Upgrading Courses

Course
Cbeck-In
Date

Completion
Date

Assistant Cook, Cook and Baker

Chief Cook, Chief Steward

All open-ended (contact admissions
ofiBce for starting dates)

All open-ended (contact admissions
office for starting dates) ,

Course
Check-In
Date

Completion
Date

Firenuin/Watertender and Oiler September 27 Novembers
All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class.
Pumproom Maint & Operations August 16

November 8
September 24
December 17

Basic Electronics
Marine Electrical Maintenance I

Marine Electrical Maintenance 11

Refrigeration Maint. & Operations

Oil Spill Prevention and
Containment

ILifeboatman ^

,, " .

August 2
Novembers

August 6 >
November 12

B^ic/Advanced Fire Fighting

July 19
August 16
September 13
October 11
Novembers

July 30
August 27
September 24
October 22
November 19

Marine Electronics Technician I

Marine Electronics Technician n

Hydraulics

August 30
July 6

September 13

July6
September 13

September 27

November 8

September 24
August27

October 22

August 13
October 22

November 5

December 17

August 2
September 13

August 27
October 8

Diesel Engine Technology August 9
November 22

September 3
December 17

Welding

Crane Maintenance

October 25

November 8

November 19

December 17

1992'93Ailuli Education Schedule
The following courses are available through the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg
School. Please contact the admissions office for enrollment information.

Julyl3
September 7
November 2

July 23
September 17
November 12

fSealift Operations & Maintenance Julys
August 30
October 25

July 30
September 24
November 19

Course
Check-In
Date

Completion
Date

High School Equivalency (GED)
Adult Basic Education (ABE)
English as a Second Language (ESL)

All open-ended
(contact admissions office for starting
dates)

Cellege Pmgram Schedule for 1993
FULL 8-week sessions July 19 September 10

UPGRADING APPLICATWN
Name Date of Birth

Address
(Last) (Firet) (Middle) Month/Day/Year

(Street)
Telephone ( )

(Area Code) (City) (State) (Zip Code)

Deep Sea MemberD Lakes Member D Inland Waters Member CD Pacific IZI

If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not
be processed.

Social Security #.

Seniority •

Book#

Department

U.S. Citizen: • Yes • No Home Port.

Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held

Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program?

If yes, which program: from to.

• Yes • No

Last grade of school completed

Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses?

If yes, course(s) taken

• Yes GNO

Have you taken any SHLSS Sealift Operations courses? • Yes

If yes, how many weeks have you completed? ; •

• NO

Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement?

• Yes • No Firefighting: • Yes • No CPR: • Yes • No

Date available for training

Primary language spoken •

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, your clinic 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 all of the above are received.

RATING DATE DATE OF
VESSEL HELD SHIPPED DISCHARGE

SIGNATURE DATE

I am interested in the following
course(s) checked below or indicated
here if not listed

•

•

•

•
•
•
•
•

•
•
•

DECK
AB/Sealift
I St Class Pilot
Third Mate
Radar Observer Unl irnited
Master Inspected Towing
Vessel
Towboat Operator Inland
Celestial Navigation
Simulator Course

•
•

•

•

•
•

•

Marine Electrical
Maintenance
Pumproom Maintenance &
Operation
Refrigeration Systems
Maintenance & Operation
Diesel Engine Technology
Assistant Engineer/Chief

• Engineer Motor Vessel
Original 3rd Engineer Steam
or Motor
Refiigerated Containers
Advanced Maintenance
Electro-Hydraulic Systems
Automation
Hydraulics
Marine Electronics
Technician

•
•

•

•

ALL DEPARTMENTS
Welding
Lifeboatman (must be taken
with another course)
Oil Spill Prevention &
Containment
Basic/Advanced
Fire Fighting

•
•

•
•

•
•
•

ENGINE
FOWT
QMED—Any Rating
Variable Speed DC Drive
Systems (Marine Electronics)

•
•
•
•
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STEWARD
Assistant Cook Utility
Cook and Baker
Chief Cook
Chief Steward
Towboat Inland Cook

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ADULT EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT

Adult Basic Education (ABE)
High School Equivalency
Program (GED)
Developmental Shidies (DVS)
English as a Second
Language (ESL)
ABE/ESL Lifeboat
Preparation

•
COLLEGE PROGRAM

Associate in Arts Degree

Transportation will lie paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if you presen t original receipts and successfully com­
plete the course. If you have any questions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney PoinL
RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Lundeberg Upgrading Center, P.O. Bo* 75, Piney Point, MD 20674.

6/93

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SEAmttERS
Volume 55, Number 6 June 1993

SEAFARERS
Have you planned your

summer vacation?

The Lundeberg School can provide
you and your family with an

excellent vacation site. For details
and rates, see page 25.

Integrity's SkiUful Rescue Saves Lives of Eight Englishmen

Crewmemt>ers aboard the Sea-Land Integrity pose with the eight Englishmen whose lives they saved.

SIU members aboard the Sea-
Land Integrity battled fierce
winds, seas and rain to rescue
eight Englishmen adrift aboard
the sailing yacht Vanderdecken
on April 10.

According to reports from
crewmembers and from Sea-
Land Service officials, a call from
the captain of the stricken vessel
was received at approximately
4:40 p.m. requesting immediate
assistance, The vessel was en
route to Ireland from the
Bahamas when severe weather
conditions caused structural
failure of the stem fastenings.
Violent waves continued to crash
against the stern, causing the
wooden sailboat to fill with water
very quickly.

It took the Integrity ap­
proximately four hours to reach the
Vanderdecken, which by this time
had little power left. Gale force
winds, rough seas and nightfall
made locating the vessel difficult.

QMED Dennis Baker told a
reporter from the Seafarers LOG,
"We knew it was going to be dif­
ficult when dark started to fall.
When we reached them, they had
been using buckets for four hours
to get the water out because the
bilge pump couldn't keep up with
the amount that continued to
come into the boat."

Crewmembers lowered lines
down to the yacht and, using a
pilot hoist ladder, brought all
eight Englishmen safely aboard
the Integrity.

"From the first to the last
sailor, it took us 12 minutes," the

QMED recalled. "It was very
dangerous and we had to work
quickly. At times we weren't sure
we could do it.

'The mast was swinging back
and forth in the wind and barely
missing some of the men as we
brought them up the ladder,"
Baker stated.

The severe winds and waves
caused the abandoned vessel to
cling to the side of the Integrity.
Engines aboard the Sea-Land
ship had to be reversed to safely
break away from the sailboat.

"It was a very calm and cool

rescue considering the cir­
cumstances. It really worked out
well," the QMED added.

In the ship's minutes. Bosun
Jose Ross thanked the crew for
exceptional heroism and skillful
performance in the rescue of the
Vanderdecken crew.

The Englishmen sailed with
the SIU crew into Charleston,
S.C., where they acquired plane
tickets for a return flight to Lon­
don.

The photos accompanying this
story were provided by Able
Seaman A. Haarmann.

The Vanderdecken's mast was swinging back and forth, barely miss-
ng some of the men as they were brought up the ladder to safety.

Seven Cuban Refugees Plucked from Sinking Raft
Seafarers aboard the OMI

Charger endured up to eight-foot
swells to rescue seven Cuban
refugees while the tanker was
steaming toward Port Everglades,
Fla. on May 6.

Bosun Eugene Beverly
reported to the Seafarers LOG
that AB Oscar Osmund was
standing watch around 2 p.m.
when he spotted an unknown
number of people aboard a small
raft in the distance waving franti­
cally to the Charger.

Master W.E. Nason was made
aware of the raft. He immediately
put the Charger's engines into the
maneuvering mode and ordered a
Williamson turn to begin the res­
cue of the distressed crew.

"We summoned all crewmem­
bers from their work to prepare
for a rescue situation," the bosun
stated.

The vessel reached the raft and

After getting some food, drink and sleep, the seven Cuban refugees joined the Charger crew on deck for
a photo. The SIU crewmembers pictured include AB Clemente Rocha, AB Jimmie Scheck, DEU Milton
Israel, AB Oscar Osmund, AB Lawrence Zepeda and Bosun Eugene Beverly (at right with ball cap).
found six adults and one small
child. The group had left Cuba for
America four days earlier. They

Help Locate Child Missing More Than Three Years

Luis Gabriel Manzo

The National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children
has asked the Seafarers Interna­
tional Union to assist them in
locating Luis Gabriel Manzo.

Missing since September 1,
1989, when he was just 3 years
old, Luis Manzo was abducted
by his non-custodial father,
Rafael Manzo Jr. (alias Rafael
Guerrero). A felony warrant has
been issued against the elder
Manzo.

At the time of his disap­

pearance from Los Angeles,
Calif., the brown-haired, brown-
eyed boy was 3 feet tall and
weighed 45 pounds. He has white
spots on his arms, neck and lips.

Anyone having information
on the disappearance of Luis
Gabriel Manzo should contact
the National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children at (800)
843-5678 or the Missing Persons
Unit of the Beverly Hills (Calif.)
Police Department at (213) 285-
2162.

were completely but of food and
had little water remaining.

"The refugees did not speak
English and crewmembers had
trouble communicating on how
to secure the line to the raft,"
Beverly said. "They would have
perished in another day if we
hadn't seen them. It was a very
desperate life or death situation."

Three Cubans were boarded
safely before the raft drifted away
with the currents. The Charger
maneuvered around once again to
bring aboard the remaining three
adults and child.

In order to keep the raft from
drifting away again in seven and
eight-foot swells, AB Jimmie
Sheck and Chief Mate Robert
Wren climbed down the ladder.

boarded the raft to secure the line
and assisted the remaining
refugees aboafd the tanker.
Beverly noted the entire rescue
effort took under an hour from
start to finish.

"The crew did an excellent job,
and the refugees were very grate­
ful. It is a proud feeling to have
saved a life," the bosun said.

In a letter dated May 7 to SIU
President Michael Sacco, Captain
Nason wrote, "I would like to
commend the officers and crew
aboard the 'OMI Charger for a
fine performance in the rescue
and valor beyond duties."

The refugees traveled with the
Charger crew to Port Everglades
where they were taken into Coast
Guard custody. V.

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