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                  <text>Clinton Re-elected;

GIP: l(eeps Majority
Voters ·retu.rnad

Hall Center
Offers New
LNG Courses

pro~maritime

legislators to work in the
House and Senate when they went to the polls November
5. Citizens also re-elected President Clinton, who recently signed the Maritime Security Act. As members of the
new Congress·ctjnduc~ed their first organizationat meetings in late Novemb~ri no major changes were expected
in the makeup ofthevarious subcommittees that oversee
the LJ .S.·flag merchant.fleet. .
,
0

Page3

School Approved
For Self-certification
Pages

'97 Course Descriptions, SIU's Tacoma Hall
Schedule Announced
Marks Grand Opening

....
l

· -

1'

Upgraders take advantage of diesel engine class, one of many
courses offered at the Paul Hall Center. Pages 11-14

Seafarers and SIU officials were on hand November 14 in Tacoma,
Wash. to celebrate the opening of the union's new hall, located at
3411 South Union Avenue. The new facility (top photo) is expected
to help provide better service for the membership. Page 4

From SIU Members
Asea and Ashore
- Pages 15-18

�President's Report
Two Objectives Reached,
But the Mission Continues
In November 1994, a political "revolution" swept across the United
States. For the first time in 40 years, the majority party in both the House of
Representatives and Senate was Republican.
No one knew what would appear on the horizon. Before anyone could
even learn the names of the nearly 100 new legislators who would be working on Capitol Hill, other changes that would have a direct affect on the
U.S.-flag merchant fleet started happening.
Both chambers of Congress shook up the structure of their committees.
The House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee was dissolved. Its
authority was divided between two different committees dealing with national security and transportation.
On the Senate side of the Hill, the Merchant Marine Subcommittee was
merged with surface transportation. Not only was the maritime industry
dealing with new elected officials and a new majority party, but also a new
system for routing needed legislation designed to help the U.S.-flag fleet.
Like others, the maritime industry was headed for unknown waters.
However, as anyone standing bridge-watch knows, this is not a time for
panic. It is a time to study the charts and plot a new course to your destination.
In the years before the 104th Congress came to Washington in 1995, the
SIU had been pushing two major bills designed to keep the U.S.-flag merchant fleet strong and vital into the next century. Those pieces of legislation
would allow U.S. tankers to carry Alaskan North Slope crude oil overseas
and would create a maritime security program.
Both of these measures had received bipartisan support as they started
making their way tluough the committee process in Congress. Yet, neither
bill had been able to complete its voyage through the legislative workings
and become law.
That was the challenge before the industry and the SIU two years ago.
At that time. the process for passing these needed bills was more difficult
because the old route no longer existed and a new course had to be plotted.
The union's governmental affairs representatives on Capitol Hill rolled
up their sleeves and went right to work. They began meeting with the newly
elected members of Congress to educate them on the importance of the
U.S.-flag merchant fleet to the nation's defense and economic security.
The union's representatives also had to figure out how to promote U.S.flag shipping as a new Congress intent on deregulation. free trade and
reducing government spending began its work on Capitol Hill.
As hearings on the two pieces of legislation began in both the House and
Senate, friends and supporters of. the maritime industry stood up and announced why the bills were needed. These backers also denounced· and
blocked attempts to alter the Jones Act and cargo preference laws.
Despite various anempts by a few legislators who are against U.S.-flag
shipping to divert the union and maritime industry from the course we set
in early 1995, we were able to get these two bills passed and signed into
law.
On November 28, 1995, President Clinton signed the bill-passed with
bipartisan support in both the House and Senate-allowing Alaskan North
Slope crude oil to be exported on U.S.-flag tankers. SIU members saw a
benefit from this measure early in 1996 when all SIU-contracted tankers
that had been in layup returned to service.
Then, on October 8, 1996, the president added his signature to the
Maritime Security Act, which created a 10-year program to help fund
militarily useful U.S.-flag merchant vessels. Again, this measure received
strong support from Republicans and Democrats alike.
Both bills had completed their voyages, but neither could have happened
without the support of all the Seafarers, pensioners, their families and
friends who steered and fueled the measures through their calls, letters and
visits with the legislators as well as the union members' donations to SPAD.
As you know. gaining.passage of these measures-as well as fending off
broadsides against the nation's cabotage laws and cargo preference-has
not been easy. As on a vessel, it takes the whole crew working together to
meet the goals, avoid the hazards and reach the destination.
The national elections are over for another two years. President Clinton
has been re-elected and the Republicans will continue to lead the Congress.
Our goals for the 104th Congress were met. But our work is not close to
being finished. We are working on our union's constant priority of jobs and
job security. Union officials will be meeting with members of the 105th
Congress to ensure a strong and vital U.S.-flag merchant fleet remains an
important aspect of America's national and economic security.

Happy Holidays to One and All
I would like to join the many Seafarers, retirees, their families and
friends whose greetings appear in this issue of the LOG to wish everyone a
most joyous and happy holiday season. May you also have a healthy and
prosperous new year.

Volume 58, Number 12

~

11

December 1996

The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) 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. Periodicals postage paid at
Southern Maryland 20790-9998 and at additional offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers WG, 5201
Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746.
Communications Director, Daniel Duncan; Managing Editor, Jordan Biscardo; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, Corrina Christensen Gutierrez; Art, Bill Brower;
Administrative Support, Jeanne Textor.
Copyright© 1996 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD
All Rights Reserved.

2

Seafarers LOG

Navy Asst. Sec'y Douglass Calls
For Support of Merchant Fleet
Citing the U.S.-flag merchant fleet's vital role
in the nation's defense and economic security, the
Navy's assistant secretary for research, development and acquistion told the Washington, D.C.
Propeller Club he would continue the fight for a
strong and vital U.S. commercial maritime industry.
"We need to go to the American people and
ring the alann bell that we need a strong maritime
industrial base," Assistant Secretary John W.
Douglass told an audience composed of representatives from U.S. maritime labor, shipping companies and shippers.
"We need to come together," he stated, adding
that the effort should include U.S. shipyards,
U.S.-flag shipping companies, American merchant mariners, the industries that supply the vessels and the businesses which use U.S.-flag
bottoms.
Douglass, who retired from the U.S. Air Force
as a brigadier general after a 28-year career, outlined the national security needs for a strong commercial maritime industry during his November
13 address.
He pointed out the military depends on commercial ships and merchant mariners for the
sealift needed to sustain overseas operations. He
added that commercial shipbuilding would keep
domestic shipyards busy and up-to-date on the
latest technology that could be used when new
Navy vessels are ordered.
Noting his interest in history, Douglass
recalled how America throughout the zotb century
has allowed both its naval and maritime fleets to
shrink when the nation was not preparing for or
involved in war. He stated a major reason the
Merchant Marine Act of 1920 became reality was
the immediate memory of how ill prepared the
U.S. Navy and U.S.-flag merchant fleets were for
World War I.
"Our nation was concerned that it would have
to rely on beligerents for commercial shipping,"
Douglass said.
Before the war, only seven percent of
America's overseas commerce sailed on U.S.-built
bottoms. In 1920, the figure had increased to 22
percent. Shortly after passage of the 1920 act, nearly
a third of the cargo sailed under the U.S. flag.

However, the nation soon allowed the fleet to
dwindle again. By the time Franklin Roosevelt
was elected president in 1932, the new commander-in-chief (who had served as secretary of
the Navy during World War Q realized America
needed to update both its military and commercial
fleets.
The Merchant Marine Act of 1936 allowed the
nation to begin preparations for entering World
War II, Douglass said. By the end of the war in
1945, U.S. shipyards had constructed 5,000 merchant ships and emerged with a robust merchant
marine.
But after the war, the assistant secretary stated
America again permitted the Navy and merchant
fleets to drop in size.
"We saw a resurgence in 1970 when Nixon
signed the Merchant Marine Act of 1970, but
Reagan pulled the bottom out of the building
program before it was completed," Douglass told
the group.
Now. military planners are trying to determine
what equipment will be needed in the next 20 to
30 years, Douglass said. They are trying to figure
out how America's military will be used.
''The tendency, as we have seen, is to slow
down," he noted. 'We are in a fog bank-slowing
down to see which way we are going."
In order to make America's shipyards active
and to keep the merchant marine strong, Douglass
proposed that members of the maritime industry
meet during the winter to consider legislation to
present to Congress. He noted the recently passed
Maritime Security Act was a good start, and the
momentum gained from it should continue.
Douglass proposed, as an example, legislation
that would make it easier to build passenger ships
in the United States.
"It bothers me that more than 80 percent of the
passengers on cruises are American, but no passenger ships are being built here. I have toured
foreign shipyards and they have nothing different
than our yards.
"A cruise ship is next to a war ship in its
complexity. If we can build war ships here, then
we can build cruise ships."
Douglass promised to work with the industry
to come up with new legislation.

SIU Pensioners Will Get
$500 Year-End Bonus
Eligible SIU pensioners will

be receiving a year-end bonus
check of $500 this month. The
Seafarers Pension Plan Board of
Trustees recently approved
such a payment after union representatives to the group recommended the special bonus.
The one-time extra payment
will be sent to all SIU pensioners who currently receive
monthly benefit checks for normal, early normal or disability
pensions from the Seafarers
Pension Plan.
The Board of Trustees, composed of representatives from

the SIU and its contracted companies, decided to issue the bonus
after a thorough study of the
financial condition of the plan by
an outside actuary, a financial
professional who considers all
elements of any decision a trust
fund makes, calculating statistical risk and projecting the
ability to pay all obligations.
For the eligible pensioners,
the $500 bonus check will be
one of three payments they will

receive during the month of
December from the Seafarers
Pension Plan. The plan traditionally has sent December pension checks at the beginning of
the month, while the January
pension payments are issued in
the middle of December to all
pensioners.
More information about the
bonus or the pension plan in
general may be obtained by
contacting any union hall or
calling a plan representative at
1-800-CLAIMS4. Members
and pensioners also may write
the plan at 5201 Auth Way,
Camp Springs, MD 20746.

Educating Hawaiians About the Jones Act

MC&amp;S
Pensioners
Receive $500
Bonus
The Board of Trustees of
the Marine Cooks &amp;
Stewards (MSC) Supplementary Pension Plan recently
announced that all pensioners and beneficiaries
who receive benefits on
December 1, 1996 shall
receive an additional onetime bonus of $500.00.
The Board's decision to
issue the bonus was based
on an actuary's study of the
financial condition of the plan.
The Marine Cooks &amp;
Stewards merged with the
SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District in
1978.

Chief Steward Louise Pak informs a Hawaiian resident on the
importance of America's cabotage laws to the island state as
well as the nation during the Oahu Labor Day festival.

December 1996

�Voters Return Pro-Maritime Congress
Clinton Wins Second Term to White House
The U.S.-flag merchant fleet
was a big winner November 5 as
American voters returned President Clinton to the White House
and pro-maritime legislators to
both the House of Representatives
and the Senate.
A vast majority of the elected
officials from both parties who
supported the Maritime Security
Act and the export of Alaskan
North Slope crude oil on U.S.-flag
tankers won re-election. (Both
measures were passed during the
104th Congress and signed into
law by President Clinton.) Among
the winners were Reps. Howard
Coble (R-N.C.), chairman of the
House Coast Guard and Maritime
Transportation Subcommittee,
and Herbert Bateman (R-Va.),
chairman of the House Merchant
Marine Oversight Panel. [Sen.
Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas),
chairman of the SeMte Surface
Transportation and Merchartt
Marine Subcommittcc1 was not up
for re-election in 1996.]
uA great many of the legislators
who stood up for the U .S .•flag
fleet in the last Congress were re·
elected," noted Terry Turner1 the
union's director for governmental
relations.
"We look forward to working _
with these legislators in maintain·
ing a strong and vital merchant
marine. We also plan to meet with
newly elected members of the
House and Senate to provide them
with information on the value of
the U.S.-flag merchant fleet to our
nation's defense and economic
security," Turner added.
Maritime figures to be on the
agenda as the 105th Congress
begins its work in January. Among
the issues concerning the U .S .-flag

fleet the elected officials may have
to face are those dealing with the
preservation of the Jones Act, the
Passenger Vessel Services Act and
cargo preference laws.

No Committee Changes
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate s~-ted
conducting organizational meetings in late November. The top
leadership of both parties will be
the same as in the previous Congress. Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.)
will serve as the Senate majority
leadert while Rep. Newt Gingrich
(R-Ga.) again will hold the gavel
as speaker of the House. Sen. Tom
Daschle (D-S.D.) will serve as
Senate minority leader, and Rep.
Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.) will again
be the House minority leader.
While subcommittee chairmanships and assignments will not
be known until later this month.
reports from Capitol Hill state.d
there would be no major shakeups
in the structure of committees 1 un·
like what happened after the 1994
elections, when the GOP became
the majority party in Congress.
Two years ago. House
Republicans reduced the number
of full committees from 23 to 20.
One of the committees eliminated
was the Merchant Marine and
Fisheries Committee, whose func·
tions were split between the Na·
tional Security and Transportation
and Infrastructure committees.
On the Senate side of Capitol
Hill two years ago, the new
Republican majority merged the
existing Merchant Marine Subcommittee with surface transportation within the Commerce,
Science and Transportation Com-

It is in that committee that a
change at the top will have to take
place. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)
is expected to be named chairman
of the Commerce, Science and
Transportation Committee following the defeat last month of Sen.
Larry Pressler(R-S.D~, who led the
delegation in the 104 Congress.

New White House Team
Meanwhile, the transition into
a second term of office for the
president will feature several new
faces.
As the Seafarers LOG went to
press, seven cabinet officers-including Transportation Secretary
Federico Pena-had announced
they were stepping down.
SIU President Michael Sacco
praised the work of Secretary Pefia,
calling him "an able leader and
slrong secretary of transportation.
.. Secretary Pefia proved his
commitment to the maritime industry through his leadership and
support of the recently passed
Maritime Security Program,"
Sacco added.
No replacement for Peiia--or
for any of the other cabinet officers, including Defense
Secretary William Perry and
Labor Secretary Robert Reichhas been named.

Working to re-elect Rep .. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), a member of the
House Merchant Marine Oversight Panel, are (from left) Bellman Onofre
Ortiz, GU Ameen Muthala, Bartender Mike Zoabi, AB Greg Cudal,
Abercrombie, Cook/Baker Jim Stoen, Honolulu Patrolman Dino Ornellas
and Storekeeper Jada Cordeiro.

The 105th Congress will be
sworn in January S, 1997. Election
results in several districts still were
not official, but the count as of
November 25 showed the
Republicans holding 226 of the
4 35 total seats. Democrats had
205. and one candidate (Bernard
Sanders of New Hampshire) was
elected as an independent.

President Clinton and Vice
President Al Gore will take the
oath of office on January 20, 1997.
Clinton carried 31 states and the
District of Columbia to capture
379 electoral votes. (270 are
needed for victory.) Fonner Sen.
Robert Dole (R-Kansas) took 19
states and garnered 159 electoral
votes.

Voting Begins in SIU Election

Voting began last month and
will continue until December 31 in
the election of officers of the SIU' s
Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland
Waters District.
'
Balloting is taking place at 21
SIU halls throughout the country.
mittee.
Full-book SIU members in good
standing are eligible to vote in the
election, which will determine
union officers for the 1997-2000
term.
Seafarers may obtain their ballot from 9 a.m. until noon, Monday
through Saturday, except legal
comes filled with ice. The vessel holidays, until the end of the year
does not have the power to transit at any of the 21 halls.
Listed on the ballot are the
the ice-packed water of the region
names
of candidates seeking the
in the later winter months.
Erie Steamship Company, posts of president, executive vice
which operates the SIU-crewed president, secretary-treasurer, six
Richard Reiss, John R. Emery, vice presidents, six assistant vice
Day Peckinpaugh and J.S. St. presidents. two headquarters repJohn, will announce official layup · resentatives and 10 port agentsdates within the first weeks of this for a total of 27 positions.
At the union halls, a member
month. Litton Great Lakes reports
(upon
presenting his or her book)
that Seafarers aboard the Presque
Isle are tentatively scheduled to is given a ballot and two enbring the ship in for the winter by velopes. After marking his or her
selection, the ballot is folded and
early January.
Because they never have to
travel through the Soo Locks,
several SIU-crewed Hannah
Marine tugboats will continue
transporting petroleum products
along lakes Michigan, Huron and
Erie. Other Seafarers-crewed Hannah tugs will run until the end of
this month when they will go into
their respective winter ports until
spring.
After an ice-delayed start to the
1996 sailing season, the vast
majority of SIU-crewed lakers
have sailed without interruption
throughout this season, which did
not get under way until early April.
The traditional beginning of the
Great Lakes sailing season is
March 25, when the Soo Locks
reopen.
This year's concentration of ice
and snow found many lakers still
in their winter ports until ice- At the SIU hall in Mobile, Ala.,
breaking operations allowed the QMED Henry Hall is ready to cast
ships to safely sail.
his secret ballot.

Lakes Season Winds
Down for Seafarers
The 1996 sailing season is
slowly coming to a close for
Seafarers aboard Great Lakes vessels after a busy season of
transporting iron ore, coal, stone
and other commodities throughout
the region. Many SIU-contracted
companies are considering tentative layup dates for the lakers.
American Steamship Company
(ASC) has announced that all of its
SIU-crewed bulkers will be sailing
to their respective winter ports
throughout December and during
early January.
Seafarers aboard ASC's
American Republic, John J.
Boland, Walter J. McCarthy,

American Mariner, Buffalo, Indiana Harbor, Sam Laud, St.
Clair, H. Lee White ruid Charles E.
Wilson will prepare their ships for
layup several weeks earlier than
usual.
Meanwhile, the Great Lakes
shipping season officially ends
January 15, the date set for the
closing of the Soo Locks in Sault
Ste. Marie, Mich. The closure of
the locks halts the majority of shipping on the Great Lakes, since the
locks are the only entrance into
Lake Superior from the lower four
lakes.
On December 16, the Kinsman
Independence will be sailing into
Buffalo, N.Y. for the winter. The
vessel, which transports grain between Buffalo and Duluth, Minn.,
must traverse the Soo Locks,
which by the end of December be-

December 1996

AB Bruce Holloway (left) receives his ballot for the union's election from
SIU Representative Dino Ornellas in Honolulu.

placed inside an envelope marked
"ballot." That envelope then is
sealed inside a postage-paid envelope bearing the mailing address
of the bank depository where ballots are kept until submitted to the
union tallying committee.

That rank-and-file tallying
committee, consisting of two members from each of the union's constitutional ports, will be elected in
December. They will convene in
early January and will tabulate and
announce the election results.

Announcement of Ships
In MarAd Program
Expected In December
The Maritime Administration (MarAd) is continuing its review of
applications from U.S.-flag shipping companies for vessels to be included within the new Maritime Security Program.
SIU-contracted firms are among those who have presented applications under the program, which went into effect when President Clinton
signed the Maritime Security Act of 1996 on October 8. The act outlines
a 10-year, $1 billion program to help fund approximately 50 U.S.-flag,
militarily useful vessels. If a ship is accepted into the program, the
company that operates it will make the vessel as well as its shoreside
infrastructure available to the Defense Department in times of war or
national emergency. These ships also would be available to the military
to transport cargo in times of peace.
MarAd is expected to announce this month which ships will be
included in the new program.

Seafarers LOG

3

�ITF Secures $120,000 in Back Wages for Abused Crew
Ill Mariners on Runaway-Flag Ship Denied Medical Treatment, Among Other Offenses
What are the human consequences of runaway-flag shipping?
Ask the Filipino and Korean
crew of the James, a Japaneseowned refrigerated cargo ship that
flies the flag of Vanuatu, a tiny
South Pacific island.
In a recent episode eventually
brought to justice in Delaware by
the SIU' s Edd Morris, who serves
as an International Transport
Workers Federation (ITF) inspector, most of the James crew were
severely ill for more than a
month-but were denied medical
treatment by the captain. Wracked
for weeks by vomiting and diarrhea, the crewmembers:
• were forced to work overtime, without pay
• had no toilet paper. no soap,
no silverware and only a few
drinking glasses
• drank rainwater because
their water supply was contaminated
• had very limited stores
• had no sheets for their bunks
• worked in dangerously hot
conditions because the ship• s air
conditioning system was broken
• had not been paid for several
months.
Further, Morris reported that
when they had been paid, most of
the mariners were victimized by
"double boolckeeping. Guys were
being forced to sign for two sets of
money, but they only received the
lower rate. Obviously the receipts

for the higher rate were being submitted to someone else."
Crewmembers also told Morris
that the captain forced them to loot
some of their own cargo (primarily
beef) so that a few Korean officers
could be well-fed.
"It's modem-day slavery, pure
and simple," Morris said.
Fortunately for the crew, a person at a seamen• s center in the port
of Wilmington, Del. learned about
these abuses two days before the
James was scheduled to sail. He
contacted Morris the following
morning, and the inspector
traveled that day to the vessel,
which is managed by a Korean
company.
The following day, backed by
the ITF, the crew went on strike.

Support for Crew
"The local conununity really
supported the crew once their story
got out in the local press,'' recalled
Morris, who helped generate that
publicity. "People brought food to
the ship, the Longshoremen were
very supportive, and a state
senator (active in the Filipino community in that region) went to the
ship daily,"
Working with representatives
at ITF headquarters in London as
well as officials from the All 1apan
Seamen's Union (who helped contact the shipowner), Morris
demanded and quickly arranged
for medical treatment for the
mariners, payment of $120,000 in

back wages, replenishment of
stores and needed shipboard
repairs. The settlement also included removal of the captain and
two other officers who had caused
many of the problems.
Doctors went aboard the ship,
tested crewmembers and diagnosed them as having a contagious, bacterial illness that
causes gastrointestinal problems.
They provided treatment that
quickly worked.
"Medical and food supplies
literally were trucked in at midnight," Morris stated. "It looked
like they were crewing a ship from
the mothball fleet.
"The crew was very appreciative of our efforts. They put thankyou signs on the ship."
Despite their ordeal, the crewmembers remained on board the
James for its next voyage. "Even
though they went through hell, they
weren't trying to run away. They
just wanted to have the problems
fixed," Morris concluded.
The ITF represents some 10
million transportation employees
from more than 400 trade unions
worldwide, including the SIU.
A primary goal of the Seafarers
Section of the ITF is to end the
scandal of runaway-flag shipping.
With that in mind, ITF inspectors
throughout the world assist crews
of such vessels (as well as others
who need aid) and work to ensure
that the shipowners are held accountable.

ABs Bob O'Connell (left) and Mike
Sorenson stand at the entrance of
the new Tacoma union hall.

4

Seafarers LOG

Korean and Filippino crewmembers aboard the runaway-flag James
hang signs thanking ITF Inspector Edd Morris, who helped secure badly
needed medical treatment plus $120,000 in back wages for the men. With
assistance from Morris (pictured second from left, top photo), the crew
had gone on strike while the ship was docked in Wilmington, Del.

New Money l'un:hase
l'ension l'lan Is One
Benefit of New Conlnlt:ts

Seafarers
Laud New
Tacoma
Union Hall
Sunshine, fine food and fellowship greeted Seafarers, pensioners
and SIU officials as they gathered
to celebrate the grand opening of
the new Tacoma, Wash. unionhall
on November 14.
"It was a fitting occasion for an
outstanding new hall," recalled
SIU Assistant Vice President Bob
Hall. "We are all very happy with
our new home, and the opening
gave us the chance to get together
and celebrate," he added.
In a brief openirig ceremony,
Father Eddie Johnson of the
Seaman's Church of Tacoma
blessed the facility and all
Seafarers who pass through it.
Father Johnson sailed as an SIU
member during the Vietnam War
and is a great friend to SIU members, noted Hall.

.

SIU Assistant Vice President Bob Hall (center) poses for a photo at the
opening of the Tacoma, Wash. hall with Seafarers (from left) Mo Hassin,
Kaid Adam and M. Saleh.

Calling the new facility
"beautiful." SIU President
Michael Sacco also addressed the
current state of the maritime industry and the SIU as well as extending his best wishes to all
Seafarers who utilize the Tacoma
hall.
A grand feast was enjoyed by
all who attended the special
celebration. Catered by a local restaurant, elaborate ice sculptures
with the SIU emblem were surrounded by fresh seafood such as
jumbo shrimp, smoked salmon,
crab legs, oysters, clams and much
more. Additionally, a large lunch
buffet was served.
. "Everything about the day was
absolutely fabulous," Recertified
Steward Diane Lupton told a
reporter for the Seafarers LOG.
'The food spread was unbelievable. Everyone I know who was on
the beach attended with their
families in addition to our many
retirees. We all really enjoyed the
attention given to our new home,"
Lupton said.
Located at 3411 South Union
A venue, the Tacoma hall was
selected because it is "more comfortable and convenient for our
members," according to Hall.
"Our new location is brighter,

cleaner and only about five
minutes away from the waterfront
where a large number of members
meet their ships. Everyone just
loves it," he added.
"There is no comparison between this hall and our old Seattle
hall . This place is absolutely
beautiful. It is clean and full of
light," stated Lupton.
"We no longer have to struggle
with parking, and Sea-Land and
TOTE are located here so it is
much more convenient for many
of us," the steward added.
The hall, which opened for
business on October 14, was
formerly a bank. It is built on two
levels and includes a large membership area with a TV and comfortable furniture.
The original Seattle hall shipping board has been placed in a
large open area. The hall features
plenty of room and counter space
for members to stand while filling
out paper work or throwing in for
a job.
The facility also has a full
kitchen with a stove, refrigerator
and microwave oven.
Hall added that the building is
located "in a nice, safe neighborhood.

As a result of the standard representing the amount of money
freightship and tanker contracts accumulated by that employee.
ratified earlier this year by the
On the other hand, if an
membership, Seafarers gained a employee leaves the industry,
new benefit known as the regardless of his or her age, all
Seafarers Money Purchase Pen- benefits credited to that person
sion Plan (SMPPP). This benefit would be payable to him or her
does not cost Seafarers anything within a reasonable time period
and is totally separate from the after the paperwork is processed
wage-related pension. It is an in- and all legal requirements are met.
dividual interest-earning investment
Additionally, if employees
account funded by a daily contribu- covered by the SMPPP contribute
tion made on behalf of the employee to the plan on their own behalf,
by the company. Seafarers also such moneys that are paid directly
have the option of voluntarily con- by employees cannot be less than
tributing to their fund.
1% nor more than 10% of the
Under the rules of the SMPPP, employee's estimated total annual
each Seafarer is immediately compensation for the current year.
vested in all moneys paid into the Further, the money directly sent to
Plan on his or her behalf. In other the SMPPP by employees can only
words, there is no minimum be post-tax money (from net inseatime required to qualify for come as opposed to gross income,
SMPPP benefits.
in other words).
When a member retires (nonnal
All contributions that are made
retirement age for this particular to the SMPPP will be invested by
plan is considered 55), either be- experts in the field chosen by the
cause that person reaches retire- Board of Trustees. The Board of
ment age or becomes permanently Trustees will have an equal numand totally disabled, a choice will ber of representatives of managehave to be made about whether or ment and union.
not the benefits accumulated will
Editor's note: In this article, it is
be paid as a joint and survivor an- possible to provide only the highlights
nuity. This form of benefit will pro- of the new benefits available to
vide moneys to the spouse of the Seafarers covered by the Seafarers
Money Purchase Pension Plan.
pensioner upon his or her death.
If the joint and survivor annuity Therefore, if you have questions or
is not chosen, the employee will be wish to obtain additional information,
given the option to receive his or please direct your inquiries to the
her accumulated benefit either in a Administrator of the Plan at Headquarters, 5201 Auth Way, Camp·
lump sum or in I 0 equal yearly Springs, MD 20746.
installments, and if such person
Additionally, the IRS currently is
should die before all moneys due
completing
final paperwork to apare collected, the remaining
prove the SMPPP. No problems are
amount will be paid to the desig- anticipated. but it is taking a while to
nated beneficiary.
get through the "red tape." SIU memShould an unmarried employee bers will be notified when the IRS gives
die before retirement, the final approval to the SMPPP as well
beneficiary of that employee as when they may begin making conwould be entitled to a death benefit tributions.

December1996

�SIU Schaal a Leader in Earning Self-Certification
Coast Guard Approves Three Courses for Upgrading Students; Others Pending
The Paul Hall Center's Harry
Lundeberg School of Seamanship
recently received U.S. Coast
Guard approval for three self-certification courses.
The center, located in Piney
Point, Md., is among the first
maritime training facilities in the
United States to receive the selfcertification designation from the
Coast Guard.
"Basically, the Coast Guard is
getting out of the testing business.
so certified and approved training
schools will be teaching and testing their students for Coast Guard
endorsements," explained J .C.
Wiegman, assistant director of
vocational education at the Lundeberg School. "With that selfcertification designation comes
more responsibility placed on the
training centers . For instance.
there are strict guidelines for class
size. We'll undergo periodic
audits by the Coast Guard to ensure the integrity of the programs.
"Of course, as technology
changes," he added, "the courses
will change to remain current with
the industry."
Effective immediately, the
courses approved for self-certification are tartk~rma.n. assistant
DL (formerly tanker operation/safety), life boatman/water
survival, and LNG familiarization .
Upon completing those courses
students will tWce a Coast Guarda pp roved Lundeberg School
exam, rather than a test administered by the agency. This
means students will not have to
pay a testing fee for the self-certification courses.
1

Once they pass the test, the
upgraders will be issued appropriate certificates from the
school. The students then will
present the certificates at a Coast
Guard regional exam center
(REC) in order to have the earned
ratings added to their respective
z-cards.

to which the U.S. is signatory. The tion and Watchkeeping for
International Convention on mariners (STCW) allows training
Standards of Training, Certifica- schools to apply for self-certificaw1".· J
t

••
'1'

A four-page guide of the courses
available at the Lundeberg

School in 1997 may be found on
pages 11·14 in this issue of the
Seafarers LOG.
Additionally, the school in

1997 will seek to earn self-certification status for the following
courses: AB, FOWT, QMED,
third mate, and third engineer.
Those courses already are Coast
Guard-approved, so Seafarers may
take them any time and still earn
the respective ratings by passing a
Coast Guard exam upon completing the class.
"This is an example of how the
SIU and the Paul Hall Center stay
a step ahead of the changing needs
of the industry," noted SIU President Michael Sacco. ult's a great
accomplishment for the union and
the school."
Wiegman added that the selfcertification designation generally.
will not change the length or content of the courses. For instance,
the lifeboatman/water survival
course will remain a two-week
class.
The opportunity for self-certification stems from amendments
to an international maritime treaty

L.unaeberg School upgraders practice fitting a hazardous materials outfit during a recent tanKerman assistant
DL class, one of three courses approved by the Coast Guard for self-cenification.

Hall Center Offers New LNG Courses
Emphasizing safety as well as
compliance with a far-reaching international maritime agreement.
the Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education has finalized curriculums for two new classes designed for Seafarcrs who sail
aboard tankers that carry liquefied
natural gas (LNG).
One course. LNG recertification, will be offered to SIU members who have been sailing
regularly aboard LNG vessels.

Unlike other recertification courses offered by the school, these
sessions are open to members from
all three departments.
The union is encouraging
bosuns, QMEDs and stewards to
take the three-week LNG recertification class as soon as possible.
The first course starts on January 27
(see schedule. page 14). The recertification course is open to all rated
crewmembers who sail aboard LNG
ships operated by Energy Transpor-

AB Oubre Named to USCS Merchant Marine Sroup

AB Sinclair Oubre

Two Seafarers now are part of
a U.S. Coast Guard committee that
deals with the training and certification of U.S. merchant
mariners.
AB Sinclair Oubre recently
was appointed by Secretary of
Transportation Federico Pefia to
the Coast Guard's Merchant
Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC). Oubre joins
QMED David Dukehart as the
only unlicensed mariners on the
19-member panel, whose purpose
is to advise the secretary of

Scholarship Named
In Honor of Joe Sacco
Contributions are being accepted
at SIU headquarters for a scholarship fund that has been named in
honor of the late SIU Executive
Vice President Joseph Sacco.
To commemorate Brother
Sacco's life, his family has asked
that contributions be made to the
Joseph Sacco Scholarship Fund,
5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs,
MD 20746, Attn: Tom DeVivio,
Trustee.
This scholarship program is
aimed at providing college opportunities to the dependents of officials of the SIU or SIU-affiliated
unions. It started in 1991 with bequests from two retired Seafarers,
and now will be named in memory
of Brother Sacco.
Legally, the scholarship fund
can accept contributions from all
individuals and organizations except companies that have collective bargaining agreements with
the SIU or its affiliated unions.

December 1996

tion of their courses that are approved by the Coast Guard (or its
equivalent).

Contracted companies wishing
to make contributions commemorating Joseph Sacco's life
are asked to send a donation to the
Museum of Health and Medical
Service, 1515 Hermann Drive,
Houston, TX 77004.
The museum is the work of
several prominent Houston
physicians, including Brother
Sacco's cardiologist. The
museum's main attraction is a
series of exhibits on the human
body, allowing visitors to learn
about human anatomy and how to
facilitate good health.
Brother Sacco, the SIU's executive vice president since 1988,
passed away October 19 due to a
heart attack. He was 58. Details of
his career with the SIU, along with
remembrances from Seafarers,
politicians and others associated
with the maritime industry, appear
in the November issue of the
Seafarers LOG.

transportation on matters relating
to the training, qualification,
licensing. certification and physical fitness of individuals serving in
the U.S. merchant marine.
The rest of MERPAC includes
Coast Guard· officials. administrators from shipping companies. licensed mariners,
maritime instructors and other representatives of maritime training
institutes. The committee most
recently met in September and tentatively is scheduled to reconvene
in March.
"Being both an AB and a port
chaplain, I think I'll bring a
perspective the committee currently doesn't have," noted Oubre,
who is a Catholic priest.
"The well-being of the U.S.
merchant marine is important to
me, not only because of our own
welfare, but also because our
standards affect mariners from
other nations. By maintaining a
strong U.S. fleet, and by setting a
high standard for ourselves, we
can have an impact on seamen and
on other industries all over the
world," he added.
A six-year member of the
Seafarers, Oubre is scheduled to
serve on MERPAC until January
1999. Hereceivedhis appointment
shortly after the most recent meeting.
He added that his participation
this fall in an International Labor
Organization maritime session in
Geneva "was good training for understanding the rewrite of the (international maritime) conventions. It gave me insight into
the intricacies of the process, as
well as the issues that are caught
up in these discussions. That ex-

perience should help me on MERPAC."
Indeed, while many topics were
covered during the most recent
MERPAC meeting, the focal point
was the International Convention
on · Standards of Training, Certi fica ti on and Watchkeeping
(STCW) for mariners. STCW is an
international treaty with more than
100 signatory nations, including
the U.S. It already has greatly impacted training and certification
requirements for U.S. mariners,
and its scope will grow for years to
come.
"Serving on MERPAC will
give me the opportunity to provide
input from the perspective of the
unlicensed mariner," Oubre concluded. "It also will enable me to
become more educated about
STCW and a host of other issues
that affect merchant seamen,
whether they sail deep sea, inland
or on the Great Lakes. In tum, I can
bring that knowledge to my fellow
Seafarers and to the other port
chaplains."
·
Bill Eglinton, director of vocational education at the Paul Hall
Center in Piney Point, Md. and a
MERPAC member for the past
year, commended both Oubre and
Dukehart for their participation on
the committee.
"I believe this reflects well on
the entire SIU membership," he
said. "For mariners to serve on this
committee, they have to sacrifice
their free time, which is a precious
commodity. They also have to deal
with some very complex issues.
But obviously it's important that
unlicensed mariners are represented on MERPAC."

tation Corporation (ETC).
The other course, LNG
familiarization, is intended for
Seafarers who want to sail on LNG
ships but have no experience aboard
the vessels. It also is a three-week
class open to members from all
departments and will begin June 2.
One reason the classes were
developed is that an intei;national
treaty to which the United States is
signatory requires certain training
for LNG mariners. For example,
according to the 1995 amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training,
Certification and W atchkeeping
for mariners (STCW), beginning
in February 1997, a mariner who
has not accrued 90 days' seatime
on an LNG ship during the past
five years must pass an LNG
familiarization class before being
eligible to sail on an LNG vessel.
For certain ratings, the treaty
also requires training in "advanced
practical firefighting techniques
and tactics applicable to gas
tankers, including the use of
water-spray systems," the amendments read. The recertification
class features this training.
Another _factor in formulating
the courses "is simply that safety
is an ongoing process," noted Bill
Eglinton, director of vocational
education at the center. ''The company requested additional training
for people who had been sailing
LNG vessels over the last several
years, because the industry has
changed since we first began offering LNG training."

More Subjects
Besides advanced firefighting,
the LNG recertification course
also will cover many other topics,
including training with epoxybased paints, updates on the latest
computer software used by engine
and steward department personnel
aboard ETC ships and more.
Topics covered in the LNG
familiarization class will include
firefighting, confined space
awareness, LNG nomenclature,
LNG ship operations, personal
safety and LNG safety. Students
also will study characteristics of
hazardous material, LNG cargo
tanks and cargo pumps, inert gas
generators, nitrogen gas systems
and more.

Seafarers LOG

5

�SIU Seeks Elimination of FBI Background Check Fee
Request to District Court States Coast Guard Already Has Needed Information
Claiming that an FBI background check "provides far more
types and categories of information" than what is required for obtaining a merchant mariner's
document (z-card), license or certificate from the U.S. Coast Guard,
the SIU is requesting a federal
judge to continue to suspend a $17
charge being imposed on seamen
and boatmen by the Department of
Transportation agency.
This effort is the latest action
taken by the SIU as well as six
other maritime unions and five individual mariners in a lawsuit
filed against the government
agency in April 1993 to stop the
Coast Guard from charging a user
fee to acquire or update z-cards,

licenses or certificates.
On November 20, the SIU filed
a memorandum in opposition to the
Coast Guard's request that the U.S.
District Court Judge Robert Oberdorfer rule in favor of the $17 FBI
criminal background fee without
additional review or hearing.
The U.S. Appeals Court for the
District of Columbia remanded the
FBI background check issue to the
district court in its April 12
decision earlier this year on the
user fee case. A three-judge panel
ordered Judge Oberdorfer to investigate what portion of the $17
charged by the FBI covers information needed by the Coast Guard to
approve or deny a z-canL license or
certificate.

In i~ memorandum to Judge
Oberdorfer, the SIU states the
background check is no longer
necessary because of the paperwork an applicant must fill out.

Check Not Needed
''The Coast Guard currently obtains all information relevant to an
applicant's drug and other convictions from the applicant, subject to
a certification requirement
penalizing any false statement
with [federal] felony liability," the
SIU notes.
The union pointed out that the
federal agency obtains this information when an applicant answers
six questions dealing with drug ad-

Galley Gangs Keep
The Holidays Bright
For many Seafarers, 1he
Christmas srnson is a difficult time
to be away from families and loved
omu. For steward department
members, however, the holidays
can represent a time of the year
when thry can create superb ttM&lt;lls
for Their fellow crewmemhers ta
keep spirits high at sea.
In an effort to help make the
hblitiays !Jrigh1er for SIU members. both on 1he beach and sailing
the world's waterways, Allan
Sherwin, executive chefofthe Paul
Hall Center, located at the Harry
Lundeberg School of Seamanship
in Piney Point, Md., provided th~
Seafarers LOG with the following

menu suggestions.
The holiday season is upon us
once again and it is the time of
the year when steward department members really turn up the
heat and spread cheer.
However, care must be taken
when preparing holiday buffets
to avoid possible food-borne illnesses. For example, buffet
items should not be left out for
long periods of time and cold
foods must be kept below 40
degrees F. Hot food items should
be kept above 140 degrees F.
The best way to do this is to
prepare buffet items in small
batches and cook progressively.
The Centers for Disease Control estimate that more than
100,000 people will become ill
over the holidays as a result of
food-borne illnesses. Such foodborne illnesses are typically
caused by improper handling and
human contamination.
Keep the following tips in
mind when preparing your feast.
• Thaw holiday turkeys in
refrigerator and never allow the
poultry to reach a temperature

above 36 degrees Fahrenheit (F)
prior to coonng.
• Cook turkey immediately
after thawing.
• When roasting the turkey•
make sure the internal temperature
reaches 170 degrees F when
measured with meat thermometer
in the breast and 180 degrees F
when measured in the thigh.
• Keep all cream-based items
under refrigeration or on ice and as
close to 40 degrees F as possible.
• Do not leave foods out for
long periods of time causing them
to reach room temperature. The
general rule is not to allow foods
to sit out for more than one hour.
To make this possible, rotate items
on buffets and holiday spreads.
• Be sure to provide enough
serving utensils to discourage individuals from using hands to
serve themselves.
• Be sure to cook foods completely. Most organisms will be
destroyed by heating to temperatures above 160 degrees F.
• Finally, when your holiday
feast is finished, cool leftovers
before refrigerating. When reheating food, make sure to heat to at
least 165 degrees F before serving.

Special Holiday Favorites
From Chef Allan Sherwin
Basic Butter Cookie Dough
For Hollday ParUes
Yield: 64 - 1oz. cookies

1 lb. unsalted or sweet butter
12 oz. granulated sugar
112 tsp. salt
3 egg yolks
2 tsp. vanilla
2 lb. all purpose flour

Method: In a mixer or food
processor, blend sugar, salt and
butter until light. Beat in egg yolks
one at a time. Next, add vanilla and
gradually add flour until just mixed.
DO NOT OVER MIX. Chill dough
for approximately one hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Roll out entire batch of dough
into a sheet of V4 inch thickness
and cut into fun holiday shapes
using assorted cookie cutters.
Arrange cookies onto baking
sheets. Garnish with jam and
sprinkle with finely chopped nuts.
Bake for 1o to 12 minutes until
cookies turn pale yellow. Cool for a
few minutes before transferring
onto a wire cookie rack.
Note: You may sprinkle cookies
prior to baking with course sugar or
dip in melted chocolate after
baking.

Stuffed Mushrooms
Yield: 25 -30 stuffed mushroom caps

Chief Cook Barbara Toomey carefully arranges finger sandwiches
on a tray.

6

Seafarers LOG

1 lb. large mushroom caps
1 lb. mushroom stems and small
mushroom caps

While upgrading at the Lundeberg
School, Chief Cook Harry Galdeira
inventories galley stores.
4 oz. finely diced onions
4 oz. heavy cream sauce (see
recipe below)
1 Tbsp. garlic
V4 tsp. fresh oregano
V4 tsp. fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil as needed

Method: Wash and set aside
large mushroom caps. Saute
mushroom stems, small caps and
onion with garlic in olive oil for 20
minutes. Remove from heat and
cool.
Prepare heavy cream sauce.
Use food processor to blend
cooked mushrooms, onion, garlic
and heavy cream mixture. Add
oregano, basil and salt and pepper.
Fill in raw mushroom caps with
mixture. Bake at 350 degrees F for
15 minutes. Do not overcook.

Heavy Cream Sauce
4oz. cream
1 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. flour
Method: bring cream to full boil
and remove from heat. Mix butter
and flour together and heat in pan.
Slowly whisk in the cream and
blend until mixture is smooth.
Note: For a more zesty mushroom cap, use crab meat or finely
diced shrimp in filling. Do this by
putting the seafood into a food
processor with small amount of
mayonnaise, Old Bay seasoning,
bread crumbs and finely diced
celery. Bake as instructed above.

Cocktail Meatballs
Yields: 75 small meatballs

3 lbs. lean ground beef
8 oz. cracker meal
8 oz. finely diced onions
3 oz. finely diced green peppers
1 Tbsp. garlic
3whole eggs
1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, finely
chopped

Y2 tsp. fresh oregano
1h tsp. fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste
Method: Mix together all ingredients in large bowl. Weigh out
% oz. pieces of meat mixture and
roll into balls. Line up on cooking
sheets and bake at 350 degrees F
for 30 minutes.

diction, conviction of a dangerous
drug law, conviction of a traffic
violation related to alcohol or substance abuse and violation of
maritime or environmental regulations. These questions must be
answered truthfully or the applicant
could face federal prosecution.
"Because the FBI background
check is not necessary, the $17 fee
charged to each applicant is unreasonable and not permissible,"
the memo to Judge Oberdorfer
concludes.

Court Rulings
Despite the SIU' s lawsuit that
argues the user fee being imposed
on mariners for their documents,
licenses and certificates is actually
a "work tax," the appeals court. in
its April 12 decision, ruled the
Coast Guard could charge for
these materials needed by seamen
and boatmen for their jobs.
The appeals court received the
case in January 1995 after both the
SIU and the Coast Guard sought to
overturn portions of the original
decision handed down by District
Court Judge Oberdorf er in
November 1994.
In his ruling, Judge Oberdorfer
detennined the Coast Guard could
charge a user fee because mariners
accrued a private benefit from
having these documents. However, the judge also ruled that the
FBI background check did not provide any private benefit to
mariners and the Coast Guard
should not include it in its charges
for z-cards, licenses and certificates.

The appeals court did not completely overturn Judge Oberdorfer' s decisjqn on the $17 being
charged for a criminal background
check. It ordered the district court
to assess what part, if not all, of the
check is needed to approve or deny
an applicant. The district court
must now determine what portion, if any, of the $17 should be
paid by an applicant or the Coast
Guard.

Fees Started in '93
The Coast Guard began assessing user fees on April 19, 1993.
The fees range from $35 for the
issuance of an entry-level merchant mariner• s document to $250
for the costs involved in securing
an upper level license.
The origins of the user fee can
be found in the 1990 Onmibus
Budget Reconciliation Act, which
was drafted to help reduce the
federal deficit. Within the measure
were provisions to remove
longstanding restrictions on
charging mariners for their documents.
Joining the SIU in its April 15,
1993 suit against the implementation of user fees were the Sailors'
Union of the Pacific, Marine
Firemen's Union. District 4-National Maritime Union/MEBA,
District No. I-Marine Engineers'
Beneficial Association, American
Maritime Officers, International
Organization of Masters, Mates
and Pilots and five individual
mariners.

New Contract and Charter
End 1996 on Positive Note
A tentative four-year agreement has been reached for
Seafarers who sail aboard vessels
operated by Liberty Maritime. The
new contract, which was being
voted on by SIU members at press
time, would improve wages and
benefits into the year 2000.
Additionally, the Military
Sealift Command (MSC) has
awarded a new long term charter
to the SIU-crewed J.E.B. Stuart,
providing continued job security
for SIU members.

Retroactive to June
The Liberty pact, which is
retroactive to June 16, provides for
improved and increased medical
and dental benefits for Seafarers and
their families. SIU members who
sail aboard the Liberty Maritime
ships will also receive an additional
day in their vacation benefit.
The contract features the annuity savings plan for individual
Seafarers-known as the
Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan. The benefit package is
an individual interest-earning investment account funded by a
daily contribution made on behalf
of the employee by the company.
The benefit is in addition to the
SIU wage-increased pension.
''The agreement will run until
June 15, 2000 and will provide
increased wages, benefits and job
security while ensuring that the
only U.S.-flag company with a
substantial fleet trading in the
cargo preference trades remains
viable and competitive while continuing to provide the SIU membership with jobs and their family
members with benefits,'' noted
SIU Vice President Contracts
Augie Tellez.

The contract includes base
wage and overtime increases. In
addition, there will be an adjustment made to penalty rates.
Other language changes as
called for in the Standard
Freightship Agreement will also
apply to Seafarers sailing aboard
Liberty Maritime vessels.

MSC Charter's Stuart
On October 28, MSC announced that it had awarded a 51m on th
charter
to
the
SIU-contracted J.E.B. Stuart, a
military lighter aboard ship
(LASH) vessel operated by Waterman Steamship Corporation.
The vessel was selected from
200 bids and four final offers submitted in response to the military' s
request for proposals.
''This is yet another commitment to the job security of
Seafarers," stated Tellez when
word of the charter was announced. "It also means that the
military is pleased with the way
Seafarers get the job done while
aboard their vessels and shows that
they have confidence that we will
continue to do an outstanding job
for them," he added.
Since 1992, SIU members have
manned the J.E.B. Stuart while the
U.S. Army used the vessel to preposition ammunition on the island of
Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
The barge-like ship is specifically designed to carry most of its
cargo in on-board barges or
lighters . It is self-sustaining
alongside a pier and requires no
deep-water port.
The vessel will continue to be
utilized by the Army as a preposition ammunition ship for logistical
support in key strategic locations.

December 1996

�Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea
OCTOBER 16, 1996 - NOVEMBER 15, 1996
*TOTAL REGISTERED
All Groups
Class A Class B Class C

Philadelphia

36
3
8

Baltimore
Norfolk
15
Mobile
12
New Orleans 18
Jacksonville ' 28
S~n Francisco &gt;
:26

·.

Wilmington
12
' j3
Seattle
Puerto Rico
14
Honolulu
6
: : :i:;: H{;us:tQn
30
:' SL Louis
0

3
·:,:·.~~~:;f:9in~ . ..... 6
Algonac
234
Totals

26
2

3

21

4

2

10

1

2
8

0
0

2

4
0

8

1

2
5

9

4

13

12

5

0
1

5
21
12

9
13
11
9
15

20

21

5
5

1
12

24

24
0
3

17
12
16
20

25
3
10

35

5
3
5

1
1
0
1
0
0

10
16

i

1

4
1
0

196

27

164

1

5

Port
18

2

11

8
4
7
8

9

5
10

0

8

3

2

7

0
2

9
11
5
19
4

6
l1

·.5 '
J
7
12

. . . .::·:··J.~.;;\~onville . · 1.7

u~

: ··"i: $ft.ti. Fra11ci$c() 1,4

15

3

13

2

10

9
3
9

0

0
3

1'7
0

14

2

I

2
0
122

6

0
0

0

0
1

2

1

142

17

107

92

2
3

14
1
4
8
6

10

0

0

0

Baltimore ••••• Thursday: January 9, February 6
Norfolk ••••••• Thursday: January 9, February 6
Jacksonville . . . . Thursday: January 9, February 6
Algonac . • • • • . Friday: January 10, February 7

4

8
1

55
19

0
1

1

9

24

46

40

0

0

2

0

Tuesday, February 18**

0

0

6

2
0

· •'*C.fiange treated by Presidents' Day

54

2

13
0

0
0
'"

'"

3
2
"0
0

Houston . . . . . . Monday: January 13, February 10

8

New Orleans • • • • Tuesday: January 14, February 11

0
3
2
'3

Mobile ••••••• Wednesday: January 15, February 12

San Francisco ••• Thursday: January 16.February 13
Wilmington . . . . Tuesday, January 21 *
*cltang~ creaJed by Martin Lulhe.r King Jr. 's birthday

.: · o.
2

2
3
' ~.

4
2
6
2

9

g.
8
2

8
6
l '
1

0
1
2

r·

'

......

2

· 40 ·.'
4

Duluth •• ·• ." ~ ... Weclnesday: January 15, February 12

4

Jersey City , . . . . Wednesday: January 22, February 19

8
10
23

New Bedford

?z..
13
16
5
6

1

0

8

4

5
5
7
6
4
2
8

8
0
0

17
5
10
20
'" 3·
8
0

8

0

·o

' 23
"l ''

0
0
8

0

2

0

39

1
197

201

11
0
2
2
4
7
5

2
0
1

0

5

26

22

1

0

0

0

5

4
0
0

l

2
3
11
4

15
7
13
3
7
10
2

6
2
4
2
7
5
0

2

1

5
0

0

1
166

6
0

1
0

0

0

0

0

69

17

90

41

12

60

12

29

0

14

Wilmfo'gton

14

Seattle
Puerto Rico
Honolulu
Houston
St. Louis
Piney Point
Algonac
Totals

28
5
18
11
0
10

2

1

o·
1

0
0
6
0

1

0
5

0

1

5
2

0

8

1

3
8

0
0
5

0
0
1

1
20
6

0
0

. . . Tuesday: January21,February 18

:· · . ~ch·e!'t:f*~ .~tlng starts at 10:30 a.m~

19

1
5
11
11
11
30
48
21
45
9
23
17
0
11
2

San Francisco 28

0
1
4

·5
O···

'"' 1
0
30
2
1

0
7

0

16

1

8
9
9
9
4
8
9

2

1

0
5
0

3
0
0
5
l
1
0
1

271

119

25

23
0
1
0
3

55

18
6

Personals
RED BOLTON
Please contact your nephew, Tom Bolton, at 1524 Lloyd
Court, Wheaton, IL 60187, or telephone (630) 668-7065.

FRIENDS OF JAMES H. IDLL
Brother James H. Hill would like to hear from his SIU
brothers, especially those who sailed with him aboard the SS
Pen Van Guard and the USS Keva Island. His mailing address
is 410 East Oak Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602.

JACK MURPHY
Please get in touch with your sisters, Anne and Sheila. They
would like to hear from you.
CHARLES O'NEAL STATHAM
Your family would like to locate you. Please write your
granddaughter, Amy Statham, at 3012 Reynolds Drive, Macon,
GA 31206; or telephone (912) 784-8325. In addition, her
pager number is (912) 752-9661.
T.O. WATKINS
Anyone knowing the whereabouts of T.O. Watkins from
Georgia (born approximately 1914), please cocntact Lynne
Kelley, 3040 Saturn St., #JOO, Brea, CA 92621.

Heading Home

ENTRY DEPARTMENT

Port

0
1
0
3
5
3

San Francisco 11
6
Wilmington
Seattle
Puerto Rico
Honolulu
Houston
St. Louis
Piney Point
Algonac
Totals

Philadelphia . . . . Wednesday: January 8, February 5

2
1
0

STEWARD DEPARTMENT

Port

Norfolk
Mobile
New Orleans
Jacksonville

New York • • • • • Tuesday: January 7, February 4

20
32
24
36
4
13

308

3

Philadelphia
Baltimore

Piney Point • • • • Monday: January 6, February 3

54
42
26

8

1

9

New York

5
11
2

417

3

...

31

0

5

Norfolk
Mobile
New Orleans
Jacksonville

11

83

l

Philadelphia
Baltimore

18
36

2
9
0

1

0

New York

11

21

18

s

Algonac
Totals

1
3
3

6
1

2

6

·. . . 'Hci'uston
... St Louis
Pi_ney Point

3
7
11

46
6

146

'. ... P~l~delP,~ia . 4

Wilmington
Seattle
Puerto Rico
Honolulu

2
2

67
5
10
21

2
8
3

: : : :.: :.L.lAl'ijµ)qre .

New Orleans

**REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups
Class A Class B Class C

February 1991

ENGINE DEPARTMENT

. ·Ncw'. :V6rit .· · · . "21
Norfolk
Mobile

Trip
Reliefs

DECK DEPARTMENT

Port
New York

TOTAL SHIPPED
All Groups
Class A Class B Class C

'fiinua

· ·&lt;Membership Meetings
Qeep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters

5

3
5

2

6
7

11
0
8
14

13
19

9·

1

5

10

8

9

3

15

0
0
1

2

1
4
2
5

6
3
6
2
0

8

2
4

35

42

16
1

2

24

1
4
3
6
2
0
2
0

4
10
2
3

1
0
1
11
0

1

6

2

12
6

0
1
0
3
35
0

8
1

0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0

8
7
20
7
11

9
10

2
7

22
19
30
34

27
23

27
9

55
26

4
25
1

17
28
9
11
5
11
71
15
0
1

0

1

8
0
1
1

0

0
0
0
0
0

60

195

112

34

120

56

0

101

365

1
223

602

173

395

399

94

182

986

993

332

Totals All
Departments 582

28

9

2

1

12
0

0

1

0

2

1
0

26
1

* "Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port.
**"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port.

December 1996

David West, who worked as a messman aboard the SS
Kauai, disembarks the ship in Long Beach, Calif. after his
time aboard the Matson Navigation vessel was up. Chief
Steward Dorothy Carter, who sent this photo to the LOG,
says he will be sorely missed.

Seafarers LOG

7

�Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes

Seafarer$ lntemational Union
Directory

OCTOBER 16 - NOVEMBER 15, 1996
CL-Company/Lakes
L-Lakes
NP-Non Priority

MkbaelSacco
. Presideni.,

•TOTAL REGISTERED
All Groups
Class CL Class L Class NP

John Fay
Secretary-Treasurer

Augustin Tellez
Vice President Contracts
George McCartney
Vice President West Coast
. Roy ·A. "'Bu.:k" Mercer
Vice President Government Services
Jack Caffey
Vice President Atlantic Coast
Byron Kelley
Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters
DeanCorgey

Port
Algonac
Port

·o-

Algonac

0

15

1

0

8

6

Port
Algonac

••REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups
Class CL Class L Class NP

DECK DEPARTMENT

43 '

14

Port

Algonac

TOTAL SHIPPED
All Groups
Class CL Class L Chm NP

35

0

26

0

30

12

ENGINE DEPARTMENT
0
1
9
STEWARD DEPARTMENT

0

6

0

1

0

7

6

0

21

19

0

64

37

2

13

0

0

0

ENTRY DEPARTMENT
14
0
7

VicePresident Gulf Coast

Totals All Departments
0
101
47
0
37
10
"' 'Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port.
**"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port.

HEADQUA,RTERS

5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746
(301) 899-067 5

Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters

ALGONAC

520 St. Clilit River Dr.
· Algonac, MI 48001

OCTOBER 16 - NOVEMBER 15, 1996

(810) 7944988

•TOTAL REGISTERED
All Groups
Class A Cla.&lt;JS B CIDM C

:t:l~LTIM()RE

12 t 6 E. Baltimore St.
Baltimore. MO 21202
(410) ~17-4900

Region
Atlantic Coast
Gulf Coast

DUL\J'IH
70, Medka.t Aru Buildin,i

~es &amp;.Inlfil.lcl W&lt;l!~rs

Duluth, MN 5580'i
(21S) 721-4110
HONOLULU
606 Kali.hi St.
Hc;~101u1u, m 96819
(808) 845-5222
BOUSTON
· 1221 Pieced.It. .

West Coast
Totals
Region
Atlantic Cont
......

.

Houston, TX 170()1....... · . . : : ·:·: :· . . ·:" . .
(713) 659-5152
. ".'.... ·: . . ·: ........
JACKSONVILLE
3315 Liberty Si .

Jacksonville, FL 32206
(904) 353-0987
JERSEY CITY
99 Montgomery St.
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 435-9424
MOBILE
1640 Dauphin Island Fkwy.

Mobile, AL 36605
(334) 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

635 Fourth Ave.
Brooklyn. NY 11232

(718) 499-6600
NORFOLK
115 Third St.
Norfolk, VA 23510
(804) 622-1892
PHILADELPHIA
2604S. 4 St.
Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215) 336-3818

PINEY POINT
P.O.Box75
Piney Point, MD 20674
(301) 994-0010

PORT EVERGLADES
1221 S.AndrewsAve.

Ft Lauderdale, FL 33316
• (954) 522-7984
SAN FRANCISCO
• 350 Fremont St.
San Francisco. CA 94105
(415} 543-5855
Government Services Division

(415) 861-3400
SANTURCE

1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 161h
Santurce, PR 00907
(787) 721-4003

ST.WUIS
4581 Gravois Ave.
St Louis, MO 63116
(314) 152-6500
TACOMA
3411 South Union Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98409
{206) 272-7774
WILMINGTON

510 N. Broad Ave.
Wilmington, CA 90744

GulfCo~t

Lakes &amp;Jnl~d Waters

3

0
4
O··
0

32

4

18

1
0

·O
0

0
1

6
I

": 22

. 14
0
16

"b' ..

0

9

TOTAL SHIPPED
All Groups
~A
ClassB Class C

DECK DEPARTMENT
0
0
3
I
2
I

.. .Q

13

0

9

20

0

0
0
1

13
0
43
7
63

0
3

5
1
ENGINE DEPARTMENT
37

0
0
3
2

0
0
0
0

••REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups
Cta.g A Class B ClaM C

0

3

I

0
7
..

0
0

0
West Coast
0
1
10
5
0
0
Totals
STEWARD DEPARTMENT
Region
2
0
0
0
0
Atlantic Coast
1
0
1
1
1
Gulf Coast
I
0
0
0
4
6
0
0
Lakes &amp; Inland Waters
0
0
6
2
4
0
1
1
1
0
West Coast
4
11
5
2
1
9
0
Totals
84
Totals AH Departments
57
4
24
46
2
8
* ''Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port.
** "Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port.

2

3

0
I
6

0
11
0
16

27

1
0
0
0

I
1

0
0

1

2

0
0
0
I
1

0
2
0
9
11

8

40

-IU BULLETIN BOARD
SOUTH STREET
~
SEAPORT MUSEUM Yi'
SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
The South Street Seaport
Museum preserves and interprets
the history of New York as a world
port through historic ships, changing exhibitions, tours and
programs.
Volunteer opportunties now are
available-giving tours, teaching
programs, conducting workshops
and presenting demonstrations.
If you enjoy meeting new people
and sharing your love of history and
the sea and have four or more hours
a week to spare, give the Museum a
call at (212) 748-8727.

Z-CARD RENEWAL
DUE EVERY FIVE YEARS
Merchant seamen must renew
their z-cards every five years, according to U.S. Coast Guard regulations.
In order to keep their merchant
mariner's documents up-to-date,
Seafarers may use the chart at right
to determine when their present
cards expire. Renewal dates are
detennined by the issuance date on
the z-cards. The exact date of expiration matches the month and
date when the original document
was issued

In order to ensure that active SIU
members and pensioners receive a
copy of the Seafare rs LOG each
month-as well as other important
mail such as W-2 forms, pension
and welfare checks and bulletins or
notices-a correct home address
must be on file with the union.
If you have moved recently and
have not yet notified the union, go
to your nearest union hall and fill
out a change of address form or
send your new address (along with
your name, book number and social
security number) to: Address Control, Seafarers International Union,
5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs,
MD 20746.
Issuance Year

AREA CODE IN APRIL
The area code for Tacoma,
Wash. (and Pieq;e County), which
presently is 206, will change to 253
on April 27, 1997. That means the
telephone number for the new
Tacoma SIU hall will be (253) 2727774, and the FAX number will be ·
(253) 272-4121 as of April 27.

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1987
1982
1977

1988

1973
1968
1963
1958

1959
1954
1949

1990
1985
1980
1975
1970
1965
1960

1991
1986
1981

1972
1967
1962

1989
1984
1979
1974
1969
1964

1976
1971
1966
1961

1955
1950

1956
1951

1945

1946

1957
1952
1947

Renewal Year

TACOMA TO CHANGE

1983
1978

1953
1948

1942

1943

1944

1937
1997

1938
1998

1939
1990

(310) 549-4000

B Seafarers LOG

December 1996

�Digest of Shipboard
._Union Meetings
The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard
minutes as possible. On occasion, because of space
limitations, some will be omitted.
Ships minuteS'flrst are reviewed by the union's contract department Those
issues requiring 11ttentlon or resolution are addressed by the union upon
recei~of the ships minutes. The minutes are then
. torwirdeil to the Seafarers LOG for publication.
CHARLESTON (Apex Marine),
August 29-Chairman Anthony
Maben, Secretary German Rios,
Educational Director Charles
Mispagel. Chairman reported ship
to pay off upon arrival in port of
Baltimore. Secretary reminded
members to write their senators urging them to support maritime
revitalization legislation. He also
discussed importance of SPAD.
Educational director advised crew
to enroll in tanker operation/safety
course at Lundeberg School. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crew thanked galley gang for good
meals and asked contracts department to look into increasing pension
benetiw_S@cretary noted importance
of SPA!&gt; donatiom; during year of
U.S_presidential election. Chairman encouraged members to support all union activities.
LIBERTY SEA (Liberty
Maritime), September 20- Chairman Benedict Born, Secretary
Jose Rinrn, Eniinc Dclc;ate G,
Valerio, Steward Delegate Francisco Mon~ibais . Chairman informed crew of payoff upon
arrival in port of Galveston. Texas
on September 22. Bosun voiced
concern over officers issuing unsafe work orders to deck department members. He advised crew
that safety regulations concerning
gangway watch are posted on bulletin board. Secretary requested new
pillows and linens. He also thanked
deck department members for job
well done. Educational director advised all members to upgrade at
Paul Hall Center. Treasurer reported
$195 in movie fund. All three
departments reported disputed OT
and beefs. Crewmembers requested new TV antenna.

SEA-LAND EXPLORER (SeaLand Service), September 8Chairman Tom Trehern,
Secretary William Burdette,
Educational Director George Phillips, Deck Delegate Edward F.
O'Brien, Engine Delegate Roy
Coleman, Steward Delegate
Richard Gegenheimer. Bosun announced ship to arrive in Long
Beach, Calif. on September 11.
Chairman discussed captain calling doc.king crew in a timely manner. Secretary asked crewmembers
to keep crew lounge clean. Educational director advised crew to attend Lundeberg School for
upgrading courses. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crewmembers
expressed concern over shoreside
workers in Shanghai being free to
roam interior of house unescorted.
Steward asked crewmembers to
help galley gang bring stores up
gangway. Next ports: Long Beach
and Oakland, Calif.
SEA-LAND PRODUCER (SeaLand Service), September 30Chainnan Gerald Corelli,
Secretary David Cunningham,
Educational Director Oswald Bermeo. Chairman announced ship
scheduled to enter shipyard on
December 14. He reported ship
will sail into port of Elizabeth,
N.J. later than scheduled. He
added payoff will follow. Educational director discussed importance of obtaining STCW
identification certificate in order to
continue sailing. Treasurer announced $150 in ship's fund fol-

December 1996

lowing purchase of lobster in
Maine and Jamaica and shrimp in
Jacksonville, Fla. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew gave
thanks to steward department for
excellent meals, including gourmet
seafood dinners, pizza night and
barbecues. Crew noted galley
gang's extra efforts are appreciated by alt Next ports: San Juan,
P.R.; Rio Haina; Jacksonville; San
Juan and Elizabeth.

CHARLES L BROWN (Transoceanic Cable), October 10Chainnan Roger Reinke,
Secretary Glenn Bamman, Educational Director Joseph Stores,
Deck Delegate James Woods. Engine Delegate Ahmed Madari.
Steward Delegate Alan Sim.
Chairman announced new TV
working very well and reminded
crewmembers to make sure it is
secured while shit&gt; is at sea. Bosun
urged members to first discuss
beefa below decks with bosun,
steward or patrolman. Chairman
advised crewmembers that LNG
courses will begin in 1997 at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun and
crewmembers applauded efforts
by SIU President Michael Sacco
and many others who helped get
the Maritime Security Act passed.
Bosun noted passage of the legislation secures the future for all men
and women working in the U.S.
maritime industry. Crew also extended special vote of thanks to
Vice President Contracts Augie
Tellez and President Sacco for
their hard work securing new contract with Transoceanic Cable Ship
Co. Steward delegate reported replacement locks and keys for
cabins and doors have been ordered. Chairman advised crew that
mattresses have been ordered and
parts for table lights have not yet
arrived. Crew stated water pressure very low. Steward advised
crewmembers not to put shoes in
washing machines or dryers.
Bosun asked crew to return
videotapes to library after use so
everyone has chance to enjoy
them. Crew thanked bosun for
working hard for their interests.
Crewmembers commended
steward department for job well
done. Next port: St. Thomas,
U.S.V.I.
HM/ ASTRA CHEM (Hvide
Marine), October 3~hairman
Theodore Bush ill, Secretary
Felipe Reyes, Deck Delegate Ray
Tate, Engine Delegate Jerome
Dooms, Steward Delegate Jose
Padilla. Educational director advised all members to obtain
STCW identification certificates
as soon as possible and upgrade at
Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Entire crew extended special vote of thanks to
SIU President Michael Sacco and
union officials for their persistence
in getting the Maritime Security
Act of 1996 passed.
/TB PHILADELPHIA (Sheridan
Transportation), October I-Chairman V. Teddy Nielsen, Secretary
J.P. Emidy, Educational director
Jose Ferreiro, Deck Delegate
Mario Romero, Engine Delegate
Miguel Guity, Steward Delegate
Joel Molinos. Secretary reported
he completed tankerman opera-

tion/safety course in Piney Point
and urged all members to enroll in
the course. He added the class
would be beneficial to the health
and safety of crewmembers on all
SIU-contracted vessels. Educational director encouraged members to
upgrade at Lundeberg School. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crewmembers extended "big vote
of thanks" to SIU President
Michael Sacco, headquarters staff
and entire membership for efforts
in helping get maritime bill
passed. Crew thanked steward
department for job well done.

LIBERTY WA VE (Liberty
Maritime), October ~hairman
Neil Matthey, Secretary Claude
Hollings ID, Educational Director
Robert Ohler, Deck Delegate
Claude Hollier, Engine Delegate
Kasem Omar, Steward Delegate
James Jackson. Chairman
reported payoff in port of Galveston, Texas. He announced captain
has arranged for a car to transport
crewmembers to the U.S. Coast
Guard REC so they can receive
STCW identification certificates
immediately. Bosun stated ship
will take on stores while in port
and asked crewmembers to circulate new repair list. Educational
director stressed importance of
upgrading at Piney Point and continuing SPAn donations to keep
union strong. Deck and engine
delegates reported disputed OT.
No beefs or disputed OT reported
by steward delegate. Crew thanked
galley gang for job well done.
MAERSK CONSTELLATION
(Maersk Lines Ltd.), October 3Chairman Bradford Shelly.
Secretary Donald Williams.
Educational Director Kenneth
Jones, Deck Delegate Delroy
Brown. Chairman noted new furniture for crew lounge has not arrived. Educational director urged
crewmembers to vote in upcoming
U .S. presidential and congressional elections and upgrade at
Piney Point. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Crewmembers discussed Seafarers LOG article
detailing new contract agreements.
Crew requested new refrigerator
and chairs for crew mess area.
Bosun asked crew to keep rooms
in good, clean condition. Crewmembers expressed pleasure in
working with galley gang. Next
port: Concord. Calif.
NEWARK BAY(Sea-Land Service). October 6--Chainnan
Pedro Sanchez, Secretary Ivan
Salis, Educational Director
Michael Las Dulce, Deck
Delegate George Bruer, Engine
Delegate Gregory Johns.
Secretary reminded members of
upcoming union elections and
urged everyone to vote. He advised crew to vote for promaritime candidates in 1996
elections. He asked members to
donate to SPAD. Educational
director stressed importance of
upgrading at Lundeberg School.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Helmsmen reminded to practice
safety during transits of Houston
and Bremerhaven, Germany.
SEA-LAND EXPEDITION (SeaLand Service), October ~hair­
man Norberto Prats, Secretary
Edgar Vazquez, Educational
Director Frank Berner. Chairman
stated everything running smoothly with no beefs or disputed OT in
any department. He informed crewmembers of payoff upon arrival in
port. Bosun reminded crew to get
STCW identification certificate.
Secretary urged members to
upgrade at Paul Hall Center. A
vote of thanks was given to galley
gang for good meals. Steward
thanked bosun for fixing tiles in
galley. Crew asked for new
television for lounge. Next port:
Charleston, S.C.

NUEVO SAN JUAN (NPR,
Inc.), October 23-Chairman William Card, Secretary Jose Coils,
Educational Director Horace
Jones, Deck Delegate Angel
Camacho, Engine Delegate Abdulrub Atiah, Steward Delegate
George Vorise. Chairman thanked
crew for smooth voyage and announced payoff on October 25. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crew discussed purchase of
movies for VCR. Bosun and crewmembers requested permission to
bring family members on board
while in port. Crew noted company prohibits unlicensed members from bringing visitors aboard
while allowing licensed crew to do
so. Next ports: Elizabeth, N.J., San
Juan, P.R. and Jacksonville, Fla.

SEA-LAND ENDURANCE (SeaLand Service), October 27-Chairman Mark Stevens, Secretary
James Prado, Deck Delegate
Acylee Brooks, Engine Delegate
George Gill, Steward Delegate
Steven Sun. Bosun informed crew
of death of SIU Executive VP
Joseph Sacco. Crew worked
together to send telex to SIU President Michael Sacco and family expressing their condolences. Bosun
advised crew that visas for Shanghai for shore leave were lost. The
matter will be taken up with patrolman in port of Long Beach, Calif.
Treasurer noted ship's fund being
used to buy new movies. Engine
delegate reported disputed OT. No
beefs or disputed OT reported by
deck or steward delegates. Crew-

S-L Producer Crew Prepares for Inspection

With a sign that reads, "11;2" and 1112" Fire Hose Test for Coast Guard,"
deck department members on the Sea-Land Producer are ready for their
U.S. Coast Guard inspection. They are (kneeling) AB Jaime Ramirez,
(standing, from left) AB-Maintenance Regina Ewing, AB-Maintenance
~afael Vega, Bosun Gerry Corelli (who sent this photo to the Seafarers
LOG), AB-Maintenance Mark Holman and AB Juan Ayalla. The Sea-Land
Producer makes the run from Elizabeth, N.J. to San Juan. P.R. to Rio
Haina, Dominican Republic to Kingston, Jamaica to New Orleans to
Jacksonville, Fla.--and back.

OOCL INSPIRATION (Sea-Land
Service), October 27-Chairman
Mark Trepp, Secretary Ekow
Doffoh, Educational Director
Panagiotis Kanavos, Deck
Delegate Ronald Mena, Engine
Delegate Steven Kues. Educational director urged members to
upgrade to their highest level at
Paul Hall Center. Treasurer asked
crew to return movies after viewing. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Bosun detailed e-mail
messages received from SIU headquarters concerning passage and
signing of Maritime Security Act
and death of SIU Executive Vice
President Joseph Sacco. Crew extended special thanks to Michael
and Joseph Sacco for continued efforts to pass the Maritime Security
Act. Crewmembers sent thoughts
and love to Sacco's family and
friends. Next port: Boston.
OVERSEAS VALDEZ
(Maritime Overseas), October 20Chairman Roberto Zepeda,
Secretary Tyler Laffitte, Educational Director Earl Macom,
Deck Delegate Tan Joon, Engine
Delegate Andrew Lopez, Steward
Delegate B.T. McEleney. Chairman informed crewmembers of upcoming payoff in port of Houston.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crew thanked galley gang for
being a great feeder. To the family
of deceased SIU Executive President Joseph Sacco, crewmembers
wrote: "We, the crew of the Overseas Valdez, extend our deepest
sympathies for your great loss. All
who ever had the privilege to
know or work with Joe know he
was a very gallant and ad.mired individual who will be greatly
missed."

members discussed legislative victory for maritime industry with
signing of Maritime Security Act
by President Clinton. Entire crew
extended special thanks for efforts
by union officals and fellow SIU
brothers and sisters in helping get
the maritime legislation passed.
Crew expressed its sorrow on
news of Joseph Sacco's death:
"We are all very sorry to hear of
Joe Sacco's death as none of us
aboard had ever known him to be
anything but a fine and good individual. May God be with the entire Sacco family, relatives and
friends." Next ports: Long Beach
and Oakland, Calif.; Dutch Harbor, Alaska and Yokohama, Japan.

SEA-LAND EXPLORER (SeaLand Service), October 20-Chairman Skip Yager, Secretary
William Burdette, Educational
Director G. Pollard-Lowsley,
Deck Delegate Edward F. O'Brien, Engine Delegate Roy
Coleman, Steward Delegate
Richard Gegenheimer. Bosun
read minutes from previous shipboard union meeting and announced estimated date of arrival
in port of Long Beach, Calif. He
emphasized that writing members
of Congress and contributing to
SPAD truly work. Chairman added
that while the Maritime Security Act
was passed and signed by President
Clinton, members need to continue
the effort. He thanked crew for good
trip and steward department for excellent food. He commended day
men for extra efforts in getting all
jobs done. Educational director
urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Next ports: Long
Beach and Oakland, Calif.

Seafarers LOG 9

�Welcome Ashore
Each month, the Seafarers LOG pays tribute to the SIU members who have devoted their working lives to sailing aboard U.S. -flag vessels on the deep seas, inland waterways or Great Lakes.
Listed below are brief biographical sketches of those members who recently retired from the
union. The brothers and sisters of the SIU thank those members for a job well done and wish
them happiness and good health in the days ahead.

A

mong the 13 Seafarers joining the ranks of pensioners
this month is Erik H. Jensen,
who is retiring at the age of 70.
Brother Jensen's 49 years with
the SIU began in 1947 aboard the
Coalinger Hills, operated by
Waterman Steamship Corp., and
ended when he signed off the SeaLand Trader, operated by SeaLand Service, Inc.
He is one of seven pensioners
who sailed on the deep seas.
Another four sailed the inland
waterways and two shipped
aboard Great Lakes vessels.
Of this month's retirees, Robbyns&lt;&gt;tt H. Soy graduated from
the bosun recertification program
at the Lundeberg School. This
course offers the highest level of
training for deck department
members at the Piney Point. Md.
facility.
The most popular area of
retirement for this month's pensioners is the East CC'.&gt;Mt. where
four of the retirees make their
home. Three have settled on the
Gulf Coast. Two reside in the
Mi&lt;lwest, two on the West Coast
and one each has retired to Puerto
Rico and Greece.
Below, the Seafarers LOG
presents brief biographical accounts of this month's pensioners.

DEEP SEA
AHMADM.
AHMAD,67,
started his
career with the
Seafarers in
1977 in the
port of New
York. His first
1
'----~"'--'--':..:......:..1
ship was the
Council Grove, operated by Interocean Management Corp. Born in

,,

Yemen, he began sailing in the
steward department and later
transferred to the deck department. Prior to his retirement, he
sailed aboard the Charleston,
operated by Apex Marine.
Brother Ahmad makes his home
in Buffalo, N.Y.

EFRAIN
GARCIA,65,
began sailing
with the SIU
in 1961 from
the port of San
Juan. A native
of Puerto
Rico. he sailed
as a member of the engine department. His first ship was the
Gateway City 1 and he last sailed
in 1985 aboard the St. Louis, both
vessels operated by Sea-Land Servicet Inc. Brother Garcia has
retired to Rio Piedras, P.R.

JAMES A.
HATFIELD,
57 graduated
1

... from the
Marine Cooks
&amp;Stewards
(MC&amp;S) training school in
L-.--~~:......_~ Santa Rosa,
Calif. in 1968 andjoined the
MC&amp;S before that union merged
with the SIU' s Atlantic, Gulf,
Lakes and Inland Waters District
(AGLIWD). Brother Hatfield's
first voyage was aboard the SS
Lurline. His last ship before retiring was the R.J. Pfeiffer, both vessels operated by Matson
Navigation Co. Brother Hatfield
calls San Francisco home.

ERIK H. JENSEN, 70, first
sailed with the Seafarers in 1947
from the port of New York

Labor News

II

Proposed Union Contract Resolves
27·Month Steelworkers Strike
A tentative agreement has been reached between striking members of
the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) and Bridgestone/Firestone,
the world's largest rubber company.
Key issues in the 27-month dispute were resolved with the company
on November 4. Pending the settlement of some issues affecting individual plants, it was hoped that a new contract will be sent to the
rank-and-file by mid-December. The agreement covers 6,700 USWA
members at seven U.S. plants.
In July 1994, after Bridgestone/Firestone refused to negotiate a fair
contract, 4,000 Steelworkers walked off the job. Ten months later,
workers halted the strike. However, during the walkout, the company
hired 2,300 scabs to replace the Steelworkers.
The proposed agreement provides that union members who have not
already been called back to work can return to their jobs. It also calls for
an immediate wage increase of 40 cents per hour and a $750 signing
bonus for all employees as well as an across-the-board wage increase of
35 cents per hour on September 1, 1999. Additionally, the proposed
contract restores holidays to a total of 11, recognizes improvements to
the pension and health plans and gives complete amnesty for more than
40 employees discharged for alleged strike-related misconduct, among
other items.

Philadelphia Orchestra Approves
3-Year Contract, Ends 64-Day Strike
One hundred five members of the Philadelphia Orchestra are back on
stage, ending the longest strike in the orchestra's history.
By a vote of 54-47 (with two absentions), the musicians, who belong
to Local 77 of the American Federation of Musicians, approved a
three-year pact which calls for, among other improvements, a wage
increase of $150 per week as well as an increase in the maximum annual
pension.
Another benefit of the new agreement will be the formation of a
nonprofit corporation to pursue radio, television and recording contracts
(which substantially impact the musicians' wages). The orchestra, which
plays abroad several weeks each year, additionally will be given the
power to approve tour itineraries.

10

SeafarelS LOG

aboard the
Coalinger
Hills, a Waterman Steamship Corp.
vessel. Brother
Jensen sailed
in the deck
department
His last ship was the Sea-Land
Trader. Brother Jensen makes his
home in Petaluma, Calif.

JORGE OSORIO, 58, started
his career with the SIU in 1960 in
the port of New Orleans. Brother
Osorio first sailed aboard the
Penn Transporter, operated by
Penn Shipping Co. Born in
Mexico, the deck department
member has retired to New Orleans. From 1961to1963t he
served in the U.S. Anny.

PERICLES K. RENGEPIS, 65,
began sailing with the Seafarers
in 1968 from the port of New
York:. Born in Philadelphia, the
steward department member last
sailed in 1981 as a chief cook
aboard the Baltimore, operated by
Sea-Land Service. Inc. Brother
Rengepis resides in Athens.
Greece.

ROBBYNSON H. SUY, 51,
started with the SIU in 1977 in
the port of New York. His first
ship was the Monticello. Brother
Suy sailed in the deck department
and upgraded frequently at the
Lundeberg School in Piney Pointt
Md., where he completed the
bosun recertification course in
1987. Prior to his retirement, he
signed off the LNG Taurus.
Brother Suy makes his home in
Miramar, Fla.

JACKIEJ.
BARNETT,
63, began his
Seafarers
career in 1966
in the port of
Norfolk, Va.
Starting out in
the steward
department, Boatman Barnett
later transferred to the deck
department. The North Carolina
native last sailed in 1988 aboard
vessels operated by the Association of Maryland Pilots. Boatman Barnett has retired to
Frisco, N .C.

for Crescent Towing Co. Boatman Saranthus makes his home in
Semmes, Ala.

GEORGEP.
THOMPSON,
57, began sailing with the
SIU in 1961
from the port
of Norfolk,
Va. Born in
Virginia, he
sailed as a captain, primarily with
vessels operated by McAllister
Towing of Virginia. Boatman
Thompson has retired to Virginia
Beach, Va.

SIDNEY
OPRY,68,
began sailing
with the SIU
in 1978 from
the port of
Port Arthur,
Texas. Anative of
Louisiana, he last sailed with
Moran Towing of Texas as a captain. During World War II, he
served in the U.S. Army Air
Force from 1945 to 1946. Boatman Opry calls Bridge City,
Texas home.

DEVAINE.
SARANTHUS,55,
started his
career with the
Seafarers in
1961 in the
port of
.___ _ _ ___, Mobile, Ala.
The Alabama native sailed in the
deck department and last worked

ANTHONY
B.ERICKSON, 62, first
sailed with the
Seafarers in
1966 from the
port of Alpena, Mich .•
aboard the
Richard Riess. A native of
Michigan, the deck department
member last sailed aboard vessels
operated by Inland Lakes
Management. Brother Erickson
makes his home in Alpena,
Mich.

NELSON D. HAWLEY, 62,
started his career with the SIU in
1966 in the port of Detroit. Born
in Michigan, he first sailed
aboard the E.M. Ford. The engine
department member last signed
off the J.A. W. Iglehart, operated
by Inland Lakes Management.
Brother Hawley resides in
Lachine, Mich.

SUMMARYANNUALREPORTFOR
SEAFARERS WELFARE FUND AND SUBSIDIARY
This is a summary of the annual report of the Seafarers Welfare Fund, EIN 13-5557534, Plan No. 501, for
the period January 1, 1995 through December 31, 1995. The annual report has been filed with the Internal Revenue
Service, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (BRISA).
The Trust has committed itself to pay claims incurred under the terms of the plan.

Basic Financial Statement
The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $(29 ,542,05~) as of December 31, 1995,
compared to $(32,317 ,520) as of January l, 1995. During the plan year, the plan experienced an increase in its
net assets of $2,775,464. This increase includes unrealized appreciation and depreciation in the value of plan
assets; that is, the difference between the value of the plan's assets at the end of the year and the value of the
assets at the beginning of the year or the cost of assets acquired during the year. During the plan year, the plan
had a total income of $42,461,517, including employer contributions of $41,451,442, realized gains of $17,900
from the sale of assets, earnings from investments of $966,893, and other incom.e of $25,282.
·
Plan expenses were $39,686,053. These expenses included $4,567,143 in administrative expenses and
$351 118,910 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries.

Your Rights to Additional Information
You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, on request. The items listed
below are included in that report:
1. an accountant's report,
2. assets held for investment,
3. loans or other obligations in default,
4. transactions in excess of 5 percent of plan assets, and
5. service provider and trustee information.
To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the Board of Trustees, Seafarers
Welfare Plan. 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746-4211; telephone(301) 899-0675. The charge to cover
copying costs will be $1.80 for the full annual report, or $.10 per page for any part thereof.
You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on request and at no charge, a statement of the
assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses of the plan and
accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of the full annual report fonn the plan administrator, these
two statements and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to cover copying costs
given above does not include a charge for the copying of these portions of the report because these portions are
furnished without charge.
You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the main office of the plan (Board
of Trustees, Seafarers Welfare Plan, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746-4211) and at the U.S.
Department of Labor (DOL) in Washington, D.C. or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon
payment of copying costs. Requests to the DOL should be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, N-5638,
Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20210.

December 1996

�This handy ve.rsion of the
Lundeberg School's catalog is
printed in the Seafarers LOG as
a convenience to SIU members.
Please keep for reference.

1997 Lundeberg School Course Guide
The ever&lt;hanging needs of the maritime

As the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School
of Seamanship enters its 30th year of training

·=···"''~"····;'·

~ industry are reflected in this

and upgrading Amerkan merchant mariners

1997 course

guide and schedule. Throughout these four

at its Piney Point, Md. campus, the facility is

pages, Seafarers can get an overview of what

gearing itself to prepare its students for the

courses the Lundeberg School has available

21st century.

and plan for their educational needs in the

Because the school's staff is actively in·

upcoming year by using the schedule of clas-

volved in meetings dealing with mariner train·

ses. However, courses and class dates may

ing, safety and education at the national and

change due to the manpower needs of SIU-

international levels, classes at the school are

contracted companies. Seafarers should refer

constantly evolving to ensure that deep sea,

to the latest issue of the Seafarers LOG for

inland and Great Lake~ mtmber~ rec:eive the

the most up-to-date listing of clsses.

The basic eligibility for SIU members want-

most up-to-date information.

optning i~ gates In
1967. the Lundeberg School 15 moving ahe~d Through h21.nds·on experience and classroom study.
As it has done ~i~lt

to

ing to upgrade at the Lundeberg School inthe Lundeberg School is setting the eludes 120 days seatime in the previous year
p21.ce in preparing Seafarers with the maritime skills needed to enter the 21st century.
mett tht ~nanenge5 that fare today's and
and one day of seatime in the six months prior

to the date the class starts. If the course mandates a U.S. Coast Guard test to acquire the

tomorrow's men and women of tht U.S.-flag meuhant fleet.

In this decade alone, the Lundeberg School hM ~tt tht pace for the industry In such endorsement, the upgrader must meet all Coast Guard requirements prior
classes

as oil spill

taking the

prevention and containment, refrigeration technilian lertification, class. Some courses have other specific requirements which are printed in bold.

tankerman assistant cargo and steward department sanitation certification, among others.
And the school's staff is working

For more information about the Lundeberg School or any of its courses, contact the

on the curriculum of other courses that will help Seafarers Admissions Office, Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, P.0. Box 75, Piney

in thli! deck, engine and steward departmtnts do their jobs even better.

Deck Department Courses
Able Seaman
This nine-week course leads to endorsement as an able seaman (AB). It consists of
hands-on training and classroom work
covering deck seamanship, rules of the road,
marlinespike seamanship, helmsmanship,
cargo handling, safety, firefighting, emer·
gency procedures, first aid, underway and
vertical replenishment, and crane and forklift
truck operations. The course also includes
extensive sections on oil spill containment
and cleanup, as well as sealift operations
and maintenance. Students must have a
lifeboat ticket in order to take the AB

course. (This course is limited to 25 students
maximum.)

Lifeboat/Water Survival
Students in this two-week course can
earn lifeboatman certification by passing a
U.S. Coast Guard exam at the end of the
class. Featuring a mix of practical training
and classroom instruction, the course covers
emergency drills, lifeboat construction,
lifeboat launching and recovery, basic compass navigation, life raft construction, life raft
launching and maintenance, and use of all
lifeboat and life raft equipment.
Additionally, students learn different survival methods and the use of emergency
radio and distress signals.
A minimum of three hours per day is spent
outdoors in lifeboats conducting practical exercises such as rowing/coxswain training
and davit operations. (This course is limited
to 25 students maximum.)

Limited License/License Prep
Aimed at preparing students to test for
any limited tonnage license, this six-week
course consists of classroom instruction in
all areas of terrestrial navigation, deck
seamanship, rules of the road, shipbuilding,
ship stability, cargo handling, federal regulations, first aid, CPR and firefighting.

Students must have an AB endorsement and 540 days of seatlme on an SIUcontracted vessel OR equivalent Inland
experience In order to take the limited
license/license prep exam.

Celestial Navigation
The six-week course covers the areas of
celestial navigation required for licensing as

December 1996

to

a second or third mate unlimited and for all
limited licenses. Students are instructed in
latitude observations by sun and Polaris,
celestial running fixes by sun, stars and
planets, compass error by amplitutde and
azumuth, star identificaiton, and care and
use of the sextant.

Bridge Management
The U.S. Coast Guard-approved
shiphandling simulator course provides
realistic bridge watchstanding training for
deck personnel aboard both deep sea and
inland vessels.
Successful completion of this two-week
course is accepted as credit for 60 days of
seatime on vessels of unlimited tonnage.
Special areas of skills development include general shiphandling and helmsmanship, river and channel transits, entering and
departing various ports, coastal navigation,
U.S. Navy·related operations such as convoy and underway replenishment, hawser
towing, pushboat towing and emergency
shiphandling.

Radar Observer/Unlimited
The one-week radar observer/unlimited
class leads to a radar observer endorsement
that is good on vessels of any tonnage.
Approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, the
course features hands-on training and classroom work, including radar theory, observation, operation and use, interpretation and
plotting, advanced radar plotting, collision
avoidance and navigational exercise.
Students operate modern audio-visual
and radar simulation gear, as well as the full
shiphandling simulator, as they practice controlling and maneuvering a vessel, plotting
courses and safely guiding a ship without
jeopardizing the safety of other vessels. Also
included are practical exercises and lectures
covering inland waterway and river navigation and piloting.

Third Mate
Upgraders in the third mate course will
study all subject areas found on the U.S.
Coast Guard license exam for third mate.
The 16-week curriculum includes instruction
in all areas of terrestrial navigation, deck
seamanship, rules of the road, shipbuilding,
ship stability, cargo handling, federal regulations, first aid, CPR and firefighting.

Point, MD 20674-0075 or call (301) 994-0010.

Steward Department Courses
Assistant Cook/Certified Cook
and Baker
This 12-week course combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training and
other practical exercises.
During the assistant cook section, topics
covered are the preparation, cooking and
serving of vegetables, cooked salads,
sandwiches, breakfast foods and night
lunches. Emphasis is placed on the basics
of food preparation, including sanitation,
dietary values, work organization, weighing
and measuring, and the use of recipes.
Topics covered during the cook and
baker section include the baking of breads,
rolls, pies, cakes, cookies and breakfast
pastries. Students also focus on dessert and
breakfast preparations.

Certified Chief Cook
Leading to certification as a chief cook,
this 12-week class is designed to help stu·
dents fine-tune their skills by learning and
practicing some of the more difficult aspects
of the art of cooking. Topics include cooking
methods, seasonings and flavorings, recipe
and menu planning, stocks, sauces and
soups, meat and game, poultry, seafood,
starches, vegetables, breakfasts, salads,
sandwiches and hors d'oeuvres.
Students also focus on nutrition and diet,
with special emphasis on low-fat and low-salt
cooking.

Certified Chief Steward
This 12-week course includes classroom
instruction supplemented by on-the-job
training. Menu planning, work organization,
typing, inventory control and requisitioning
procedures are among the topics covered.
Sanitation, nutrition and safety also are highlighted.
Leadership and communication skills
also are stressed in the intensive 12-week
course.

Ellglblllty requirements for steward
department courses:
• Ass is ta nt Cook/Certlf led Cook
Baker
Students must have eight months sailing In the steward department and hold a
certificate of completion from the Paul
Hall Center entry rating program
OR

Sanitation, nutrition and safety-in addition
to nutritious food preparation-are part of the
steward department curriculum.

Students must have 12 months salllng
in the steward department.
• Certified Chief Cook
Students must' have one year of
seatime sailing in any rating above
steward assistant and hold a certificate of
completion for the Paul Hall Center's new
Assistant Cook/Certified Cook Baker program
OR
Students must have two years of
seatlme sailing In the steward department
OR
Students must have equivalent experience to be evaluated by the director
of the steward department and the admissions office.
• Certified Chief Steward
Students must have three years of
seatime sailing In the steward department, with at least one year as chief cook
(school time will count toward the one
year)
OR
Students must have two years of
seatime in the steward department and
hold a Paul Hall Center certificate of completion from the certified chief cook course
OR
Students must have equivalent experience to be evaluated by the director
of the steward department and the admissions office.

Seafarers LOG

11

�Engine Department Courses
QMED-Any Rating
The curriculum for certification and endorsement as a Qualified Member of the Engine
Department (QMED)-Any Rating consists of
a 12-week course leading to the following
ratings: pumpman, refrigeration engineer,
electrician, machinist, deck engineer, junior
engineer and deck engine mechanic.
The course of instruction leading to an
endorsement in each of these ratings consists of classroom work as well as practical
training.

Basic Electronics
Designed to help Seafarers develop an
understanding of what goes on inside the
electronic boxes found aboard ship, this fourweek course covers principles of analog
electronics, active devices and basic digital
electronics. The student also will learn all
aspects of circuit diagrams, and the instructor will work with each student individually to
ensure a working knowledge of all shipboard
electronic devices.

Diesel Engine Technology
This four-week course, leading to certification in diesel engine technology, consists of classroom instruction and hands-on
training. Topics of instruction include diesel
engine theory; two- and four-stroke cycle
operating principles; and the construction,
operation, maintenance, repair and
troubleshooting of low-, medium- and highspeed diesel engines.
Also covered are associated auxiliaries
including intake and e;w;h&lt;iust systems,
lubricatiM and cooling systems, and fuel
injection and starting systems.
Stuaents receive practical training in thA
&lt;&gt;pAration and repair Of Cie~el engines on
board schMI training vessels.

Courae entry requirements are QMED·
Any Rating or equlvalent Inland experience.

Flreman/Watertender and Oil•r
This 11-week course leading to @ndorse·
ment as fireman/watertender and oiler
(FOWT) features new and expanded segments of hands-on training, as well as classroom instruction. Topics covered include the
parts of a boiler. engineroom equipm~mt,
engineroom procedures, operating auxiliary
equipment, watchstanding, starting and
securing main engines, firefighting, first aid,
safety procedure~, sealift operations, oil spill
prevention and containment and more.
The class prepares students for U.S.
Coast Guard general safety, oiler and
fireman/watertender tests.

Hydraulics
The curriculum in the four-week
hydraulics course blends practical training
with classroom work. Fluids, actuators, control devices, pumps, reservoirs, symbols and
hydraulic systems in marine equipment are
among the subjects covered in this class.
Also addressed are principles of electrical
control of hydraulic systems, cargo winches,
deck cranes, anchor windlasses, ships'
steering systems, ramps, fire doors and a
wide variety of other shipboard systems.
Upon completion of the course, a Lundeberg School certificate of graduation will be
issued.

Course entry requirement Is QMEDAny Rating.

Marine Electrical
Maintenance I ·
The six-week course of instruction leading to certification in Marine Electrical Maintenance I consists of practical training and
classroom instruction aimed at providing the
basic skills required of shipboard
electricians. The range of topics includes
basic electrical theory, DC and AC circuits,
electrical safety, electrical test equipment
and troubleshooting, electrical protective
and switching devices, electrical wiring
diagrams and schematics, control e.nd power
circuits, batteries, AC generation and dis·
tribution equipment, transformers, lighting
syst@ms and fixtures. galley and miscellaneous heating equipment. single-speed
AC motors and across-the-line starters, and
wiring tgchniqu@s.

Course entry requirement is Basic

Electronics.

Marine Electrical
Maintenance II
Aimed at providing the more advanced
skills required of the shipboard electrician,
this six·week course features hands-on
training and classroom instruction and leads
to certification in Marine Electrical Maintenance II.
Among the subjects covered are interpretation of the National Electrical Code,
specialized electrical test equipment, advanced application of circuit protection and
switching devices, relay logic, complex control circuits, DC and AC generators, voltage
regulators, electrical distribution hardware,
DC motors and controllers, AC motors and
controllers, deck machinery, motor generator sets, converters, inverters and rectifiers,
electric propulsion systems and interior com·
munications systems.
Also, the course will include an introduction to solid state electronic controls and their
applications, and the general maintenance
responsibilities of the electrician, as well as
troubleshooting and repair.

Course entry requirements are Basic
Electronlcs and Marine Electrical Maintenance I.

Marine Electronics Tech I &amp; II
The marine electronics technician pro-

gram consists of two six-week courses which
are run consecutively. Students may take the
entire program in one stay or take the two
courses of study separately. Topics included
in the course are AC and DC circuits, active
and passive components, amplifiers, power
supplies, antenna systems, satellite and
radar systems, microprocessor control systems, digital control systems and systems
troubleshooting.

Power Plant Maintenance
The majority of this new, six-week course
features hands-on training, covering a
variety of topics. Some classroom work also
is included. Subjects include pipefitting, therm a I insulation, valve repair, pump
repair/overhaul, hydraulic system repair,
drilling/machine thread fabrication, use of
various epoxies and similar compounds for
emergency and temporary repairs, maintenance of power transmission equipment
(such as flexible couplings), use of proper
oils and greases for bearing maintenance
and lubrication, reconditioning shell and tube
h@at exchangers. centrifugal lube oiVfuel oil
purifier maintenance, and removal of heavy
equipment in the engineroom.

Course entry requirement Is QMEDAny Rating.

Pumproom Maintenance
Leading to certification in pumproom
maintenance and operations, this two-week
class includes hands-on training and class·
room work. The curriculum consists of cargo
properties and emergency procedures, operation and maintenance of valves and pumps,
loading procedures, cargo- pump operations,
cargo measuremen~ discharging procedures,
ballasting procedures, tank cleaning, inert gas
systems and more.
Upon completion of the course, a Lundeberg School certificate of graduation will be
issued.

In order to take this class, students
must already have taken the Tanker Ass 1sta n t DL (formerly Tanker Operation/Safety) course (described on next
page) and be certified as a QMED-Any

Rating or have equivalent inland experience, or hold endorsement as a
pumpman.

Refrigeration System
Maintenance and Operations
Now an elective, this six-week class
blends practical and classroom instruction
leading to certification in refrigeration system
maintenance and operations. Among the
topics covered are theory of mechanical
refrigeration, major system components, accessories, cycle controls, refrigerants and
oils, and applied electricity.
Standard service techniques are emphasized, such as the operation,
troubleshooting and maintenance of ships'

stores plants, air conditioning plants, cargo
ventilation and dehumidifying equipment, as
well as pantry refrigerators, water coolers
and ice machines.
Hands-on shop training includes the complete fabrication of a working refrigeration
system from basic system components. An
introduction to refrigerated container units
also is presented.

Students must be certified as QMEDAny Rating or have equivalent Inland exp e rl en ce or hold Coast Guard
endorsements as refrigeration engineer
and electrician in order to enroll for this
course.

Refrigerated Containers
This four-week course leads to certification in refrigerated containers maintenance
and consisJg of both classroom and practical
shop training. The training experience enables
students to assume the duties of a maintenance electrician on board ships carrying
refrigerated containers.
Students receive training in all phases of
refrigerated container unit operation, maintenance, repair and troubleshooting. This includes the various types of engines,
refrigeration and electrical systems.
The course is designed to help students
develop a systematic approach to
troubleshooting, as well as to acquaint them
with specific maintenance procedures.

Course entry requirements are Marine
Electrical Maintenance I and the basic
Refrigeration System course.

Welding
Classroom instruction and on-the-job
training comprise this four-week course,
which features practical training in electric
arc welding and cutting and oxy-acetylene
brazing, welding and cutting. Upon completion of the course, a Lundeberg School certificate of graduation will be issued.

Third Assistant Engineer
The course of instruction leading to
licensing as a third assistant engineer consists of classroom instruction in such topics
as diesel propulsion plants, steam propulsion plants, engineering safety, auxiliary
boilers and diesels, water systems,
electricity generating plants, electrical distribution and electrical devices. The 12-week
course, which meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements for licensing, also includes
American Red Cross-approved classes in
first aid and CPR as well as basic and advanced firefighting.

Additional
Co.urses
Study Skills Program
Proficiency in one's occupatiqn can come
not only from courses covering the technical
aspects of one's job, but also from advancing
one's study skills and knowledge of the language. The Paul Hall Center offers a number
of courses to assist Seafarers with basic
study skills and basic learning procedures.

GED Preparation - This 12-week program will help students prepare for and take
the GED exam. Areas of study include math,
writing, social studies, science, literature and
the arts.
Adult Basic Education (ABE) - Basic
skills in this six-week course include individualized instruction to increase
vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing
ability and math skills.

Engine department members will find many upgrading classes available
to them at the Lundeberg School which lead to certification and endorsement in a specific area. Included in the engine department curriculums
are QMED (photo at left) and power plant maintenance courses.

12

Seafarers LOB

English as a Second Language (ESL}
- If English is not a student's primary language, this four-week course can help him
or her master the fundamentals.
Several other classes in English, history,
psychology, physics and math (including
fractions, decimals, percents, and algebra}
as well as a two-week lifeboat course and an
introduction to computers are included in this
year's Lundeberg School curriculum.

December 1996

�All Departments: Upgrading and Specialty Courses
All students attending upgrading
programs at the Paul Hall Center participate
in certain courses as part of their regularly
scheduled program. Sealift operations and
maintenance, physical fitness, first aid and
CPR, industrial relations and firefighting
either are required or may be taken as elective courses by upgraders in all departments.
Additionally, completing the Tanker Assistant DL (formerly theTanker Operation/Safety) course gives priority (within each
level of seniority) for jobs aboard tank vessels to SIU members, for as long as the
course is being offered (see description
below).

Oil Spill Prevention
and Containment
This one-week course consists of classroom, laboratory and on-the-job training exercises. Topics of instruction include types of
oil and petroleum products and their behavior
on water, pollution prevention regulations, spill
prevention, and small boat operations. Students also receive instruction in spill containment booms and boom towing configurations
am:.t anoholing operations.
Also oovemct are seleotion of absorbents.
suotion ~uipment a.nd skimmer'S and their
proper use.

Oil Spill Safety
R~~nltltatlon

Available for personnel who have completed 40- or 24-hour hazardous materials
(ha.zmttt) courM~ Md who must be annually
recertified, this one-day class includes a
regulatory overview of Occupational Safety
and Health Act (OSHA) requirements, as
well as reviews of toxology terminology,
medical monitoring instruments and techniques, site-control and emergency preparedness, proper use of respiratory protection
and monitoring equipment and new technology.

First Aid
and CPR
Students in this two-day class learn the
principles and techniques of safety and basic
first aid, as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) according to the accepted
standards of the American Red Cross.
After successful completion of each phase
of this course, students are awarded a
certificate from the American Red Cross.

Basic Firefighting
The basic firefighting course provides students with general knowledge of the
chemistry of fire, firefighting equipment and
materials and techniques for using them
safely. Upgraders receive 16 hours of classroom training and eight hours of practical

training.
Upon successful completion of the
course, students receive a U.S. Coast
Guard-recognized certificate of graduation
from the Lundeberg School.

AdvancedFueflghting
After receiving a refresher in basic
firefighting to start the two-week course, students learn how to blueprint a vessel and
organize emergency squads for firefighting.
The class covers how to give concise orders
using the different types of communications
with crewmembers and land-based fire units.
Students also study how to inspect and
service various shipboard fire extinguishing
equipment before going through shipboard
simulations and actual firefighting drills.

Industrial Relations
While attending upgrading courses at the
Lundeberg School, all SIU members attend
industrial relations courses for one week.
Seafarers learn about the maritime industry and the role of U.S. shipping in the

economy and in times of crisis. Also, participants review the role of the SIU within the
industry and the rights of Seafarers as out·
lined by the SIU constitution. Students gain
an understanding of the various laws and
legislative programs which promote a U.S.flag merchant marine.
Courses also are conducted to provide
Seafarers with full information on the many

benefit plans available to qualifying members through the union's collective bargain-

ing agreements.

· General Physical Fitness
The U.S. Coast Guard places certain
physical requirements on all mariners. To
ensure the U.S.-flag fleet has physically fit
crewmembers, the SIU encourages
Seafarers to exercise properly.
At the Paul Hall Center, workout
programs are individually designed to
meet the needs of the student. Students
may participate in free weight, Nautilus or
Universal weight training, which can be
used to gain, lose or maintain body weight.
Aerobic and swimming programs also are
available.

Tanker Assistant DL
(formerly Tanker Operation/Safety)
This three-week course meets STCW requirements for tanker assistants. It is open to
all ratings and departments and is particularly valuable for all personnel sailing aboard
tankers. Steward department personnel will
attend the first two weeks of the course; deck
and engine personnel will complete all three
weeks.
The class blends hands-on training with

In the event of a shipboard fire, oil spill or
other hazardous condition, Lundeberg
School students are thoroughly trained in
the proper use of respiratory protection and
safety monitoring equipment.

Students at the Paul Hall Center learn through on-the-job training that safety is the most
important part of working around and containing hazardous materials.
classroom instruction. Topics include tanker
construction and safety, the chemical and
physical properties of petroleum products,
flammability characteristics, toxicity/asphyxiation characteristics and health
hazards associated with exposure to
petroleum products, how to correctly monitor
tanks for oxygen deficiency and take other
meter readings with atmospheric monitoring
equipment, creating site-specific shipboard
safety plans and reviewing final rules on
benzene products. Students also will learn
troubleshooting and basic maintenance of
monitoring gear, extensive confined-space
safety training and rescue operations, fit-tests
using respirators and other breathing apparatuses and emergency equipment, an introduction to fire chemistry and other aspects of
firefighting (including fire hazard awareness
and identification), fire prevention via vapor
control and ignition source control, fire extinguishing equipment, firefighting techniques
and fire/emergency duties.
Other areas of study include different
types of oils, medical surveillance, vessel oil
pollution prevention, national pollution contingency plans, water pollution, removal of oil
and other hazardous substances, rules for
protecting the marine environment, and

more. (This course is limited to 25 students
maximum.)

LNG Familiarization
This three-week course consists of a
safety program designed to meet STCW requirements for those who have not served on
LNG ships. The course of instruction includes LNG firefighting, confined space
awareness, LNG nomenclature, LNG ship
operations, personal safety, LNG safety,
hazardous material, LNG cargo tank (level
indicators, temperature), LNG cargo pumps
(Carter pump construction and ops), inert
gas g·e nerator (general flow system),
nitrogen gas system, LNG vapor compressor, warm-up heater and boil-off heater.
(This course is limited to 25 students maximum.)

Tankerman Barge PIC
This two-week course is geared toward
the individual who holds a tankerman endorsement issued before March 31, 1996, and
who wants to continue to serve as a tankerman until the first renewal of his or her Merchant Mariner's Document that occurs after
March 31, 1997. (This course is limited to 25
students maximum.)

Inland Courses
Radar ObserverRnland
This one-week radar observer class leads
to a radar observer endorsement that is good
on vessels of any tonnage.
Approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, the
course features hands-on training and classroom work, including radar theory, observation, operation and use, interpretation and
plotting, advanced radar plotting, collision
avoidance and navigational exercises.
Students operate modern audio-visual
and radar simulation gear, as well as the full
shiphandling simulator, as they practice controlling and maneuvering a vessel, plotting
courses and safely guiding a ship without
jeopardizing the safety of other vessels. Also
included are practical exercises and lectures
covering inland, waterway and river navigation and piloting.

Engineroom Familiarization

Engineroom Troubleshooting
&amp; Casualty Control
This two-week course is an advanced
skills program designed to upgrade the skills
of the chief engineer for handling emergencies and non-routine operating conditions.

DOE/Limited License Preparation
The two-week curriculum preparing students to take the exam for Designated Duty
Engineer consists of both classroom instruction and practical training in all aspects of the
duties of the tugboat engineer. System and
component theory, operating procedures,
maintenance and repair techniques and
troubleshooting are emphasized.
Main propulsion plant instruction includes
diesel engine theory and construction, watch
operations and engine maintenance, engine
governing and automation, fuel injection,
starting and reversing, intake and exhaust,
lubrication and cooling systems, as well as
reduction gears, clutching, shafting and
propellers.

Designed for prospective tugboat engineers, this two-week class provides instruction in the following areas: engineroom
safety, engineering plant nomenclature,
piping system hardware, a functional description of main propulsion and auxiliary
machinery and associated piping systems,
plant operations and watchkeeping, and safe
Auxiliary equipment instruction includes
handling of fuels and oil spill prevention.
piping systems, pumps and compressors,
heat exchangers, hydraulics and
Engineroom Operations
pneumatics, steering systems, deck
&amp; Maintenance
machinery, boilers, refrigeration and air conThis course is designed for inland person- ditioning equipment, evaporators, basic
nel with intermediate skills to prepare assis- electricity, generators and motors ,
tant engineers for all phases of engineroom switchboards, batteries and electrical mainoperations and routine maintenance. Addi- tenance.
tionally, the two-week curriculum prepares
Additional instruction is offered in all
students to assume the duties of the chief
engineer.
aspects of engineering safety.

December 1996

Seafarers LOG

13

�he following is the course schedule for the entire new year-January through ·
TDecember
1997-at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, located

:,at the ?a,~t H~l;~n,~f fot:Mari~me·Training and Educatio11+ in Piney Point, Md
,TJle CQp{S,~,sq!ltd.y.17.~ay cbap.ge to reflect the needs of the membership, the industry
or the 11a.!ional inter~st. Seafare~ should continue to consult each monthly edition of the
Seafarers WGfor the most up-to-date course schedule.
~ .
For additional information, contact the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of
seamatiship~ P.9. Box 75, Piney Point, MD. 20674-0075; telephone (301) 994-0010.
l&gt;l~enqte. that students should check in the Saturday beft&gt;re their course's start date.
The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates.

Start Date

Date of Completion

January 13

April2

Diesel Engine Technology

January6

February 13

Fireman/Watertende.&amp; Oiler · ·

April21
November3

May30
December12

October20

November14

Jun~2

June27

June30

Augusts

August11

Septembet" 19

June30

July 24

· QMED ·Any Rating

... Hy~raulics
. . ·':. :.~asfo. Electronic8.

·· Marine Electrical Maintenance l

: :.N.Ja.rine El~ctricul :M~ntenaDce 11

July 28

·· . R:~fdg~i3tlo~. Syst~~ · ·. . .

. · &amp;Maint~oance ..

Refrigerated Containers

July IO
August1S
October17
November28
December12

Radar Reeertification
(one day class)

January23
Mayl

Junetz
July 10
August14
October 16
November28
Decemberll
Third Mate

September 1

December19

Celestial Navigation

January13
June16

February20
July 25

Inland CoutSBS
Cou.rs~

Start Date

Date of Completion

Able Seaman - Special

January6

January24

DDE/Limited License Prep.

June2

July 11

RBDBdllleallon Programg

: .Au~iz

Junetl

Start Date

February17

March27

March3

April 3

August4

Septembers

Januaryl7
June30

July 31

June 16
September 22

April2S
JulylO
October 17

LN~ Recertification

Jannary27
April21
May19
June 16
August 11
October6

SafMy $pet:la/ly Courses

Date of Completion

Febmary27
February14
May9

June6
July3
August29
October24

Course

Start Date

Date of Completion

Advanced Firefighting

July14
October27

July2S
November7

January13
February 10
MarchlO
April 7
Mays

January31

Course

Start Date

Date of Completion

February28
March28
April.25 .
May23
June20
July 18
September 12

Assistant Cook/Certified Cook
and Baker/Certified Chief Cook/
Certified Chief Steward

January6
March22

June13

Tanker Assistant DL

June2
June30
Augost25
September 22
October20
November17
'

June30

May5

March31

Welding

January24
May2
June13

Augnst4
October6
Novemberl7
Decembert

Engine Deparlmenl Courses
Course

January13
April21
June2

Steward Department Comses

June2
Angustll
October20

March28
August22
October31

January9

'Additional Courses

October10
November7
Decembers

Study Skills Course

June20

GED Preparation

Start Date

Date of Completion

January20

April 12
June14

..... .-.... .-• .-!-:'.'.'.'."" ' ' '

LNG Familiarization

June2
September8

November17
Tankerman Barge PIC

February 10
Mays

Junel
June30
Angust25
October20

September 26
December4
February21
May16
Jone 13
July 10
Septembers
October31

March17

May19
July21
August25
English as a Second Language (ESL)

Start Date

Date of Completion

Able Seaman ·

February 10
April 7
September 22

April4
May30
November 14

Bridge Management
(Shiphandling)

January27

Febrnary7

June 16

Jnne27

Lifeboatman

January27
February24

February7

March24
April21
May19
June 16
July 14
Augustll
September8
October6
November3
Decemberl

April4

May2
May30
Jnne27
July 25
August22
September 19
October17
November14
December12

Jnly28

September 19

Limited License/License Prep.

14

Seafarers LOG

Marchi
May31

August2
November29
February21
April 11
May30

January13
March3
April21
June2
July 14
Septemberl
October20

July 11
August22
October 10
Decembers

Lifeboat Preparation

Jannary13
February 10
March IO
April 7
Mays
June6
June30
July28
August25
September 22
October20
November17

January24
February21
March21
April 18
May16
June13
July 11
August8
Septembers
October3
October31
November28

Introduction to Computers

Self-study

Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Course

FebruaryS
May6
July8
November4

August9
October11
NovemberlS

March7

(In addition, English, history, math, psychology and physics courses are offered
in the college program. Check with the admissions office for specific dates.)

December 1996

�To Mike Ahearn

Merry Xmas and Happy New
Year, sweetheart! Wish we were
together, but I'll hold you in my
heart. Take care. Love ya true,
Kathy Ahearn

To Nick Celona and family

May you have the best of

The holiday greetings appearing on this page and
the following three pages were written by Seafarers,
pensioners, friends and family members. They are
listed in alphabetical order by the name of the lndlvldual sending the message. The Sea(arers LOG
Joins with those appearing below In extending
season's greetings to all Seafarers and their families ..

holidays.
Sal Aquta and family
To everyone at .Manpower

Thank you for all the help yearround. May you all have the best of
holidays.
Sal Aquid and ftimlly

To Natasha Boyd

Thinking of you, Natasha, and
counting the days. Happy Kwanzaa. Love you always and infinitely,
Gary D. Boyd

c
To Bill and Vilma Rackley

We would like to wish you both
a blessed Christmas and a Happy

New Year. Our love will be with
you this holiday season.
Mom (Charlotte E. Canion)
and family

To my wife and son

To all Seafarers

Wishing you both a Merry
Christmas ana a very Happy New
Year.

A Merry Christmas and a very
joyous New Year to all of you.

Leoncia A. Castro
To my brothers and sisters
Keep it cool. Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year!
Leo Castro and family
To Castro's gang

Wishing you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year all the way.
Leoncio A. Castro

Willie Cichocke
To Dick Pascoe and Shelton
Matthews

Whenever we fall, you're always
there to pick us Uf'· You guys are the
best! Merry Christmas to all. Our
love,
Dean Compton and Mike Peck
To Vanessa, Rodderlck and
Lovenita

Happy holidays. Although we're
far apart, In my heart my family is
always near. Miss you all and love
you.

. . . to Rodderick, Vanessa
and Lovenita Coleman

Roderick (Coleman)

To Pernell Cook

May the reason for Christmas,
which is Christ and His love for us,
keep our family near and dear to
each other, as always. Happy
holidays and anniversary to the
greatest husband and dad on earth.
Patricia, Pernell Jr., Racquell
and Lovell Cook

To Tammy Davis

My dearest wife-Another
Christmas apart. Even though we
are miles apart, you are always on
my mind and heavy on my heart.
Merry Christmas, Tammy. Love,

... from AB Tillman Churchman with his son Andrew and niece Christy
Collins (above) and with his nephew Jacob Metheny (below).

·

To my son Andrew

To Johnny Zepeda

Haepy holidays and thank you
for bemg the best son a man ever
had. I love you.

Christmastime comes once a year,
Time to remember those far and near.
Even though we may be apart,
You are always in my heart.
Let's not be sad, because the time is
growing close,
That we will be together again, in our
own house.

Dad (Tillman Churchman)

To sister Jen

Happy holidays and congratulations on your marriage. He's a lucky
man.
Brother Tillman (Churchman)
and son Andrew

December 1996

Tommy (Davis)

Love,

... to Tammy Davis

Donna (Princess) Decesare

Seafarers LOG

15

�To Ruti DeMont and Susan
Taylor Moe

How's my Magnolia Sisters
doing? Wishing you all the best
during this holiaay season and always. Mele Kalikimaka. Love,
Donna (Decesare)
and Johnny (Zepeda)
To Judi Chester, Karen Kenney,
Karen Fensel, Lannette Lopez

To Shari Hardman
To Rachel, Justin, Cody and
Emily

Lord blessing, we're going to
share alot of Christmas's together
and some apart. This just worked
out to be one apart. Merry
Christmas and thinking of you guys
every day. Love,
Your dad (Brian Fountain)

Hi sisters. Well, I finally made it
to the top ... Hopefully all of you
will be following shortly. Wishing
you a happy and healthy holiday
season. Love,

This year has been a rough and
bumpy year, but hopefully we can
get bad&lt; on track ana mal&lt;e '97 the
best. Love you always. Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year.
LeeHardman

To Lee Hardman

Lee, I know this will be the best
Christmas ever, because we'll be
spending it together! I love you so
very much ana hope '97 is a great
year for us both. Your loving wife,
Shari (Hardman)

I
To Carole and Marc Isenstadt
Once again, I find myself away

from home during the holidays.
You're always in my thoughts.
Have a Merry Christmas. I'll see
you soon. Love,
Brian/Daddy (lsenstadt)

J

Donna DeCesare
To all Seafarers

Brothers, we belong to the
greatest union in the worla. Happy
Holidays to all of you and your
families. Good luck.
John Doyle

... from Claude Jacobs
To Bennie and Ski Cesarski
To ITB Groton officers and crew

Merry Christmas and a happy

and safe new year to all, and may
Santa bring good spirits to all. Stay
safe.
Brian (Fountain)

To my wife. Janet, and
daughter. Areanna

Janet, I love you very much.
Thank you for a wonderful year and

Want to wish you a Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year.
I'm very proud to be your son-inlaw. You are very special to me.
Love,

for Areanna. Merry Christmas.
Love, your husband

Claude (Jacobs)

Larry (Harris)

To Ms. Ange

Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year, Ms. Ange. Thanks for all
your help. You are truly an angel.
Thanks again, Love,
Brian Fountain

To Robert J. Henninger Jr.

We wish you and Kristen a
Merry Xmas. Love you,
Mom and Dad (Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Henninger Sr.)

To Claude Jacobs

We hope Santa finds you on
Christmas. We'll miss you very
much. We wish you a very Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year.
Love, your daughters
Stephanie and
Jessica Jacobs

To all hands

Merry Christmas, everyone, and
a happy and prosperous New Year.
Les and Mike Freeburn

To brother Seafareu

... to Michael Sardone from Erica. Dunne
To Michael Sardone
I miss you so much. Know that I

am thinkmg of you. You are in my
heart, mind and soul. I love you
forever.
Erica Dunne

Merry Christmas and a very
Happy New Year. May the Lord be
with you on your future trips.
Jesus and Anne Garcia
To all Seafarers and their
families

Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year. Keep up the good work!
Sidney Gamer
To my wife Michele and sons
Michael and Boydie

Daddy's gone another holiday ...
I'll make it right someday.

To Jimmy Miller

Mac-daddy
(Robert W. Grove)

If I don't see ya back home, have
a safe and jolly holiday. Get ahold
of me. I'll be home about the second
week of December.

May the holidays find you and
your loved ones in good health, and
may the new year bring you good
health, security in your careers and
happiness in your lives. Continue to
take advantage of Piney Point
upgradin~ and improve your earning capacity and standing on your
card at job calls. Smooth sailing and
the best to all of you.

Thanks for another great year
together, and looking forward to
many many more. Merry Christmas
and a happy and healthy new year.
Love forever, your husband
Brian (Fountain)

16

Seafarers LOG

To all Seafarers

To Keith Hofler

I'm going to miss you for the
holidays even more than usual. Stay
safe, take care of you and I'll take
care of us. Try to stay happy. I love
you,
"Samn (Dawn Hofl,er)
To Keith Hofler

I love you, Daddy, and all I want
for Christmas is for you to be home.
Love, your #1 daughter,

Best wishes for
Christmas.

a Merry

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Jecas
To brother and sister Seafarers
and boatmen

A happy and joyous holiday
season and a safe and prosperous
New Year. Fraternally,
Leroy Jones

To Brian Fountain and family

Have a happy and safe holiday.
To Seafarers and their families

There's more, much more to
Christmas
than candlelight and cheer;
It's the spirit of sweet friendship
that brightens all the year.
It's thoughtfulness and kindness,
It's hope reborn again.
For peace, for understanding
and for goodwill toward men.
Smooth sailing and God bless,
Gene Hall

Capt. Louis F. Flade (ret.)
To Jeannette Fountain

"ilillllliiilllii

Kasee (Hofl,er)

Vanessa Fickel
To all my shipmates and the entire SIU family

... from Nelson ]ecas
and his wife

To everyone

My sakes, pain, so hard to bear,
Setting here in the ol' lounge chair.
Seafarers retirees receive the most,
Christmas cheers and a New Year's
toast.
Smooth sailing and God bless,
Gene Hall

The Hofl,ers
(Keith, Dawn and Kasee)
To Seafarers worldwide

Best wishes for a good Christmas
all over the world. You are my
favorite people. God bless you.
Hubert (Red) House
To the crew of the USNS Kane
I wish the crew on the USNS Kane

(and those who have sailed on it) a
big Christmas. Greetings also to
Chief Engineer Moshie Leavy and
Joe Jenkiris.
Willard C. Huggins.
To the membership

To Vonda and Makayla Kinard,
Mr. Sid and Denise Wallace

Season's greetings and Happy
New Year to my beautiful wife ana
daughter. To my aunt and uncle,
God bless you and happy holidays.
And thank you for being such
wonderful people. Love always,
David B. Kinard

To Connie, Jessica, Amy,
Heather

Having reached my 80th year, I
wish Merry Xmas and Happy New
Year to all.

In hope's that we will all be
together this holiday season. With
Jessica in the Army and myself at
sea, how sweet that will be.

Harry Huston

Phil Kleinebreil

December 1996

�To members of the dredge Long
Island

We hope each member has a very
Merry Cfuistmas and a happy ana
prosperous New Year.
Phil Kleinebreil and family

To the family of David Ung
Wishes for a Merry Chrisbnas
and a Happy New Year-and more
smooth sailing in the future
together.

To Tony Leo and all of
Navieras, NPR shoregang
Happy holidays to the
shoregang and all SIU officials at
the New York hall. God bless you
all.
A. Minors
To Deloris Washington
Season's greetings to you and the
family. Godoless you all.
A. Minors

Q,
To all Seafarers
May your holidays be safe and
happy ones. I wish you all safe sailing.May God be with you and your
faffiilies always. Keep up the good
work.
Carolyn Quates (wife of the late
AB Charlie Quales)

The family of Phil Kleinebreil

To Charlotte Canion
I'd like to wish the #1 Mom in the
world a Happy New Year and a
~erry Christmas from the Philippmes.

To Roger Llnasan
Roger, Hi boss! Hope your life is
good. I'm happy on the beach but
never forget my favorite boss.
Merry Christmas. To old crewmates, best wishes always.

Bill and Vilma Rackley

To Mom, Mary Lee, Bruce,
Beverly, Bob and Aunt Florence
Both Vilma and I send our love
and wish all of you a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Joanne Knight

To Chris Earhart
I've often thought about you and
your brother. You're both terrific
shipmates! Please know that you
are in my prayers. Thanks for all
your kindness.

Bill and Vilma Rackley

To Steve Ruiz
Merry Christmas, Dad! I miss
you and Mom a lot. Take care. See
you in February. Have a Happy
New Year. Love always, your
daughter

Monica Kohs

... from Lester Moore

To Kenny Nielson
Dear Kenny, I would like to
thank you for being a kind, honest
and supportive shipmate, and
apologize for not always being supportive of you. Happiness always!
Monica Kohs

To Tammy and John Hatzigiannis
Do not forget our great and exciting Christmases onooard SIU vessels, the best maritime union in the
wo!ld. God bless you. Happy
holidays.

To all SICJ members
Merry Xmas and Happy New
Year to ill at the Plan offices and to
Janice at the Houston hall.
Lester Moore

To Jerrimiah Harrington
Mele Kalikimaka and Hauoli
Makahiki Hou. Best wishes to you
and to your family.
Eddie Morre and family

To SIU members and office personnel
Holiday greetings to all ex-Curtis
Bay and Baker-Whiteley shipmates
and their families.
Charles W. Morris

Georgios Kontomatis

L
To all Seafarers
Season's Greetings and a healthy, safe New Year.

To all my old shipmates
Season's greetings to all those
who are still sailing. Retirement is
great. Good sailing to all. Be faithful
to your union.
Bard C. (Chuck) Nolan

Jean LaCorte

To Kasandra (Casey) Lechel
A very Merry Chrisbnas, and we
know we're gonna have a great
New Year with our new addition.
I'll be dressing like Santa next year
forbaby'sfirstChristmas! Iloveyou
and our happy home! Love,
Joel (Lechel)

To Oscar Lopez
The holidays will not be the
same. We miss Y.OU. Have a Merry
Xmas and a Happy New YeaI. We
love you.
Wanda and Tamara (Lopez)

To Kathy Parent, Doran, and
Bob and Mimi McNellls
Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year.
Mac (Tom McNellis)
To all Seafarers
Put a smile on your face today
and have a joyous holiday ana
wonderful year in 1997.
Edward Merchant

December 1996

0
To all the "Deeters" in Seattle
Happy holidays to you all!

Natalie (Rtvas)

To Chris Matlab·
Merry Christmas. Sure hope
your trip goes by fast and before
you know it, you'll be home. We'll
wait for most of the Christmas
celebration until you're home.
Mom, Dad and Shelley (Rodgers)

To Karmen Crawford
With all my love, I'm wishing
you a joyful Christmas and a new
year that is filled with happiness,
prosperity and good health. Happy
Holiaays. Love,
Marie Romelus

To Keith Hofler
To my #1 son-in-law. Get home
soon. Love,
Mom (Rachel Ruiz)

s

Mom (Ann Oswald)

Juan D. Sanchez

To Ernest W. Hinson Jr.
Honey, with all my heart this
comes to say how much I really love
you. Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Miss you,

To Great Lakes Seafarers
To all my brothers of the sea and
their families: Keep the wind in
your sails and the sun rising on your
shoulders. Take care of yourselves
and God bless us all and the union.
Juan (Motown) Sanchez

Helen P. Parel

To Tony Leo, and Navleras, NPR
shoregang, shipboard personnel and vessel operations
Merry Christmas and HaP.PY
New Year to you and your family.
Peter and Lee Patrick

Alyssa (Sardone)

Theresa, Ashley
and Christina Mattair

To Walter Oswald and Sandra
Hope you have a blessed
Christmas and a Happy New Year.
See you during the holidays, I hope.
Love,

p

To Michael Sardone
Hi daddy! I hope Santa can visit
you on your big ship. I miss you.
Merry Christmas. Hugs and kisses.
Your little girl,

To Chris Mattalr
We hope you have a great
Chrisbnas and a Happy New Year.
We can't wait for your safe return,
which will be soon. Love you always,

To Mary E. Sanchez
To my loving wife who has been
with me through the storms and the
calm years of our marriage. I
couldri't have made it without you.
I thank God for you, and may your
holidays be filled with joy and happiness and health. Love,

Ann Oswald

... to Michael Sardone from Alyssa

To Michael Sardone
Hi Michael! Missing you this
holiday season. We all send you our
love and a special hug from Alyssa.
Merry ChriStmas and Happy New
Year. We love you.
Mom, Dee Judith, Johnnie, Jessica, Joe and Alyssa (Sardone)

To Walt Hinko, O.D. Smith and
Erle Lack buddies

Happy Holidays and enjoy the
future years we have left.
Jim Shannon

To all Seafarers, union officials
and personnel
A special Christmas and a joyous
new year to all. Plus a salute to the
best maritime union in the USA.
Mr. and Mrs. Ricardo A. Siddons
To son Gary Smith and f amity
Thou&amp;fl we are apart, you and
the farmly will always be in my
heart. Have a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year.
Mom (Betty Smith)

To all former Erle Lack tugboat
crews
Wishing you all a Merry
Christmas and a happy and healthy
New Year.
0.D. Smith and family

To Jakkl Maclaurin
Aloha and happy holidays from
your friend.
John Steeber

To Knolly Wiltshire and Randy
Pearson from the Gopher State
Happy holidays!
John Steeber

To Stew Davis
Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year. Hope to sail with you
again.
Kara Stimson

Seafarers LOG

1
17

�I

f

'

... from Tom Tobias
To all Seafarers

Xmas is merry wherever a
seaman is. Let the joy ring out. Let
the new year be a healthy and
happy one.
Thomas Tobias
To Alida Turko

To my loving wife and son,
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!
I love you and wish I was there.
Love always,
Alek (Turko)

... from crewmembers aboard 'the USNS Regulus

To all Seafarers

Happy holidays to all.
Crew of the USNS Regulus

To Ellie, Frank and Sarah Wil·

cox
Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year to all my family. I fove
you so much.
Robert Wilcox
To Pamela J. Williams

Thinking about my wife ~m
Kwanzaa Day. I love you and rmss
you. Love, your husband,
Glenn Williams
To the staff of the Seafarers
LOO
Your work in the field of labor
journalism i$ outstanding. Best

wishes for a Merry Xmas and
Happy New Year.
Jack (Ariang Press) Uf2

To Glenn Williams

Happy Kwanzaa! My best
Kwanzaa gift would be having you

home willi me. Love always, your
wife, best friend, soultnate and
companion for life. See you soon!!
Pam Williams

To TOTE. personnel and to the
Sea-Land shoregang • Tacoma
and Oakland

Retirement is great. Best wishes
for a happy and productive 1997.
Jack Utz

To Johnathan Hazlett

Merry Xmas, sweetheart! Just
know I'm thinkinp of you, missing
you, wishing we re together, and
that next Xmas you're mine!! Love
you always,
Rachel Vandergeest
To Anna Alexander

Even though we're spending the
holidays at school, because we're
together, Xmas can still be a happy
time for me. Your daughter loves
you!!!
Rachel Vandergeest
To Raphael Semmes

Feliz Navidad y Afio Prospero.
Your dad, mom, brothers, sistersin-law, nephews and nieces send
greetings to you at this holiday time
on the LNG Capricorn.
Your Family Vargas

To the SIU president, officers
and all Seafarers and their
families

Wishing one and all a very Merry
Christmas. Love, peace and good
health and, above all, God's blessings and a prosperous i:ew ye~r.
Special thanks to our umon for its
wonderful works toward our members, both active and retired. Sincerely yours,
Leon Yearwood

Misc.
To the captain, officers and
crew of the Global Sentinel

From the East Coast to the West,
Wishing you all on board the best!
A very Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year.
The Northern Light is burning bri8ht !
Santa has the Global Sentinel in his
sight.
"Den Mother"
To Jennifer Storm and Dino Ornellas

Congratulations on your handsome baby boy, Colton. Mele
Kalikimaka!
God Father and Aunty
To my seafaring friends

Even though we don't see
enough of each other, I would like
to wish each one of you a Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year.
John Watson

...

18

_.

Seafarers LOG

To all Seafarers

Happy holidays and a very
prosperous New Year!!
Crew of the SS Kauai

ToEwok

'Tis the season for remembering
good friends and for hoping all the
wishes for the coming year come
true.
Devo
To Seafarers aboard the Julius
Hammer and their f am iii es

Wishing all a Merry Xmas and a
Happy New Year. During these
holidays, we miss you all. Love and
happiness .

�Final Departures
DEEP SEA
WILLIAM 0. BARRINEAU
Pensioner William 0. Barrineau, 71,
passed away
October2.
Born in South
Carolina,¥
started his
career with the
~-----~ Seafarers in
1966 in the port of San Francisco.
His first ship was the SS Delaware,
operated by Marine Carriers. Brother
Barrineau sailed in the engine department and upgraded frequently at the
Lundeberg School in Piney Point,
Md. The World War II veteran
served in the U.S. Navy from 1944
to 1952. Brother Barrineau began
receiving his pension in April 1996.

JOSEE. BONILLA
Pensioner Jose
E. Bonilla, 70,
died October
23. Brother
Bonilla joined
the SIU in
1945 in the
port of Philadelphia. He sailed
..___ _ _ _ ___, in the deck
department and retired in July 1977.
From 1950 to 1952, he served in the

U.S. Anny.

RICHARD BUIE
Pensioner Richard Buie, 72, passed
away August 24. A native of South
Carolina, he first sailed with the SIU
in 1963 from the port of New York.
His first ship was the SS Venore.
Brother Buie sailed in the steward
department and upgraded in Piney
Point. He was a veteran of World
War II, having served in the U.S.
Navy from 1942 to 1945. Brother
Buie retired in November 1989.

RAOUL P. CABRERA
Pensioner
Raoul P.
Cabrera, 79,
died October
13. He started
his career with
the Seafarers in
1953 in the port
of New York.
..___......__......_______, Born in
Delaware, he sailed in the engine
department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Brother Cabrera
began receiving his pension in
February 1979.

FRANKLIN N. CAIN
Pensioner
FranklinN.
Cain, 85,
passed away
July 14.
Brother Cain
first sailed with
the SIU in 1948
from the port of
L...-=====:..J ·New Orleans.
The Mississippi native last sailed as
a chief steward. Brother Cain began
receiving his pension in September
1980.

FLORIAN R. CLARKE
Pensioner
Florian R.
Clarke, 76,
died October
23. Born in
New Jersey, he
joined the
Seafarers in
1942 in the port
of New York.
He sailed in the engine department
and upgraded his skil1s in Piney
Point. Brother Clarke retired in May
1988.

December 1996

ROBERT L. FAVALORA
Pensioner Robert L. Favalora, 57,
passed away October 17. He
graduated from the Lundeberg
School's entry level training program for seamen and joined the SIU
in 1965 in the port of New York.
His first ship was the Tamara Guilden, operated by Transport Commercial Corp. A native of Louisiana,
Brother Favalora sailed in the deck
department. He began receiving his
pension in March 1993.

JOSEPH P. GA VIN
Pensioner
JosephP.
Gavin, 71, died
October 20. A
native of Pennsylvania, he
began sailing
with the
Seafarers in
'---'----==-__;;;...=~ 1943 from the
port of New York. Brother Gavin
sailed in the deck department and
upgraded in Piney Point. where he
completed the bosun recertification
program in 1975. He retired in
January 1990.

JOHN D. GREEN
Pensioner John D. Green, 67, passed
away March 4. Brother Green joined
the Marine Cooks &amp; Stewards
(MC&amp;S), before that union merged
with the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District
(AGLIWD). He began receiving his
pension in June 1976.

JAMES B. HARRISON
Pensioner
James B. Harrison, 68, died
September 19.
Born in
Alabama, he
started his
career with the
Seafarers in
l.!!:;,_:!!:...2-.=::~~__!.!:..1 1946 in the port
of Galveston, Texas. He sailed as a
member of the engine department.
Brother Harrison retired to Mobile,
Ala. in June 1972.

From 1946 to 1947, the steward
department member served in the
U.S. Army. He began receiving his
pension in February 1993.

ROBERT W. JACKSON
Robert W. Jackson, 75, died
June 11. He
started his
career with the
~ Seafarers in
.;,,. 1967 in the port
~ of Houston. His
first ship was
the SS Sabine,
operated by Ship Operators Corp.
Brother Jackson sailed in the engine
department and upgraded in Piney
Point. The World War II veteran
served in the U.S. Navy from 1941
to 1946.

Pensioner Fred
R. Hicks, 69,
passed away
July 29. He
first sailed with
the SIU in 1945
fi:om the port of
New York
aboard the
~-~ Robett ~fT
Hunter. Brother Hicks sailed in the
steward department and completed the
steward recertification program at the
Lundeberg School in 1964. He began
receiving his pension in July 1982.

BERTRANDS.HOFFMAN
Pensioner
Bertrand S.
Hoffman, 80,
died September
14. Born in
Canada, he
began sailing
with the
Seafarers in
..___ _ _ _ ___, 1946 from the
port of New York. Brother Hoffman
sailed as a member of the engine
department. He retired in January
1982 to Dundalk, Md.

DONALD G. HORTON
Pensioner
Donald G. Horton, 69, passed
away September 17. Brother
Horton first
sailed with the
SIU in 1947
from the port of
Mobile, Ala.

Pensioner
GeorgeW.
Manning, 86,
died August 14.
Born in Virginia, he joined
the Seafarers in
1943 in the port
of Norfolk, Va.
~==~~~~ Brother Manning sailed as a member of the
steward department. He retired in
January 1982 to Ellicott City, Md.

Pensioner William 0. Johnson, 70,
passed away September 30. A native
of Alabama, he first sailed with the
SIU in 1951 aboard the Lafayette,
operated by Watennan Steamship
Co. Brother Johnson sailed in the
deck department and upgraded his
skills at the Lundeberg School. A
veteran of World War II, he served
in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946.
Brother Johnson began receiving his
pension in December 1991.

CARL JONES JR.

GASPAR MARTINEZ

Pensioner Carl
Jones Jr., 72,
died September
7. Born in
Florida, he
began sailing
with the
Seafarers in
1959 from the
port of Jacksonville, Fla. Brother Jones sailed in the
steward department and upgraded in
Piney Point, where he graduated
from the steward recertification program in 1980. He was a World War Il
veteran, having served in the U.S.
Navy from 1942 to 1945. Brother
Jones retired in December 1983.

Pensioner Edward J. Jordan,
70, passed
away October
8. The Georgia
native first
sailed with the
SIU in 1944
from the port of
=-----.:..""'"""""'------'~ Savannah, Ga.
His first ship was the SS Tulsa.
Brother Jordan last sailed as a bosun.
He began receiving his pension in
November 1985.
'

DONALD M. KING
Pensioner
DonaldM.
King, 66, died
August21.
Brother King
began his
career with the
Seafarers in
1953 in the port
of New York.
His fust ship was the Seagarden.
Born in Oklahoma, he sailed in the
teward department. From 1947 to
1952, he served in the U.S. Navy.
Brother King retired in August 1987.

ALF LARSEN
~Diiiiiii~l Pensioner Alf
Larsen, 76,
passed away
July 17. He
began sailing
, with the SIU in
1955 from the
port of New
York. Born in
'--=:..==---== Norway,

Pensioner
Joseph P. Pettus, 73, died
September 9.
He started his
career with the
Seafarers in
1944 in the port
of New York.
'---====== Born in Tennessee, the deck department member
was a resident of Porter, Texas.
Brother Pettus retired in October 1984.

MILTON J.PHELPS
JACK C. MARCARIO
llJllli~l Pensioner Jack
C. Marcario,
67, passed
away October
11. He began
his SIU career
in 1978 in his
native New
'• York. Brother
Marcario
upgraded his ski Us at the Lundeberg
School and last sailed as a chief
electrician. From 1946 to 1954, he
served in the U.S. Navy. Brother
Marcario began receiving his pension in March 1994.

WILLIAM 0. JOHNSON

receiving his pension in December
1985.

JOSEPH P. PETTUS
GEORGE W. MANNING

EDWARD J. JORDAN
FRED R. HICKS

Brother Larsen sailed in the deck
department. He began receiving his
pension in September 1982.

Pensioner
Gaspar Martinez, 74, died
October 15.
Brother Martinez, who was
born in Honduras, started
his career with
the Seafarers in
1946 in the port of New York. He
last sailed as a chief cook. Brother
Martinez retired in August 1984.

Pensioner Milton J. Phelps,
66, passed
away October
17. Brother
Phelps began
sailing with the
SIU in 1946
from the port of
~--~--~ New Orleans.
A native of Illinois, he last sailed as
a chief steward. From 1950 to 1951,
Brother Phelps served in the National Guard. He began receiving his
pension in June 1991.

ROBERT E. PORTER
Pensioner
RobertE.
Porter, 77, died
October 7.
Born in
Washington
state, he joined
the Seafarers in
1943 in the port
u..11.--'-........c..--4!!!~ of New York.
Brother Porter sailed as a member of
the steward department. From 1939
to 1941, he served in the U.S. Navy.
He retired in April 1976.

SALVA TORE E. PUNTILLO
JOHN M. McCLAIN
~iiiiiiii~I Pensioner John

M. McClain,
87, passed
away September 14. He
,,
joined the SIU
_
· in 1944 in the
, . ~ portofNew
' i
York. A native
./
of Arkansas, he
sailed as a member of the engine
department. Brother McClain lived
in Moss Point, Miss. and began
receiving his pension in March 1974.

II

Salvatore E.
Puntillo, 79,
passed away
September 12.
Brother Puntillo started his
career with the
Seafarers in
1943 in the port
L...--...::..::..:==:c__-' of Baltimore.
He worked in the deck department,
last sailing in 1982 aboard the SeaLand Endurance, operated by SeaLand Service, Inc.

ARNOLD PURGVEE
LUCIAN McINHAM
Pensioner
Lucian McInham, 77, died
October29.
Born in Dallas,
he began sailing with the
Seafarers in
1962 from the
LU!~~~~~~ port of New
York. Brother Mclnham sailed as a
member of the steward department
and retired in August 1984. He
served in the U.S. Air Force from
1941 to 1953.

Pensioner Arnold Purgvee,
77, passed
away September 14. He first
sailed with the
SIU in 1959
'.O' from the port of
New York
=-='--"'-'==---' aboard the
Longview Victory, operated by Victory Carriers. Born in Estonia, he
sailed in the engine department
Brother Purgvee resided in
Elmhurst, N. Y. and began receiving
his pension in November 1978 .

ASHTON L. STEPHENS SR.
CHARLES MISAK
Pensioner Charles Misak, 72,
passed away
September 23.
A native of
New Jersey, he
joined the SIU
in 1948 in the
port of New
"--'=----"'-~.-.J York. He last
sailed as a bosun. Brother Misak
lived in New York City and began
-.---;;;:;~--......;;;;a

1-:iliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil Pensioner Ashton L. Stephens
Sr., 72, passed
away July 5.
Born in
Louisiana, he
' started his
career with th~
SIU in 1941 in
the port of
Philadelphia. He sailed in the engine
department and upgraded his skills

Continued on page 21

Seafarers LOG

19

�Know Your Rights
FINANCIAL REPORTS. The
constitution of the SIU Atlantic,
Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District makes specific provision for
safeguarding the membership's
money and union finances. The
constitution requires a detailed
audit by certified public accountants
every year, which is to be submitted
to the membership by the secretacytreasurer. A yearly finance committee
of rank-and-file members, elected by
the membership, each year examines
the finances of the union and reports
fully their findings and recommendations. Members of this committee
may make dissenting reports, specific
recommendations and separate findings.
TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds
of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District are administered in accordance with the
provisions of various trust fund
agreements. All these agreements
specify that the trustees in charge of
these funds shall equally consist of
union and management representatives and their alternates. All
e:xpendituroli and disbursements of
trust funds nre made only Utx&gt;n 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 believe there have been
violations of their shipping or
seniority rights as contained in the
contracts between the union and the
employers, they should notify the
Seafarers 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 conditions under which an
SIU member works and lives aboard
a ship or boat. Members should know
their contract rights, as well as their
obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and
in the proper manner. If, at any time,
a member believes that an SIU
patrolman or other union official
fails 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 publishing any article
serving the political purposes of any
individual in the union, officer or member. ltalso has refrained from publishing articles deemed harmful to the
union or its collective membership.
This established policy has been reaffirmed by membership action at the
September 19(j() meetings in all constitutional ports. The responsibility
for Seafarers WG policy is vested in
an editorial board which consists of
the executive board of the union. 'The
executive board may delegate, from
among its ranks, one individual to
carry out this responsibility.
PAYMENT OF MONIES. No
monies are to be paid to anyone in any

20

Seafarers LOG

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
themselves with its contents. Any
time a member feels any other
member or officer is attempting to
deprive him or her of any constitutional right or obligation by any
methods, such as dealing with charges, trials, etc., as well as all other
details. the member so affected
should immediately notify head-

quarters.
EQUAL RIGHTS. All members are guaranteed equal rights in
employment and M members of the
SIU. These rights are clearly set forth in
the
constitution and in the contracts
which the union hM negotiated with the
employers. Consequently, no member
may be discriminated against because
of race, creed, color, sex, national or
geographic origin.

sru

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 headquarters.
SEAFARERS POLITICAL
ACTIVITY 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 economic
interests of maritime workers, the
preservation and furthering of the
American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for
seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In
connection with such objects, SPAD
supports and contributes to political
candidates for elective office. All
contributions are voluntaiy. No contribution may be 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 employment.
If a contribution is made by reason of
the above improper conduct, the
member should notify the Seafarers
International Union or SPAD by certified mail within 30 days of the contri bu ti on for investigation and
appropriate action and refund, if involuntary. A member should support
SPAD to protect and further his or her
economic, political and social interests, and American trade union concepts.
NOTIFYING 11IE UNION-If
at any time a member feels that any
of the above rights have been violated, or that he or she has been
denied the constitutional right of access to union records or information, the member should
immediately 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.

SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT FOR
GREAT LAKES TUG_AND DREDGE PENSION PLAN
This is a summary of tlie annual report of Great Lakes Tug and Dredge Pension Plan. EIN 13-19~3873, for the
year ended December 31, 1995. The annual report has been filed with the Interoal Revenue Service, as required under
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Basic Fmancial Statement
Benefits under the plan are provided by the Trust
Plan expenses were $1226 439. These expenses included administrative expenses of $163,359 and benefits paid
to participants and benefictarie's of $1,063,080. A total of 584 persons were partic!pants in or.beneficiaries of the plan
at the end of the plan year~ although not all of these persons had yet earned the nght to receive benefits.
The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plant was $21,377,53~ as of ~mber ~l, .1995,
compared to $17 817,324 as of January 1, 1995. During the plan year, the plan expenenced an increase m its net
assets of $3,560,208. This increase included unrealized appreciation or depreciation in the value of plan asset_s; ~at
is, the difference between the value of the plan's assets at the end of the year and the v.alue of the assets at the ~~g
of the year or the cost of the assets acquired during the year. The plan had a t?tal mcome of $4, 786,647, mcluding
employer contributions of $234,690, employee contributions of $109,799, a gam of $552,851 from the sale of assets,
and earnings from investments of $3,889,307.

Minimum Funding Standards
An actuary's statement shows that enough money was contributed to the plan to keep it funded in accordance
with the minimum funding standards of ERISA.

Your Rights to Additional Information
You have a right to receive a copy of the full annual report or any part thereof, on request. The items listed below
are included in that report:
l. an accountant's report,
2. assets held for investment,
3. actuarial infonnation regarding the funding of the plan, and
4. transactions in excess of 5 percent of plan assets.
To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the office Qf the pl~ adrninist:i:ator,
5201 Auth Way. Camp Springs.MD 20746; telephone (301) 899-0675. The charge to covercopymg costs will be
$1.50 for the full annual report, or $.10 per page for any part thereof.
You also have the right to receive from the pJan administrator, on request and at no charge, a statement of the
assets and liabilities of the plan, or a statement of income and expenses of the plan, or both. If you request a copy of
the full annual report from the plan administrator. these two statements will. be included ~ part of that repon. The
charge .to cover.~pying oosb.: given above does not include a charge for copymg these portions of Ute report because
~sc 'portions arc~~s,hed without charge.

· You also have the legal~y protected right to examine the annual report at the main office of the plan, 5~01 Auth
Way, Camp Springs. MD 20746. and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in Washington, D~C. or to obtam a copy
from the U.S. Department of Labor upon payment of copying cost~.~ R~ues~ to the DOL should be addre~~ to
Public Disclosure Room, N5638, Pension and Welfare Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitutton
Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20210.
· ·

Letters to the Editor
,,,

(Editors Note: The Seafarers WG
reserves the right to edit letters for
grammar as well as space provisions
without changing the writer's intent.
The WG welcomes letters from members, pensioners and their families
and will publish them on a timely
basis.)

VFW Continues to Ignore
WWII Merchant Mariners
In the years that have passed
since 1988, the Veterans of
Foreign Wars (VFW) have been
turning away qualified merchant
marine veterans from their organization. Merchant mariners of
World War II have an honorable
discharge issued to them by the
U.S. government (Department of
Defense-United States Coast
Guard) attesting to their service in
the armed forces. Merchant
mariners have been barred from
membership in the VFW simply
because they [the VFW] put in
their own interpretation of Public
Law 95-202. In addition, the
VFW does not follow their own
criteria for membership as far as
merchant mariners are concerned.
The VFW will not recognize
the campaign service medal of the
merchant mariner. The Defense
Department has declared that this
is equivalent to that of the other
armed forces. The VFW says that
the Defense Department does not
run its organization. Units under the
Defense Department had cause to
issue "honorable discharges." Yet,
the VFW will not even accept this
lawful and legal document.
The VFW clings to a theory
that merchant mariners who have
an honorable discharge are not
veterans. And the reason they got
this discharge was for the purpose
of obtaining benefits under the
laws administered by the
Veterans Administration. This
blatant lie is being told over and
over again by the VFW. An attempt is being made by the VFW
to confuse and confound the true
meaning of Public Law 95-202.
The two elements involved in

the rules set down for membership
by the VFW is as follows:
1. Honorable discharge from
the armed forces of the United
States. Merchant mariners have
this discharge issued by the Coast
Guard (an armed force during
WWII, as declared by law).
2. A recognized campaign
medal badge (recognized by the
VFW). The VFW disregards that
this campaign medal is recognized by the United States government.
The VFW does not abide by
either of the two rules listed here.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars
neglects to mention that in order
for the merchant mariner to have
been eligible for this discharge, a
case had to be made to the
Defense Department that the merchant mariner did, indeed, perform
military service and was justified to
receive this discharge.
Merchant mariners are proud
owners of the name "veteran" and
nothing the VFW will ever do or
say will change this.
Harold F. Schmidt Sr.
Sequim, Wash.

Reader's Viewpoint:
Did They Die in Vain?
(The following letter was published in The Daily News, McKeesport, Penn., Wednesday,
October 23, 1996.)
After 51 years, the National
Veterans of Foreign Wars has
voted not to accept the U.S. merchant marine of World War II as
members. All other veteran
groups accepted our men. In my
view, this proves the VFW lobbied our Congress, which kept
mariners from receiving benefits
for 43 years, including health
care, housing and education
covered by the G.I. Bill.
World War IT was a declared
war. The U.S. merchant marine
was the only all-volunteer service
and lost 866 ships from enemy
action. Seven ships were lost
before Pearl Harbor. Congress

waited 43 years until most World
War II mariners were dead, and in
1988 gave us veteran status and
the G.I. Bill.
Now it has been revealed that
we lost more men as a percentage
than all the other armed forces
except the Marines. Our widows
and children were denied benefits
which other veterans' families
received.
Most VFW members had to be
drafted to protect our country, and
only 15 percentofthemeverfaced
the enemy, compared with 50 percent of our merchant marine. Our
battle of the Atlantic was won
with heavy losses by our U.S.
merchant marine, keeping
England and Russia supplied with
arms under American lend/lease,
giving us time to build up our
armed forces. If our U.S. merchant marine would have failed in
the battle of the Atlantic,
American.s would now be speaking German.
My question to the VFW: the
thousands of our men who lay at
the bottom of the sea-did they
die in vain?
Peter Salvo
McKeesport, Penn.

Praise Deserved on All Sides
For Passage of Maritime Bill
The news regarding the over
whelming approval of the
Maritime Bill gave me a high
Nothing good comes easily, I sup
pose, and this significant victory
in the battle to keep the U.S. mer
chant marine afloat has certainly
been long in coming.
Three cheers to President
Sacco and all our dedicated
people at headquarters for their
"smarts" and preservation in lead
ing us through to this success.
We rank-and-filers can con
gratulate ourselves as well for our
contributions (SPAD, letter-writ
ing, marches, etc.).

Larry Reiner
Avondale, Ariz.

December 1996

�Final Departures
Continuedfrompage 19
in Piney Point. Brother Stephens
began receiving his pension in
August 1985.

Patricia, operated by C.G. Willis.
During his SIU career, the North
Carolina native was active in union
organizing drives and sailed as a
launch operator, relief captain and
captain. Boatman Hopkins began
receiving his pension in September
1995.

THOMAS R. HUNT
Pensioner Thomas R. Hunt, 69,
passed away August 6. Born in
Delaware, he first sailed in 1950
with Curtis Bay Towing Co. and
joined the Seafarers in 1961 in the
port of Philadelphia. As a member of
the engine department, he last sailed
aboard vessels operated by Taylor
and Anderson. Boatman Hunt retired
in July 1988.

REIDAR SVORSTOL
Reidar
Svorstol, 67,
died October
19. He began
sailing with the
Seafarers in
1990 from the
p01t of Houston. Born in
.____ _ _ _ ___, Norway, he ln~t
sailed in 1995 as a QMED aboard
the FredG.

THOMAS C. NESBITT
Thomas C. Nesbitt, 60, died September 15. He started his career with
the SIU in 1980 in the pon of New
Orleans, sailing aboard vessels
operated by Dixie Caniers. Boatman Nesbitt last sailed as a tankerman in June 1984 aboard vessels
operated by National Marine Service. From 1953 to 1956, he served
in the U.S. Army.

JON VAN LENGEN

INLAND
RUSSELL A. HARRIS
Pensioner Russett A_ Harris 1 80,
passed away October 17. A native of
Virginia, he began sailing in 1945
with Curtis Bay Towing Co. and
joined the Seaforer5 in 1957 in the
port of Baltimore. Boatman Harris
sailed in the engine department.
Prior to his retirement in November
1982, he sailed as a chief engineer
aboard vessels operated by Moran
Towing Co.

Jon Van Lengen1 27, passed
away August ~ 1
1996. A native
of Florida. he
joined the
Seafarers in
1995 in the port
ofNewOrC..:..:.:..:-'-------"-"'=.J leans. Brother
Van Lengen last sailed in the deck
department aboard vessels operated
by Delta Queen Steamboat Co. Boatman Van Lengen was a resident of
Tampa,F1a.

WILFORD ''WILSON''
HOPKINS

JESSE V. WATSON

Pensioner Wilford "Wilson" Hopkins, 63, died September 20: Boatman Hopkins began sailing with the
SIU in 1966 from the port of Norfolk, Va. His first ship was the

Pensioner Jesse V. Watson, 73, died
August 22. Born in New Jersey, he
began sailing with the SIU in 1967
from the port of Philadelphia.
Licensed as a tugboat operator, he

in 1967 in the port of Alpena, Mich.
Licensed as a first class pilot,
Brother Leikala last sailed in 1995
aboard the JR Emery, operated by
Erie Navigation. From 1952 to 1957,
he served in the U.S. Anny.

ABDULLA A. MA WRI
HUGH A. WILLIAMSON

GERALD E. SINKES
Pensioner Gerald E. Sinkes, 69, died
October 24. A native of Illinois, he
began sailing with the Seafarers in
1945 from the port of New York.
His first ship was the SS Tulsa.
Brother Sinkes sailed in the steward
department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School, where he completed
the steward recertification course in
1982. He retired in March 1993.

sailed as a captain. He last worked
aboard vessels operated by Interstate
Oil. Boatman Watson was a veteran
of World War II, having served in
the U.S. Anny from 1942 to 1946.
He began receiving his pension in
February 1994.

Pensioner Hugh A. Williamson, 80,
passed away October 9. Boatman
Williamson was a charter member of
the SIU, having joined the union in
1938. Born in North Carolina, he
sailed in the deck department. He
retired in August 1979.

THOMAS W. WINSTON
Pensioner Thomas W. Winston, 84,
died October 21. Boatman Winston
joined the SIU in 1961 in the port of
New Orleans. A native of Mississippi, he sailed in the steward department, primarily aboard vessels
operated by Mobile Towing. During
World War II, he served in the U.S.
Anny from 1942 to 1946. Boatman
· Winston retired in September 1979.

GREAT LAKES
KIMBERLYS.BEHRENS
Kimberly S. Behrens, 57, passed
away April 3. Born in Michigan, he
first sailed with the Seafarers in
1970 from the port of Detroit.
Brother Behrens was a member of
the deck department. He served in
the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1962.

WILLIAM F. COYER
Pensioner William F. Coyer, 62,
died October 3. Brother Coyer
joined the SIU in 1961 in the port of
Buffalo, N.Y. The New York native
sailed in the deck department and
upgraded at the Lundeberg School.
From 1956 to 1958, he served in the
U.S. Army. Brother Coyer began
receiving his pension in December
1995.

Abdulla A.
Mawri, 59, died
January 1,
1994. Born in
Arabia, he
began sailing
with the SIU in
1970 from the
port of Detroit.
The engine
department member last sailed in
1988 aboard the Indiana Harbor,
operated by American Steamship
Co.

KONRADE.NORBOTTEN
Pensioner Konrad E. Norbotten, 65,
passed away October 28. He started
his career with the Seafarers in 1959
in the port of Detroit. A native of
Michigan, he sailed in the deck
department. Prior to his retirement in
August 1988, he sailed aboard the
American Republic, operated by
American Steamship Co.

RICHARD J. PIASKOWSKI
Pensioner
Richard J. Piaskowski, 70,
passed away
August 29. A
native of
Michigan, he
began sailing
with the
.____ _ _ _ ___, Seafarers in
1963 from the port of Alpena, Mich.
Brother Piaskowski sailed in the
deck department and upgraded at the
Lundeberg School. From 1944 to
1952, he served in the U.S. Army.
He retired from the SIU in October
1981.

ROLAND S. LEIKALA
Roland S. Leikala, 66, passed away
October 13. A native of Ohio, he
started his career with the Seafarers

ROBERT C. NORKOWSKI
Pensioner Robert C. Norkowski, 75,
died September 3. Brother Norkow-

ski joined the SIU in 1948 in the port
of Alpena, Mich. A native of
Michigan, he worked in the deck
department, last sailing aboard the
J.A. W. Iglehart. He was a veteran of
World War II, having served in the
U.S. Marine Corps from 1942 to
1945. Brother Norkowski began
receiving his pension in July 1984.

PAULE. TAYLOR
Pensioner Paul
E. Taylor, 68,
died October 7.
·:' Bornin
, ;; Michigan, he
);~ joined the SIU
~ · in 1972 in the
port of Detroit.
He sailed in the
'---"==---==== deck department, primarily on vessels operated
by Luedtke Engineering Co. From
1956 to 1967, he served in the U.S.
Army. Brother Taylor began receiving his pension in March 1996.

RAILROAD MARINE
WILLIAM J. CROWLE
Pensioner William J. Crowle,
87, passed
away August
13. A native of
New Jersey, he
., started his
career with the
Seafarers in
~--------' 1960 in the port
of New York. Brother Crowle sailed
in the deck department and worked
primarily for Penn Central Railroad.
He began receiving his pension in
March 1973.

WALTERH.JORDAN
Pensioner Walter H. Jordan, 88, died
August 21. Brother Jordan first
sailed with the SIU in 1946 from the
port of New York aboard deep sea
vessels. He later transferred to the
railroad marine division and worked
primarily for Penn Central Railroad.
Brother Jordan sailed in the deck
department. He retired in June 1973.

Membership Meetings Are Important Facet of Union Education
Keeping abreast of news from within the
Brotherhood of the Seafarers International
Union as well as from the maritime industry
as a whole is the most important reason for
attending the monthly membership meet-

ings held on specified dates in SIU halls
around the country.
In addition to information on contract
talks, maritime legislation and national

which to discuss issues of importance to the
rank-and-file membership and to the
union's officials.
Members are asked to clip the schedule

policies, the meetings provide a forum in

below and post it on their ships' bulletin

boards or keep it for personal reference.
Also, Seafarers may refer to each issue of
the Seafarers LOG, which lists the dates of
the next two meetings scheduled for each
port.

Membership Meetings in 1997
Port

Traditional Date

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Piney Point

Monday after first Sunday

6

3

3

7

5

2

7

4

8

6

3

8

New York

Tuesday after first Sunday

7

4

4

8

6

3

8

5

9

7

4

9

Philadelphia

Wednesday after first Sunday

8

5

5

9

7

4

9

6

10

8

5

10

Baltimore

Thursday after first Sunday

9

6

6

10

8

5

10

7

11

9

6

11

Norfolk

Thursday after first Sunday

9

6

6

10

8

5

10

7

11

9

6

11

Jacksonville

Thursday after first Sunday

9

6

6

10

8

5

10

7

11

9

6

11

San Juan

Thursday after first Sunday

9

6

6

10

8

5

10

7

11

9

6

11

Algonac

· Friday after first Sunday

10

7

7

11

9

6

11

8

12

10

7

12

Houston

Monday after second Sunday

13

10

10

14

12

9

14

11

15

13

10

15

New Orleans

Tuesday after second Sunday

14

11

11

15

13

10

15

12

16

14

12·

16

Mobile

Wednesday after second Sunday

15

12

12

16

14

11

16

13

17

15

12

17

Duluth

Wednesday after second Sunday

15

12

12

16

14

11

16

13

17

15

12

17

Thursday after second Sunday

16

13

13

17

15

12

17

14

18

16 .

13

18

St. Louis

Friday after second Sunday

17

14

14

18

16

13

18

15

19

17

14

19

Honolulu

Friday after second Sunday

17

14

14

18

16

13

18

15

19

17

14

19

Wilmington

Monday after third Sunday

21·

18*

17

21

19

16

21

19*

22

20

17

22

New Bedford

Tuesday after third Sunday

21

18

18

22

20

17

22

19

23

21

18

23

Wednesday after third Sunday

22

19

19

23

21

18

23

20

24

22

18

24

Friday after third Sunday

24

21

21

25

23

20

25

22

26

24

21

26

San Francisco

Jersey City
Tacoma

• Wilmington changes created by Martin Luther King's birthday, Presidents' Day and Paul Hall's birthday holidays; New Orleans change created by Veterans Day holiday.

December 1996

Seafarers LOG

21

�Lundeberg School Graduating Classes

SEAF

HARRY

RS

LUNDEBERG

SCHOOL

t

,;~~~~.·;~:~,·~\

-~m=~
. ......... ~

ss6

CLASS

·-·-·
·-~
Trainee Lifeboat Class 556-Trainees graduating from lifeboat class 556 are (from
left, kneeling) Brandt Mathews, Adel Mahmoud, Senio Tauiliili, (second row) Donald Butler,
Joseph Welle Ill, Ed Boyer (instructor), Donna Brown, Michael Haller and Khalid Washington.
'-"··

Advanced Firefighting-Upgrading SIU members completing the advanced
firefighting course on November 6 are (from left, kneeling) Louis Ahrens, Bartolome Romero
Jr., Renato Govico, Mohamed Hussein, Alfredo Gonzalez, (second row) Lawrence Potts,
Wayne Casey, Daniel Rhodes, Howard Hollon, Raymond Clock, John Smith (instructor),
(third row) Lonnie Evans, James Long, Harry Shanholtz, Jerry Van Etten.

~

LIFEBOAT

Celestial Navigation-The six-week course in celestial navigation was completed
on November 5 by lfle following upgrading students, from left: Brad Wheeler (instructor),
Sandra Deeter-McBride, Donnie Collins, Paul Adams, Daniel Crawford, Leon Pulley and
John Bellinger.

Tankerman
Assistant
DL
Course-Graduating from the tankerman
assistant DL couse (formerly called the
Tanker Operation/Safety course) on October
29 are (from left, kneeling) Leslie Cope,
Michael Stein, Angelita Francisco, Joel
Molinos, Carlos Arauz, Ralph Porter, Peter
Hokenson, Daniel Hecker, (second row,
kneeling) Omar Muhammad, Robert Brown,
Bruce Wright, Thames Solomon Sr., Dennis
Hurley, Steven Meyer, Mike Kifle, Nasir Isa,
(third row) Ernest Duhon, Robert Davis, Kelly
Mayo, Jimmy Skubna, Billy Eastwood,
Donald Peterson, Paul Burckhard, Antoinette
Spangler, Roger Reinke, Juan Gonzalez,
(fourth row) John Barnard, Scott Opsahl, Jim
Shaffer (instructor) Benedict Born, Jason
Bengiat, David Breuning, George Henderson,
Ryan Webster and Oran Patterson.

CORRECTION: Tankerman Assistant DL Course-In the June 1966
issue of the LOG, a name was inadvertently
omitted from the April 23 graduating class of
the tankerman assistant DL course (formerly
known as the Tanker Operation/Safety
course). From left, kneeling, are Melvin Hite,
Miguel Collazo, George Vorise Jr., Vince Pingitore (instructor), Jimmy White Jr., (second
row) Jessy Sunga, Cesar Avila, Henry Freeman
Ill, Alice Caballero-Wilder, Sharon Naquin, John
Bull, (third row) William Rust, Juan Tolentino,
Stanley Washington Sr., Charles Gooch,
Eduardo Elemento, Veronika Cardenas,
Robin Palmer, Julie Borovik, Heather Stilwell,
Mostafa .Loumrhari, Greg Johnson, Luis
Caballero, (fourth row) John Gehring, Norman Cox Ill, Thomas Johnson, Florencio
Nieves Jr., Wiley Owens and Brett Newsome.

22

SeafaretS LOG

Upgrader's Lifeboat-Bridgett Mclntosn (left) and Oran Patterson (right) are
congratulated by their instructor, Ed Boyer,
upon completion of the upgrader's lifeboat
class on October 15.

December 1996

�LUNDEBERS,SCHOOL
·&lt;H;t 9il1
OPSRADING COURSE SCHEDULE
z
. ~.ng is the schedule for c~as~~~:, oogi~~rig between January
.·: 1997 at the Seafarers Harry Lu~debergScbool of Seamanship loca
t the Paul Hall Center for Mantilne Tnpning and Education
in Piney~9~t, Md. All programs are geared to ~prove the job skills of
Seafarer§;·~a to promote the American maritime industry.
· PleaSe'' "
that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the
.. : t the maritime industry and-in times of conflict-the
nation' _ ciirity.
Stud~tits attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday
before.:'their course,s start date. The courses listed here will begin
prompt,,y on the morning of the start dates.

&amp;gm. Upgrading ColllSBS
· · _StartDate

Course

.Qate of Completion

·Januaryl3

Aprill

Diesel · .
·echli.Ology
Firemantw~tertender

January6
April21

February 13
May30

Refrigeration Systems
&amp; Maintenance

February17

March27

&amp;Oiler ·'''*

Inland Upgrading Courses
Course

Start Date

Date of Completion

Able Seaman - Special

January6

January24

Safety Specialty Courses

Deck Upgrading Courses
· co~e

Start Date

Date of Completion

Course

Start Date

Date of Completion

. Able,. $~man

FebmarylO
April 7

April 4
May30

Tanker Assistant DL

January27

February7

January13
FebruarylO
March10
April.7

January31
February28
March28
AprillS

January27
February24

February 10

February21

April21

February7 .
Marcb7
April4
May2
Courses

Start Date

Date of Completion

January 13
April21

January24
May2

GED Preparation

January20

April 12

March 17

June 14

February 5

March1

Bri~g~ ·r.Ianagernen(

Ltfet).~t,tnan

.

··

Ma.r~h

Radar Observer/Unlimlted

24

..Ra~ar Recertilic;atfon
. . . · (one day Class)

J~nuary23

Celestial Navigation

January 13

·
English

as a.Second Language (ESL)

February20

Adult Basic Education (ABE)

Januaryl3
March3
April21

February21
April 11
May30

Lifeboat Preparation

January 13
February 10
Marcb,1 0
Self-study

January24
February21
March21

Recertltlt:atlon Programs
Course

Start Date

Date of Completion

Steward Recertification

January 27

February27

March 3

April3

English 099.

February3

February28

January 27
April21

February13

English 101

January20
March31

March14
May23

·Bosun Recertification
· LNG Recertification

May9

Steward Upgrading Co111511$

·ASsistant Cook/Certifled Cook
·. · -aoo Baker/Certified Chief Cook/

Start Date

Date of Completion

January 6
March 22

March28
June 13

:: Certified Chier Steward

Math098

· February3

Math101

January20

March14

Psychology ,JOt·· .

January20.

March31

March 14
May23

March31

May23

Physks

February28

----~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPGRADING APPLICATION

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
(Street)

BEGIN

(City)

(Zip Code)

(State)

Telephone__.__ ___.__ _ _ __
(Area Code)

Deep Sea Member D

With this application, COPIES ofyour discharges must be submitted slwwing sufficient time
to qualify yourself for the course(s) requested. You also must submit a COPY ofeach ofthe
following: the first page ofyour union book indicating your department and seniority, your
clinic card and the front and back of your z-card as well as your Lundeberg School
identification card listing the course(s) you have taken and completed. The admissions office
WILL NOT schedule you until all ofthe above are received.

Date of B i r t h - - - - - - - - -

COURSE

DATE

END

DATE

(Month/Day/Year)

Lakes Member D

Inland Waters Member D

If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be
processed.
Social Security#
Book# _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Seniority _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Department _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Home Port- - - - - - - - - - - U.S. Citizen: D Yes D No
Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program?

DYes

DNo

If yes. c l a s s # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses?
DYes
DNo
If yes, course(s) taken _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

D No

Firefighting: D Yes D No

CPR: D Yes

SIGNATURE._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _DATE_ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if you

present original receipts and successfully complete the course. Ifyou have any questions,
contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point.

Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement?
D Yes

LAST VESSEL: - - - - - - - - - - - - R a t i n g : - - - - - Date On: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Date O f f : - - - - - - - - - - -

DNo

RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Lundeberg School of Seamanship,
Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075.

12/96

Primary language spoken----"'----------------------

December 1996

Seafarers LOG

23

�SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORTS
Seafarers Welfare Fund and Subsidiary
- page 10

Great Lakes Tug and Dredge Pension Plan
- page20

Dig It!
NATCO Dredges Do 'Dirty Work' to Keep Channels Open
The work performed by
Seafarers who sail aboard
dredges operated by North
American Trailing Company
(NATCO) is uncommon, but it
also is vital to the steady operation of ports throughout the
United States and in other parts
of the world.
"We do the dirty work: to
keep everything open:• notes
Captain Augie Werdtnberg.
who most recently sailed aboard
the Sugar Island. uWe're very
visible in the channel, but the
work itself is definitely
off the
1
beaten track, and it s not

glamorous in the least:•

In all. six SIU-crewed
NATCO dredges handle channel
maintenance and beach restoration-primarily in the U.S., but
also occasionally in other
countries. Owned by Great
Lakes Dredge and Dock Co.
(NATCO's parent company), the
six dredges are among a small
number of U.S.-based splithulled, self-propelled hopper
dredges.
"One advantage we have over
(stationary) dredges is that we
can pick up and move from one
location to another,'• explains
Werdenberg, a 13-year member
of the SIU. "We can split the
hull laterally-it's connected by
hinges-and drop a full load in
two to five minutes."
''The SID brothers on these
vessels are extremely good
seamen," adds SIU Patrolman
Sean Ryan, who provided the
photos accompanying this article. "You really have to know
what you· re doing on the
dredges. because the equipment

SIU-crewed NATCO dredges, including the Dodge Island (pictured above), handle jobs throughout the world.
is very intricate and the work
must be exact. Anyone familiar
with our crews knows they do an
outstanding job.h

Seafarers On the Job
Seafarers aboard the Sugar Island, Long Island, Dodge Island,
Manhattan Island, Padre Island
and Northerly Island operate
equipment that sucks sand, mud,
rock and other material from the
ocean floor into the vessels'
holds, also known as hoppers.
The dredges-which enjoy
reputations as excellent feeders,
Ryan says~ontract much of
their work through the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers as well
as individual ports. When a vessel starts a new dredging project,
the area is marked, measured and
surveyed. Depending on the particular job, different markers are
used to designate the work area.
An AB-dragtender usually
runs the dredge's console, which
features controls for winches,
pumps and water jets (which
loosen the material to be

SIU-crewed launch boats transport the dredge crews to and from shore.
Pictured here is Boat Operator James Albert.

dredged) and other equipment.
Once the holds are filled, the
dredge lifts its gear from the
water and sails either to a designated dump site (usually no more
than 8 miles from shore) or to a
booster.
Boosters are fixed stations,
typically less than a half-mile
from shore. They primarily are
used in beach restoration, such
as the three-month job recently
completed by the Dodge Island
and Sugar Island at Rockaway
Beach, N. Y. The dredges pump
sand to the boosters, which in
tum pump it to the beach, where
a construction crew spreads the
granular soil.
On channel-maintenance jobs,
the dredges (which work alone
or in tandem, depending on the
job) simply dig to the proper
depth or width, then deposit the
excess material at dump sites.
For instance, if a channel is supposed to be 45 feet deep so that
ships may traverse it safely, but
that channel has built up a 6-foot
shoal, a NATCO dredge will
remove the surplus debris.
As the holds are filled, the
sand or mud pushes seawater up
and over the deck, and back into
the ocean.
The dredges vary in length
from 180 feet to 510 feet as well
as in width and depth, so their
respective storage capacities ~so
differ correspondingly. The 510foot Long Island, for instance,
can store 16,000 cubic yards of
material, while the 200-foot Sugar
Island holds 2,500 cubic yards.
"Keep in mind, the typical
dump truck you see on the road
carries about 15 cubic yards,"
points out Werdenberg. ''In one
day, we can dig up to 10 loads, so

we can move quite a bit of sand."
Similarly, the duration of an
average job may range from two
weeks to two months. However,
some jobs take as long as an entire year.
But, as Ryan concludes, one
thing never changes aboard SIUcrewed NATCO dredges: ''The
crews are very conscientious.
safety-minded and hard-working,
no matter what the job is and no
matter which dredge you' re talking about."

AB-dragtender Tommy Davis operates the console of the Dodge Island
during a recent beach replenishment assignment in New York.

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NAVY ASST. SEC’Y DOUGLASS CALLS FOR SUPPORT OF MERCHANT FLEET&#13;
SIU PENSIONERS WILL GET $500 YEAR-END BONUS&#13;
VOTERS RETURN PRO-MARITIME CONGRESS&#13;
LAKES SEASON WINDS DOWN FOR SEAFARERS&#13;
VOTING BEGINS IN SIU ELECTION&#13;
ANNOUNCEMENT OF SHIPS IN MARAD PROGRAM EXPECTED IN DECEMBER&#13;
ITF SECURES $120,000 IN BACK WAGES FOR ABUSED CREW&#13;
NEW MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLAN IS ONE BENEFIT OF NEW CONTRACTS&#13;
SEAFARERS LAUD NEW TACOMA UNION HALL&#13;
SIU SCHOOL A LEADER IN EARNING SELF-CERTIFICATION&#13;
HALL CENTER OFFERS NEW LNG COURSES&#13;
AB OUBRE NAMED TO USCG MERCHANT MARINE GROUP&#13;
SCHOLARSHIP NAMED IN HONOR OF JOE SACCO&#13;
SIU SEEKS ELIMINATION OF FBI BACKGROUND CHECK FEE&#13;
GALLEY GANGS KEEP THE HOLIDAYS BRIGHT&#13;
NEW CONTRACT AND CHARTER END 1996 ON POSITIVE NOTE&#13;
DIG IT!&#13;
NATCO DREDGES DO ‘DIRTY WORK’ TO KEEP CHANNELS OPEN &#13;
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