Seafarers Log: Vol. 81 No. 8 (2019-08-01)

AUGUST 2019 VOLUME 81, NO. 8

O F F I C I A L P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E S E A F A R E R S I N T E R N A T I O N A L U N I O N A T L A N T I C , G U L F, L A K E S A N D I N L A N D W A T E R S , A F L - C I O

Matson Christens Lurline
Jones Act Vessel Scheduled

For Delivery in Late October
Seafarers-contracted Matson recently christened the Lurline (right), a combination con-
tainer roll-on/roll-off (ConRo) vessel built by union workers at the General Dynamics
NASSCO yard in San Diego. Page 3.

Florida Seafarers Pitch in
With Community Service
SIU members in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, recently donated time and muscle for
a project benefiting homeless people in the area. They teamed up with other
union members and local citizens to haul donated furniture from a hotel to a pair
of containers donated by SIU-contracted Crowley. Many of the volunteers are
pictured below. Page 8.

Domestic Maritime Creates 13,850 Jobs,
$3.2 Billion in Economic Growth for Ohio
According to the findings of a new study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, throughout
Ohio, the domestic maritime industry employs nearly 14,000 individuals, produces $3.2 bil-
lion for the local economy, and generates $817.5 million in worker income. The Jones Act
is at the heart of that industry – a fact celebrated during a recent media event in Cleveland.
Above, U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) (at podium) and other maritime supporters discuss
the numerous benefits of the Jones Act. Page 3.

Chao to Receive AOTOS Award
Page 2

Crowley Crews Honored
Page 4

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2 Seafarers LOG August 2019

The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the
Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters,
AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301)
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth
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Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo;
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Editor, Nick Merrill; Photographer, Harry Gieske;
Administrative Support, Jenny Stokes; Content Curator,
Mark Clements.

Copyright © 2019 Seafarers International Union, AGLIW. All Rights
Reserved.

Volume 81 Number 8 August 2019

The SIU online: www.seafarers.org

The Seafarers International
Union engaged an environ-
mentally friendly printer
for the production of this
newspaper.

President’s Report

Reversed to White
Reversed to White

When a large number of civilian-crewed military support ships
activated early last month, our members and port officials stepped
up and smoothly filled the jobs on all three coasts. It’s a given
that the SIU always answers the call, but when you combine a
large-scale activation with a short deadline, there are bound to be
challenges. I’m proud of the way our members in the halls and our
people behind the counters came through under pressure, though

I’m not surprised.
These are exciting times for our union, filled

with opportunities, positive developments and
of course the never-ending challenges. We have
opportunities for growth and job security because
of a combination of things, not the least of
which is the professionalism and reliability of
rank-and-file Seafarers. Some of you have heard
me say this before, but when the union goes to
bat for our industry, you are the first people we
highlight. Your dedication and dependability
help give shipowners the confidence to order
new tonnage, like the ConRo and tugboat we’re
spotlighting in this edition of the LOG. Your

patriotism lets our military leaders know that we’ll be ready when
the balloon goes up.

Those opportunities for a bright future also require ongoing
political action, not just on Capitol Hill but at every level of
government. Our industry is heavily regulated, which means we
constantly have to educate lawmakers about the U.S. Merchant
Marine. And of course, you all know about the bogus attacks
on the Jones Act, which is a full-time battle. File that one under
“never-ending challenge,” but be assured we are winning, while
not taking anything for granted.

We don’t always publicize our political undertakings, but we’ve also
been working to help expand the fleet of militarily useful U.S.-flag
vessels, and I’m optimistic about those efforts. Stay tuned.

Another huge key to our future is the Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education, the SIU-affiliated school based in Piney
Point, Maryland. I spend a lot of time at the school and keep a
close eye on the steady – and sometimes spectacular – improvements
there. The cutting-edge training available in Piney Point is right
up there with political action in terms of importance to us.

Something else I appreciate about visiting the school is the
opportunity to regularly meet Seafarers. Whether we’re discussing
concerns or goals, or maybe just reminiscing, I enjoy working with
and getting to know our SIU brothers and sisters. (At certain times
of year, we’ve been known to talk a little football, too.)

These are the same members who earn safety awards like the
ones reported in this issue. They’re the same Seafarers who donate
their time to help others, also as featured this month. In short, they
– you – are the kind of people who make it easy to stay enthused
about working hard to help ensure ongoing success for the SIU.

Tensions Still High
I began last month’s message with a note about controversial

attacks on two foreign-flag tankers in the Gulf of Oman. I’ll end
this month’s column with a reminder that the international maritime
community is still on alert following a reported alleged incident
from July 10 in which armed Iranian boats unsuccessfully attempted
to seize a British oil tanker in the Persian Gulf.

The tanker reportedly was crossing into the Strait of Hormuz area when
it was approached by boats from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps. A British Navy ship effectively intervened.

As it becomes harder to call these incidents isolated, I know our
crews aboard American-flag ships will take every precaution in that
part of the world and all over the globe.

Michael Sacco

Answering the Call

O F F I C I A L P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E S E A F A R E R S I N T E R N A T I O N A L U N I O N A T L A N T I C , G U L F, L A K E S A N D I N L A N D W A T E R S , A F L - C I O

The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort, crewed by CIVMARS from the SIU Gov-
ernment Services Division, hosted Vice President Mike Pence (second from right in photo below)
and his wife, Karen (left), June 18 in Miami. They are pictured with Adm. Craig S. Faller, commander,
U.S. Southern Command. According to the Navy, the Comfort “is working with health and govern-
ment partners in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean to provide care on the ship and
at land-based medical sites, helping to relieve pressure on national medical systems strained by an
increase in Venezuelan migrants.” (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class
Richard L.J. Gourley)

VP Pence Visits USNS Comfort

One of the American maritime industry’s stron-
gest advocates is receiving one of its most presti-
gious awards.

The United Seamen’s Service (USS) in late June
announced that U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Elaine L. Chao will receive the 2019 Admiral of the
Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Award “based on her career-
long commitment to the maritime industry.” The
other, previously announced recipients are James
Given, president of the Seafarers International
Union of Canada; Anil Mathur, president and CEO
of Alaska Tanker Corp.; and Joseph Pyne, chairman
of the board of Kirby Corporation.

The awards will be presented Nov. 1 in New York
City, during the 50th annual AOTOS event. A num-
ber of U.S. mariners also will receive recognition for
specific acts of bravery and heroism while at sea.

In announcing Chao’s selection, Lt. Gen. Kenneth
Wykle, USA, (Ret.), AOTOS committee chairman,
said, “We are honored that Secretary Chao will at-
tend the AOTOS event and personally accept the
award.”

Chao assumed her office on Jan. 31, 2017. She
was previously Secretary of Labor under President
George W. Bush.

Chao was raised in Queens, New York and sub-
sequently earned her MBA from Harvard Business
School. Early in her career, she specialized in trans-
portation financing in the private sector. She began
her executive career in public service working on
transportation issues at the White House. She then
served as Deputy Maritime Administrator, U.S. De-
partment of Transportation; Chairman of the Federal
Maritime Commission; and, Deputy Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Transportation.

As U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Chao has
been one of the strongest advocates for the U.S. mar-
itime industry in Department history. She has consis-
tently reiterated the need for a modern U.S.-flag fleet,
crewed by skilled U.S. Merchant Mariners, as an im-
portant component of U.S. national security. To that
end, more funding for the Maritime Administration
has been requested than in any previous administra-
tion’s budgets – $682 million for FY 2020. She also
advocated for additional new school training ships.
And, as a signal of her unprecedented support for the
U.S. maritime industry, within the first six months
of her tenure as U.S. Secretary of Transportation she
visited the Ready Reserve fleet in Beaumont, Texas,
and toured two American-flagged vessels. She also
gave her first commencement speech as Secretary
to the graduating class of the U.S. Merchant Marine

Academy on June 17, 2017.
“Secretary Chao brings to AOTOS her back-

ground in transportation, non-profit work, labor and
a macro-view of all the sectors that apply to the mis-
sion of USS,” said General Wykle. “We look forward
to greeting her on November 1.”

SIU President Michael Sacco described Chao as
“someone who not only understands our industry,
but also truly cares about the American worker. She
is a tremendous leader and is universally respected,
admired and trusted throughout our industry.”

The AOTOS Award commenced in 1970 and
has honored more than 80 industry leaders, while
the USS marks its 77th anniversary this year. USS
President Edward Morgan noted, “Whether operat-
ing 144 service centers in 1942 to look after Ameri-
can seafarers and the military or ensuring we honor
our true industry leaders as Admiral of the Ocean
Sea, USS has continued to be an important presence
in the American maritime industry.”

The USS continues to provide community ser-
vices for the U.S. Merchant Marine, the American
Armed Forces, and seafarers of the world. A non-
profit agency established in 1942, the USS oper-
ates centers in six foreign ports in Europe, Asia, and
Africa and in the Indian Ocean, and also provides
seagoing libraries to American vessels through its
affiliate, the American Merchant Marine Library
Association.

Secretary Chao (center) is welcomed to the 2017
SIUNA convention by President Michael Sacco
(right) and Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel.

USS Selects Transportation Secretary
Elaine L. Chao to Receive AOTOS Award

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August 2019 Seafarers LOG 3

A new ship with an old name is joining
the SIU fleet.

Seafarers-contracted Matson on June 17
christened the Lurline, a combination con-
tainer roll-on/roll-off (ConRo) vessel built
by union workers at the General Dynam-
ics NASSCO yard in San Diego. Billed as
the largest American-built ConRo, it’s the
sixth Matson vessel named Lurline, dating
to 1887.

SIU Port Agent Nick Marrone II repre-
sented the union at the ceremony, which
drew a crowd of approximately 700 people.

NASSCO also is building a second
ConRo for Matson.

The Lurline is 870 feet long and has
a beam of 114 feet. The ship has a deep
draft of 38 feet and weighs in at more than
50,000 metric tons. It will be one of Mat-
son’s fastest vessels, with a top speed of
23 knots, helping ensure on-time deliveries
in Hawaii from the company’s three West
Coast terminals in Seattle, Oakland and
Long Beach, California.

In announcing the christening, Mat-
son pointed out that both new ConRo

ships “will have an enclosed garage with
room for approximately 500 vehicles plus
ample space for rolling stock and break-
bulk cargo. They will also feature state-
of-the-art green technology, including a
fuel-efficient hull design, environmentally
safe double-hull fuel tanks, freshwater bal-
last systems and the first Tier 3 dual-fuel
engines to be deployed in containerships
serving West Coast ports. Under the lat-
est International Maritime Organization
(IMO) requirements for engine manufac-
turers, Tier 3 engines reduce the levels of
particulate emissions by 40 percent and
nitrogen oxide emissions by 20 percent, as
compared to Tier 2 standards.”

“The great speed, capacity and envi-
ronmental improvements of this new ship
position us well to serve the needs of our
communities in Hawaii for many years to
come,” said Matt Cox, Matson’s chair-
man and chief executive officer, after
the shipyard ceremony. “As a proud U.S.
company and Jones Act carrier, our invest-
ment in this new ship is about much more
than maintaining a high level of service

to Hawaii. It also helps drive substantial
economic benefits in and opportunities in
communities around the Pacific, where this
vessel will operate.”

Cox added, “The construction of this
ship required 150,000 man-hours to com-
plete. It’s over a year’s work for about
2,000 professionals here at NASSCO –
engineers, tradesmen and lots of support
people. And over its expected lifespan, this
ship will generate approximately 4.5 mil-
lion man-hours of work opportunity for the
U.S. mariners who will operate it, not to
mention all the dock workers and terminal
personnel that move the cargo on and off
our ships, and all the people who produced
the materials used to build this ship that are
sourced here in the U.S., like the steel that
came from Iowa and Alabama. These are
all living-wage jobs, supporting the fami-
lies of these American workers, the taxes
they pay … it all flows from this one ship.
Multiply that by all the ships NASSCO and
other U.S. shipyards are building, and you
get a sense of the value of the maritime
industry to our country and its economy.

In California alone, there are more than
51,000 jobs tied to the American maritime
industry, providing over 3.6 billion dollars
in labor income with a total economic im-
pact in the state of more than twelve billion
dollars.”

“Designing and building the Lurline
brings pride to every member of our team,”
said Kevin Graney, president of General
Dynamics NASSCO. “It’s an honor to add
the Kanaloa Class vessels to NASSCO’s
decades-long history in Jones Act ship
production.”

Matson invited Constance Lau, a
member of Matson’s board of directors,
to officially christen the vessel by break-
ing a ceremonial bottle of champagne
against the ship’s hull. Immediately after
the bottle was broken, the vessel was re-
leased from its build ways and slid back-
ward into San Diego Bay. The Lurline was
then docked at NASSCO’s nearby testing
and trials berth, where the final stages of
construction will be completed. Matson is
expected to take delivery of the vessel in
late October.

The new vessel (photo at left) begins its launch at the unionized General Dynam-
ics NASSCO shipyard. In photo above, SIU Port Agent Nick Marrone II (right) is
pictured with Matson President Ron Forest (center) and Forest’s wife, Peggy.

Matson Christens ConRo Lurline in San Diego
Jones Act Vessel Means New Jobs for SIU Members

The domestic maritime industry is vital
for America – and few states reflect that
truth more than Ohio.

The American Maritime Partnership
(AMP), a powerful coalition to which the
SIU is affiliated, hosted a press confer-
ence July 1 at Seafarers-contracted Great
Lakes Towing Company with U.S. Rep.
Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), local business
leaders, and maritime advocates and em-
ployees to proudly announce new eco-
nomic benefits of the industry to the state
of Ohio and Great Lakes region.

According to the findings of a new
study conducted by PricewaterhouseC-
oopers (PwC) on behalf of Transportation
Institute (TI), the Jones Act continues to
fuel a strong maritime industry in Ohio
and across the Great Lakes region, where
the PwC report shows 123,670 Jones Act-
related jobs – or 20 percent of the national
total – are based. Throughout Ohio, the
industry employs more than 13,850 indi-
viduals, produces $3.2 billion for the local
economy, and generates $817.5 million in
worker income. Between 2011 and 2016,

maritime employment in Ohio increased
by 3,520 jobs. An estimated $30 billion
of the national Jones Act economic impact
comes from the eight Great Lakes states.

As highlighted at the recent event,
Ohio is also an important shipyard state.
A new study of shipbuilding by the U.S.
Maritime Administration (MARAD), cov-
ering both commercial and military ship
construction, found more than $617 mil-
lion of annual economic impact and more
than $364 million in worker income for
the state.

The backbone of the domestic mari-
time industry is the Jones Act, which re-
quires the transportation of cargo between
all U.S. points to be reserved for U.S.-
built, -owned, -crewed, and -documented
vessels. The law is not only a vital anchor
for economic strength and job creation for
Ohio, but also a pillar for the entire na-
tion’s prosperity and security.

“Today’s report confirms our course:
invest in our maritime assets and prepare
our workforce for the maritime jobs of the
future,” Kaptur said. “This region has an

important place at the table to strengthen
our strong domestic maritime industry and
its critical role in our national security and
prosperity. “In Ohio alone, the efforts of
over 13,000 workers facilitate more than
$3 billion moving into local economies
and generating $817.5 million in worker
income. These are the benchmarks from
which workers and industry leaders can
build on our successes and plan a future
of expanded commerce and opportunity.”

“Ohio workers are the best in the world
at what they do and today’s report shows
that our state’s maritime industry is no ex-
ception,” said U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown
(D-Ohio). “Ohio’s ports and shipping
industry provide good-paying jobs and
these workers play a key role in our na-
tion’s economy.”

“The Great Lakes is one of America’s
most important environmental and eco-
nomic resources and are a major com-
ponent of Ohio’s domestic maritime
industry,” said U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-
Ohio). “This would not be possible with-
out the skilled and dedicated men and
women who comprise Ohio’s maritime
workforce. Ohio’s status as one of Amer-
ica’s best states for the maritime industry
is no surprise to those who see it up close
every day. The release of today’s study
showing an increase in the number of do-
mestic maritime jobs in Ohio and the con-
tribution its employees make to the state
and nation are to be applauded.”

“The state of Ohio is a leader in the
domestic maritime industry, supporting
13,850 family-wage jobs and contribut-
ing over $3.2 billion to the local econ-
omy,” said James L. Henry, chairman
and president of Transportation Institute.
“The findings in our most recent study
demonstrate the strength and necessity of
the Jones Act, which serves as the back-
bone of the American maritime industry,
the U.S. industrial base, and job creation
for the hardworking men and women that
crew the vessels delivering both in times
of war and peace.”

“Quite simply, the Jones Act is Ameri-
can security,” said Matt Woodruff, Presi-
dent of AMP. “In addition to the job
creation benefits detailed in this study,
our American mariners are relied on by
defense leaders to project American force
overseas in a national emergency. Along-
side our waterfront workers, they are the
eyes and ears of homeland security on
our nation’s coasts and waterways. Our
American controlled fleet provides eco-
nomic security, ensuring that our nation’s
internal freight transportation system is
not subject to foreign interference. Ameri-
can maritime jobs always have and will
continue to be vital in the never-ending
task of keeping America safe, strong and
prosperous for generations to come.”

“Twenty percent of all Jones Act jobs

Continued on Page 6

Domestic Maritime Creates
13,850 Jobs, $3.2 Billion
In Ohio Economic Growth

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4 Seafarers LOG August 2019

The 2019 recipient of the Paul Hall Award of Merit set
the tone for annual Maritime Port Council of Greater New
York/New Jersey and Vicinity’s dinner/dance when he pro-
claimed, “An attack on the Jones Act is an attack on your
members and their families. So, as far as I’m concerned,
an attack on the Jones Act is an attack on the BCTGM!”

David Durkee, the international president of the Bak-
ery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers
(BCTGM) International Union, showed the solidarity he
said was so prevalent in the award’s namesake as well as
in current SIU/MTD President Michael Sacco.

Durkee joined U.S. Rep. Thomas R. Suozzi (D-New
York) and Russell Paret, president/CEO of Schuyler Line
Navigation Company, in being recognized for their efforts
on behalf of the U.S. Merchant Marine and all working
people during the June 22 event in New York City.

Durkee said the late Paul Hall (who served as SIU and
MTD President from 1957 to 1980) stood for “strong and
principled leadership … creativity, innovation and break-
ing new ground to improve the lives and standard of living
of his members and their families … unflinching courage
… an unyielding commitment to the highest values and
standards of trade unionism. He was about labor solidarity
and always being there for fellow union members and he
never forgot where he came from.”

He continued, “I did not know Paul Hall, but I do know
Mike Sacco. Mike is someone for whom I have the great-
est respect because he embodies those very same qualities
as his predecessor, Paul Hall. Mike Sacco is a fighter who
has never backed down or backed up when it comes to
protecting and advancing the rights and well-being of his
members and all working men and women in the maritime
trades. When it comes to legislative and regulatory issues
affecting workers in the maritime trades, there is nobody
in Washington, D.C., who has more credibility and more
respect than Mike Sacco.”

The BCTGM president updated the crowd of nearly 400

on his union’s battle with Mondelez/Nabisco to stop the out-
sourcing of union jobs to Mexico. He said the company is
paying workers in Mexico as little as “97 cents an hour with
no benefits” to bake such icons as Oreo and Chips Ahoy.

“The first labor organization to support our nationwide
consumer boycott of Nabisco products made in Mexico
was the Maritime Trades Department,” Durkee noted.
“Mike Sacco and the Maritime Trades Department are al-
ways there with fraternal support for another union when
called upon. More often than not, they don’t wait to be
asked for help. They reach out and say how can we help.
That, brothers and sisters, is what solidarity is all about.”

In introducing Durkee, MTD Executive Secretary-Trea-
surer Daniel Duncan referred to the Nabisco campaign by
displaying a bag of Chips Ahoy and showing the audience
where to look on the lower back of the packaging to see if
the words “Made in Mexico” appear. “If ‘Made in Mexico’
is not printed, then they are high-quality union-made cook-
ies,” Duncan said.

Suozzi received the Government Man of the Year Award
for his years of fighting on behalf of working people in
New York and Washington. He said the maritime industry
is a model of labor-management cooperation that can serve
as “the hope for America.”

Suozzi pointed out the nation’s economy “is leaving too
many people behind” and also reiterated his vow to “fight
for U.S.-flag ships any way I can.”

SIU Executive Vice President Augie Tellez introduced
Suozzi by noting the congressman’s father was an immi-
grant who fought in World War II, became a justice of the
New York Supreme Court and provided the values Suozzi
still follows: “hard work, justice, (knowing) right and
wrong, and looking out for others.”

Tellez said Suozzi is “an up-and-coming politician who
is good for the country and good for our industry.”

Upon receiving the Herb Brand Award (named for a past
Seafarers LOG editor and American maritime icon), Paret

announced, “I appreciate all those working hard at sea to-
night. I am grateful to have the best team in the world.”

Paret oversees U.S.-flag operations that include cargo
preference and Maritime Security Program vessels.

“I am so lucky to love what I do. Shipping is a 24/7
industry and I thank everyone I depend on every day,” Paret
stated. “We all play important roles – lawmakers, crew,
maintenance, operations and crewing, and, of course,
labor. Too many people don’t know about the U.S.-flag
industry.

“We need a national maritime strategy,” he offered to
loud applause. “To survive and thrive, we must be bold.”

Presenting the award to Paret was SIU Vice President
Contracts George Tricker. “His colors are red, white and
blue. He is someone you can trust – a true patriot and a
great American,” stated Tricker. “He treats mariners prop-
erly and with respect.”

Port Council Honors Durkee, Suozzi, Paret

U.S. Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-New York) (center) is flanked
by SIU Exec. VP Augie Tellez (right) and Paul Hall Center
Trustee Tony Naccarato.

MTD Executive Secretary-Treasurer Daniel Duncan (left)
congratulates BCTGM President David Durkee on his
award.

SIU VP Contracts George Tricker (left) introduces Rus-
sell Paret, president/CEO of Schuyler Line Navigation
Company.

SIU VP Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi (right), who also
serves as president of the port council, presents an award
to U.S. Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-New York).

SIU members recently helped bring
home elite recognition for Seafarers-con-
tracted Crowley Petroleum Services.

Marathon Petroleum Company LP
(MPC) recently presented its Elite Ves-
sel Award for the sixth consecutive year
to Crowley. The award “recognizes the
company’s mariners and vessels who serve
Marathon for outstanding performance
and environmental protection,” Crowley
reported.

The award, presented at a reception
in Jacksonville, Florida, honors vessel
operators (including the crews) for their
customer service, dependability and ex-
emplary performance in health, safety
and environmental excellence. “Select,
high-performing Crowley mariners were
chosen to represent their ships and crew-
mates at the award ceremony,” Crowley
noted. “Each mariner received a plaque
to commemorate their team’s achieve-
ments.”

Crowley vessels recognized for 2018
– all featuring SIU crews – included the
tanker West Virginia (represented at the
event by Capt. James Cunningham); ar-
ticulated tug-barge (ATB) Courage/650-5
(represented by Capt. Darren Bates);

ATB Liberty/750-3 (represented by Sec-
ond Mate Coronado Hickman); tanker
Louisiana (represented by First Assistant
Engineer Seth Green); ATB Legend/750-2
(represented by Chief Mate Kyle
O’Connor); ATB Achievement/650-8; and
tanker Ohio.

Bates pointed out that his ATB “in-

volves two crews, which is 22 people year-
round, in order to make the award happen.
Those guys deserve all the credit. I appre-
ciate them working safely, following the
rules and going home safe to their families.
At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all
about.”

He added, “I thought it was a nice cer-
emony and a good way to show apprecia-
tion for the crews meeting the companies’
standards. Marathon and Crowley are both
great to work for. They set their standards
high for safety, quality work and protecting
the environment.

Hickman stated, “I had a really good

time at the event. It was nice meeting the
higher-ups and it’s a very special award.
It goes to show how much hard work and
dedication we put in. It’s nice to get re-
warded and know they’re happy with our
dedication.”

“Crowley is committed to safe and reli-
able transportation, and we are proud of the
dedicated service and professionalism that
these honorees demonstrate every day,”
said Tucker Gilliam, vice president, petro-
leum services, Crowley. “We appreciate the
trust and partnership that Marathon has for
our company and the men and women who
serve the fleet.”

SIU Crews Help Crowley Earn
Marathon’s Elite Vessel Award

SIU members are pictured with Crowley and Marathon personnel. The Seafarers include Darren Bates (sixth from left), Coronado Hickman
(third from right) and Kyle O’Connor (far right). Among those also pictured are Crowley Chairman and CEO Tom Crowley (sixth from right).

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August 2019 Seafarers LOG 5

America’s domestic maritime industry
benefits the nation in numerous ways, but
there are untapped opportunities to utilize
it even more.

Those were some of the main points
voiced June 19 when the U.S. House of
Representatives Subcommittee on Coast
Guard and Maritime Transportation con-
ducted a hearing titled “Short Sea Ship-
ping: Rebuilding America’s Maritime
Industry.”

Testifying at the hearing were: U.S.
Maritime Administrator Mark Buzby;
Maine Port Authority CEO Jon Nass;
Lake Carriers’ Association President
James Weakley; and Transportation
Trades Department, AFL-CIO President
Larry Willis. Each of them voiced strong
support for the maritime industry.

One of the key topics discussed during
the hearing was the Maritime Administra-
tion’s (MARAD) “America’s Maritime
Highway Program” (AMHP). As ex-
plained by Buzby in his testimony, “The
Marine Highway System consists of our
nation’s navigable waterways including
rivers, bays, channels, the Great Lakes, the
Saint Lawrence Seaway System, coastal,
and certain open ocean routes. These
navigable waterways touch 38 states plus
the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
The purpose of the AMHP is to further in-
corporate these waterways into the over-
all U.S. transportation system, especially
where marine transportation services are
the most efficient, effective, and sustain-
able transportation option.”

He continued, describing the AMHP as
consisting of three elements: route des-
ignation, project designation, and grants.
He stated, “The AMHP is clearly having
an impact. Metrics we gather to measure
that impact include the number of truck
road miles that have been eliminated.

Using Federal Highway Administration
formulas, MARAD estimates the public
benefits of funded projects in dollars. In
FY 2016, AMHP grant-funded services
moved 35,215 twenty-foot equivalent
units by water, saving approximately $1.5
million in road maintenance and conges-
tion costs.”

He then discussed the complexities and
challenges of the nation’s cargo transporta-
tion options: “Congestion on our surface
transportation system significantly impacts
our economic prosperity and quality of life.
One study estimates that in 2014, conges-
tion cost America’s urban commuters an
estimated $160 billion in wasted time and
fuel; trucks account for $28 billion of this
cost. Overall, the volume of imports and
exports transported by our freight system
is expected to more than double over the
next 30 years. This will have implications
for ports, which handle approximately 70
percent of America’s international trade by
volume. Most of this additional cargo will
ultimately move along our surface trans-
portation corridors, many of which are cur-
rently at or beyond capacity.”

Nass pointed out the importance of do-
mestic shipping, saying, “For those of us
who live in port cities, moving freight by
water is instinct, but it needs to be intui-
tive for others as well — especially those
who set transportation policy. One needs
only to sit for a few frustrating hours in
Boston or beltway traffic to appreciate
the value of alternative transportation.
Moving freight from highway to seaway
will improve commerce, decrease air pol-
lution, and reduce fuel consumption and
traffic congestion in our largest cities. I
am not the first to suggest that the United
States has an infrastructure problem.
There is no denying it. In maritime terms,
the nation’s surface transportation infra-

structure is like a vessel taking on water
– fast.”

He continued, “By not making al-
ternative freight transportation systems
a national priority, especially short sea
shipping alternatives, I believe that we are
misusing our surface transportation sys-
tem. We are missing a win-win opportu-
nity to both stop the leaks in the highway
infrastructure while fostering a revitalized
waterway economy nationally.”

Weakley discussed the lower environ-
mental impacts of short sea shipping, as
well as the relative efficiency of cargo
ships. “It takes less energy to move cargo
via water than it does the other modes of
transportation,” he said. A U.S.-flag laker
can move a ton of cargo 607 miles, the
approximate distance from Duluth to De-
troit, while consuming only one gallon
of fuel. A truck can typically move that
same ton of cargo about 59 miles per gal-
lon and rail can move it 202 miles per
gallon. Given the lower energy consump-
tion, marine transportation emits fewer
tons of carbon dioxide. A laker will emit
19 tons to transport 1,000 tons of cargo
1,000 miles. Trucks making the same
cargo movement will emit 190 tons....
Economies of scale also help us achieve
lower energy consumption rates. One of
our lakers can move 70,000 tons of cargo.
That is the equivalent of 700 rail cars or
3,000 trucks. Another measure of modal
efficiency is horsepower per ton. Trucks
require 12-20 horsepower for each ton of
cargo moved. For rail it is about 1-1 and
for vessels, it is 0.2-0.3. If trucks could
operate with vessel efficiency, they could
be powered with a lawnmower engine.”

He also emphasized the importance of
the Jones Act, saying, “The Merchant Ma-
rine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones
Act, requires that vessels moving cargo
between U.S. ports be American-owned,
American-built and American-crewed.
This bedrock of maritime policy provides
the stability necessary for LCA’s mem-
bers to invest in maintaining and adding

to their fleet. The national, economic and
homeland security implications of the law
and the regulatory certainty it provides, al-
lows us to enter into long-term contracts.
The Jones Act encourages Americans to
invest huge sums of money in assets that
will last decades.”

Willis highlighted his organization’s
commitment to maritime. “Since the na-
tion’s beginnings, waterborne freight
transportation has been an integral com-
ponent of how we move goods domesti-
cally,” he said. “As we continue to address
our needs, maritime shipping must be a
linchpin of any national freight strategy.
The maritime industry and the workers
we represent look forward to continuing
to rise to the challenge.”

He echoed the previous statements on
efficiency, adding, “Short sea shipping is
also green shipping. When transporting
substantial volumes, utilizing these vessels
is highly fuel efficient per cargo ton-mile,
and can result in substantially reduced
emissions. The environmental benefits of
short sea shipping also go well beyond the
fuel efficiency of any particular vessel.
Delays at ports and on the surface freight
network more broadly can result in unnec-
essary truck idling and wasted fuel. The
utilization of short sea shipping can have a
multiplier effect, functioning as a green op-
tion individually while simultaneously in-
creasing efficiency in other freight modes.”

He concluded, “As Admiral Buzby has
highlighted in the past, we are 1,800 civil-
ian mariners short of the Department of
Defense’s needs. As we like to say in the
maritime industry, cargo is king. If there
is cargo, we will train the mariners and
build the vessels needed to carry it. By in-
creasing the availability of cargo moved
through a strong short sea shipping net-
work, we have the opportunity to create
thousands of good seafaring jobs and
address pressing national security needs
with a single stroke. For these reasons
alone, we should take every action to pro-
mote short sea services.”

Hearing Highlights Benefits of U.S. Maritime

The Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee (MTSNAC) recently conducted its first meeting of the year, in the nation’s capital. Among those pictured
afterward are U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao (twelfth from left), flanked by SIU Exec. VP Augie Tellez (directly next to the secretary’s left shoulder)
and Maritime Administrator Mark Buzby (directly to her right). Tellez first served on the committee beginning in 2011 and recently was reappointed following a mandatory break.
Established in 2010, the MTSNAC “is made up of leaders from commercial transportation firms, trade associations, state and local public entities, labor organizations, academia,
and environmental groups that advise the secretary on policies to ensure that the marine transportation system can respond to projected trade increases,” the DOT reported.

DOT Maritime Committee Convenes

Short Sea Shipping Takes Center Stage During
Key Transportation Subcommittee Meeting

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG_X.indd 5 7/22/2019 5:33:35 PM



6 Seafarers LOG August 2019

U.S. Coast Guard Commander David
Dubay, a military professor of interna-
tional law at the U.S. Naval War Col-
lege, recently penned an editorial on the
possible future of autonomous shipping,
and the real issues that such a future
would bring.

In the editorial (first posted on the
Center for International Maritime Secu-
rity website), Dubay wrote, “In recent
years, the prospect of fully autonomous
vessels has become a hot topic for com-
mercial shipping. The same fast-paced
advances in technology that have led to
projects to automate vehicles in every
other sector of the transportation in-
dustry have also found their way to the
shipping industry. Advances in camera
technology, sensors, electromechanical
actuators and satellite technology ap-
pear to promise a world in which ships
will soon traverse the oceans without a
human on board. The International Mar-
itime Organization (IMO) and the Co-
mité Maritime International (CMI) are
already exploring how autonomous ves-
sels would fit into the existing frame-
work of international maritime law.”

He continued, “Yet, while it is laud-
able to plan for the future, autonomous
vessels operated by computers and re-
mote operators quite simply pose too
many vulnerabilities, and they likely
will prove too expensive to replace to-
day’s manned vessels. The professional
merchant mariners who operate ships
today are the crucial on-scene decision
makers, repairmen and physical security
providers who make commercial ship-
ping secure, efficient and inexpensive.”

Dubay also confidently spoke about
the need to maintain a human pres-
ence aboard ships: “Once we get past

the promises and hyperbole, the risk of
collisions, legal liabilities and environ-
mental calamity will ensure that some
critical number of humans will persist
on board ships. Advances in technology
will continue to make shipping safer
and more efficient, but they will not
eventually replace the human masters
and crews that serve on today’s com-
mercial vessels.”

He also mentioned the speculative
benefits of autonomous shipping, before
underlining the valid concern for Amer-
ican workers, saying, “Autonomous
vessels may result in better working
conditions overall in the shipping in-
dustry, as they would eliminate the need

to find workers to fill the many difficult
and hazardous jobs at sea. But the elim-
ination of merchant mariner jobs would
be a tremendous financial blow to those
workers in those jobs today.”

He continued, mentioning some of
the technology hurdles that are currently
stalling autonomous vessels: “One pres-
ent obstacle for automating larger ves-
sels is battery technology. At the outset,

today’s batteries simply do not have
the energy density necessary to power
larger commercial vessels. Higher ca-
pacity and more powerful electric bat-
teries that are powerful enough to move
larger ships will likely be developed
in the future. However, current battery
technology has limitations. Lithium ion
batteries, the type used for automated
vehicles and aircraft, can explode if
overcharged and further, large lithium
ion batteries need to be temperature
controlled to work properly.

“Even more challenging obstacles
to the success of autonomous vessels
will be the expense and complexity of
designing such systems,” he continued.

“The technical challenge of operating a
large cargo ship autonomously on the
open oceans for days or weeks at a time
will require a command and control sys-
tem that does not exist today and may
be impractical to build. Seamanship and
navigating a ship safely is a challenge
with a full complement of crew mem-
bers on board. Automated ships will
require command centers, computers,

advanced satellite communications sys-
tems, other electronic devices, remote
operators and other technicians.”

Not to be overlooked, according to the
author, is the “risk of exploitation by ad-
versaries, hackers, terrorists, criminals and
other malign actors.” In fact, he said that
such potential manipulation is “the most
serious concern regarding autonomous
vessels” and “one that will very likely keep
them from ever being employed.”

Dubay wrote, “Autonomous vessels’
dependence on the electromagnetic
spectrum and cyberspace infrastructure
coupled with the lack of any human on-
scene responders will provide an oppor-
tunity for others to interfere with these
ships and potentially use them as weap-
ons or for profit.”

He concluded, “Some reality must
be injected into the debate over autono-
mous ships. It is a truism that electronic
and mechanical systems will eventually
fail. For vital applications where human
lives are at risk such as for aircraft,
system engineers design in wide toler-
ances, safeguards and multiple levels of
redundancy to ensure an adequate mar-
gin of safety. The challenge in design-
ing autonomous vessels is building both
a safe and secure system that will func-
tion effectively in all ocean and mari-
time conditions without human beings
on board and one that is not capable of
being exploited by bad actors. Such a
system, even if possible to build, would
likely be too expensive for companies
to build and operate compared to human
crew. As a result, autonomous vessels
are extremely unlikely to displace the
human network of maritime profession-
als that have always made the maritime
transportation system safe and secure.”

Several New summary plan descrip-
tion (SPD) guides recently were added
to the Seafarers website. Now available
are:
n Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan

(SHBP) CorePlus and Core Levels; re-
vised February 2019;
n Seafarers Pension Plan (SPP); re-

vised March 2019;
n Seafarers Money Purchase Pension

Plan (SMPPP); revised April 2019; and
n Seafarers Vacation Plan (SVP); re-

vised July 2019.
Eligible participants will receive

these guides in future participant mail-
ings.

Important SHBP Notice

are in the Great Lakes states,” said Jim
Weakley, President of the Lake Carriers’
Association. “The men and women em-
ployed in the domestic maritime industry
build and maintain our ships for commer-
cial and governmental clients, including
the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship pro-
gram, and crew our vessels moving iron
ore, stone, and coal, the base of steel and
American manufacturing, construction,
and energy production.”

Weakley further noted, “All eight
Great Lakes states are dependent on com-
mercial maritime and the entire national
economy is reliant on the cargoes moved
on the Lakes by Jones Act-compliant ves-
sels, crews, and companies. There is no
second-guessing, the Jones Act is critical
to American economic security.”

“As a charter member of the Trans-
portation Institute and a participant in
the Jones Act domestic shipping industry,
along with many of our U.S.-flag custom-
ers, we are very proud of the achievements
and contributions made over the years in
fulfilling and even exceeding the purposes
envisaged by this legislation,” said Ron
Rasmus of the Great Lakes Towing Com-
pany.

“The domestic maritime industry is a
hugely important source of family-wage
jobs for American mariners here in Ohio
and all across the country,” said Seafarers
International Union Assistant Vice Presi-
dent Bryan Powell. “SIU members have
been safely plying these waterways for
many decades, contributing to the local
economy and delivering the goods.”

Powell added, “I’m also proud of the
fact that high-ranking individuals in the
administration and in our military have
pointed out that our crews are a vital com-
ponent of homeland security. They’re on
our rivers and coasts every day; they know
if something doesn’t look right, and they
have a big stake in the safety and security
of our vessels and ports.”

Thanks to the Jones Act, the domestic
maritime industry employs approximately
650,000 Americans across all 50 states,
creates $41 billion in labor income for
American workers, and adds more than
$154.8 billion in annual economic output
each year. The U.S. domestic fleet is one
of the largest in the world, with more than
40,000 vessels – built in American ship-
yards, crewed by American mariners, and
owned by American companies – that op-
erate in American waters 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.

Continued from Page 3

SIU Represented at Safety Event

Recertified Bosun Adel Ahmed
and AB Ryan Boltz took part in
a May 29 safety banquet hosted
by Shell in Houston. In the large
group photo above, Ahmed is
second from left and Boltz is sec-
ond from right. They’re pictured
with personnel from Seafarers-
contracted Crowley. The photo
at the immediate right includes
the bosun and his son, Ahmed
Ahmed (left).

Maritime Industry Flexes its Muscle
In Ohio, Has Huge Impact on Economy

USCG Commander Addresses Autonomous Shipping
Professional Mariners Described as ‘Crucial On-Scene Decision Makers’

“Yet, while it is laudable to plan for the future, autono-
mous vessels operated by computers and remote operators
quite simply pose too many vulnerabilit ies, and they likely
will prove too expensive to replace today’s manned vessels.
The professional merchant mariners who operate ships today
are the crucial on-scene decision makers, repairmen and
physical security providers who make commercial shipping
secure, ef ficient and inexpensive.” - - - U.S. Coast Guard Com-
mander David Dubay, military professor of international law, U.S.
Naval War College

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG_X.indd 6 7/22/2019 5:33:36 PM



August 2019 Seafarers LOG 7

SIU VP Gulf Coast Dean Corgey (left) attended a reception for U.S.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) (right) on July 5 in Houston. They
discussed maritime issues including the Jones Act, cargo preference,
the Maritime Security Program, and port infrastructure.

Talking Maritime with U.S. Senator

A number of SIU-contracted companies received safety awards from the Chamber of Shipping of
America (CSA) during the organization’s annual luncheon in New Orleans on June 18. Crescent
Towing crews were among those collectively honored; Seafarers from the Crescent tug South
Carolina accepted on behalf of the whole team. Pictured at the event are (from left) Capt. Joseph
Carson, Deckhand Kyle McDermott, SIU Port Agent Chris Westbrook and Wheelman Kevin Mc-
Dermott.

CSA Honors Crescent Crews, Others

SIU-contracted Great Lakes Towing
Company is well into its second century
and still going strong.

In a ceremony that simultaneously sa-
lutes its history while portending a bright
future, the company was scheduled to host
a July 22 gathering in Cleveland (after
press time). That event was to feature the
christening of the new boat Michigan in
addition to celebrating Great Lakes Tow-
ing’s 120th anniversary.

Great Lakes Towing has served the
needs of the Great Lakes seaway sys-
tem – often called America’s fourth coast
– since its founding on July 7, 1899.
Through the years, the company has re-
mained agile enough to adapt to the needs
of the vessels carrying cargo across the
lakes, all while expanding into the indus-
try leader they are today. They currently
operate a fleet of 28 tugs across 11 major
ports throughout the Great Lakes.

“Great Lakes Towing has maintained
an excellent working relationship with the
SIU for decades,” said SIU Vice President
Great Lakes Tom Orzechowski. “For 120
years, they’ve provided a necessary ser-
vice in and around the ports of the Great
Lakes, and we hope they’ll continue to
thrive for at least 120 more years.”

In June, the company christened a new
tug, Ohio, and dedicated the tug, which

previously carried that name to The Na-
tional Museum of the Great Lakes. The
donated tug will serve as a museum piece,
after 60 years in the Great Lakes Tow-
ing fleet, and 115 years of service on the
lakes.

Joe Starck, president of Great Lakes
Towing Company, said, “The new harbor
tug is aptly named Ohio. She was built by
skilled Ohio craftsmen in an Ohio ship-
yard, for an Ohio-based company, will
operate on Ohio waters and serve Ohio

ports. In addition, her construction cost
was supported by the Ohio EPA.”

The tug Ohio will be placed into ser-
vice in the Port of Toledo. It is the second
tug built as part of the company’s fleet
renewal program.

Great Lakes Towing Preps for Anniversary Event

Pictured at the tug Ohio dedication June 21 in Toledo are (from left) MM&P President Don Marcus, Great Lakes Towing President Joe
Starck, SIU member Eric Johnson, SIU Asst. VP Bryan Powell, SIU member Matt Smith, Great Lakes Towing Operations Manager
Lindsay Dew and SIU Port Agent Todd Brdak.

The U.S. House of Representatives on July 12
passed its version of the Fiscal Year 2020 National De-
fense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would extend

the Maritime Security Program (MSP) through 2035
and increases the yearly stipends over the life of the
program. In addition, the bill would authorize a tanker
fleet that would provide a stipend for the Department
of Defense to utilize 10 U.S.-flagged commercial pe-
troleum tanker vessels.

Finally, the House version of the bill would also es-
tablish a two-vessel U.S.-flag cable security fleet that
would “provide installation, maintenance, and repair of

submarine cables and related equipment.”
The tanker fleet would operate similarly to MSP,

supporting the needs of our military while helping to
maintain the pool of qualified U.S. mariners.

The bill will have to be reconciled with the Senate
version of the NDAA, which has already been passed
but contains a variety of different amendments and dif-
ferent authorization amounts. No further action on the
legislation is expected until after Labor Day.

House Version of Defense Bill
Includes Extended MSP, New

Tanker Security Program

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG_X.indd 7 7/22/2019 5:33:37 PM



8 Seafarers LOG August 2019

Seafarers Step Up to Aid Homeless in Florida
When an opportunity arose to help area homeless

people, SIU members didn’t have to be asked twice.
SIU personnel recently teamed up with other union

members and area residents in Broward County, Florida,
to move donated furniture from a hotel into two large
containers provided at no cost by Seafarers-contracted
Crowley Maritime. The volunteers weren’t deterred by
hot weather – they finished the project in one day (June
20).

The outreach was organized by the Port Everglades
Association (PEA), a maritime business organization to
which the SIU belongs.

SIU Assistant Vice President Kris Hopkins led the
SIU team, which included members Ron Webb, An-
thony Parks, Peter Durangparang, Anito Rarugal,
Mike Bowen, David Rodriguez and Mario Hooker.
They helped empty 30 rooms, assisted by (among others)
members of the IBEW and the Teamsters, respectively.

“Any time we have a chance to help the less fortu-
nate, that’s what we’re all about,” Hopkins said. “We’re
the lucky ones, because we have jobs to go to and we
have families and homes. But we know that many people
living in our county do not.”

“I always like volunteering to help the less fortunate,”
Bowen stated. “Anything to help people, I want to be
included. It was hot and more hot that day – we have
plenty of that kind of weather in Florida – but there was
a lot of teamwork and it went great.”

Pier 66 Hotel donated numerous items (bureaus,
desks, chairs, lamps, bed linens and other goods) to sev-
eral local agencies dedicated to providing housing and
shelter to the homeless. But, as noted by the association,
“There was one big need, however. Much of the furni-
ture and goods needed to be stored in safe keeping for a
period of months.”

With that in mind, PEA President Rich Vogel con-
tacted Hopkins and Crowley Vice President Patrick
Collins, both of whom serve on the association’s board.
They led the way in getting three-dozen volunteers, and
Crowley also agreed to keep the containers in a secure

area in Fort Lauderdale until the donated items are set
for distribution.

“This was a total team effort,” said Vogel. “Our com-
panies and the Port Everglades Association feel very
strongly about helping and giving back to our great com-
munity. We are glad we could provide help to the truly

needy people here in Broward County.”
PEA board member Anitra Lanzci was one of the

volunteers toiling through heat and humidity for the
hours-long effort. “It was an inspiration to see such a
large-scale, unified group demonstrate their commit-
ment,” she said.

Undeterred by hot weather, the volunteers haul items from the rooms.

A Mariner’s Life for Me
By Alvin “Surreal” Surrency

I’m staring at the water, stuck in its beautiful chaos
While taking out the trash, one look and then I was lost

Its beautiful splash and violent waves have gotten me
Mesmerized and completely taken in

Been loving water my whole life, all I wanna do
is dive on in

It’s true to say that I can sit and watch the waters
all day long

Sending me to another place, another world,
with a brand new song

I’m connected to the water in a way I cannot explain
If I jump in this water, I may get fired, fired for being dumb

And insane

On the other hand, I probably won’t make it, having the
Water get the best of me

Swallowing me whole, doing a quick 180, going from my
Love to my worst enemy

I write these words to express my respect and love for
This great ocean

I guess you can say it has a hoax on me with its magic
Motion potion

I can write all day about the beauty of this water, this is
Something that everyone should see

I love my job and the beauty I get to see, not a pirate but a
Mariner’s life for me.

Snapshots (and a Poem) from
The Union-Crewed USNS Seay

Bosun John Wells sub-
mitted these images and the
poem from the U.S. Marine
Management vessel. He re-
ported that the ship loaded
cargo in Jacksonville, Flor-

ida, and then on April 2
headed for Diego Garcia.
The voyage took 30 days.

Wells further noted that the
crew included a few first-trip-
pers.

Relief Bosun Jonathan Bennett, Chief Mate Mark
Sampson

Wiper Jorge Garcia Gutierrez (left) and QMED
Mariano Ylaya handle bunkering operations.

OS Emmanuel Nuez, OS Jeffery Gra-
ham

The bosun said the steward depart-
ment “kept everyone happy on a long
voyage.” Pictured from left are SA
Celso Escobero, Chief Cook Melissa
McCartney and SA Lally Manalo.QMED Alvin Surrency

LOG-A-RHYTHM

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG_X.indd 8 7/22/2019 5:33:38 PM



August 2019 Seafarers LOG 9

The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Com-
mand (MSC) has a new commanding of-
ficer.

Rear Adm. Michael Wettlaufer relieved
Rear Adm. Dee Mewbourne as MSC com-
mander during a June 28 ceremony aboard
the SIU CIVMAR-crewed expeditionary
fast transport ship USNS Burlington at
Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort
Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

SIU Vice President Government Ser-
vices Kate Hunt and Representative Sam
Spain attended the ceremony. They noted
that Mewbourne, during his official re-
marks, thanked SIU President Michael
Sacco, Executive Vice President Augie
Tellez and Hunt for their work in help-
ing provide crews for MSC ships while
strengthening the overall U.S. Merchant

Marine and reinforcing its readiness to an-
swer the call.

Adm. Christopher W. Grady, com-
mander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, and
Lt. Gen. John J. Broadmeadow, deputy
commander, U.S. Transportation Com-
mand, were the guest speakers.

Mewbourne, a native of Ormond Beach,
Florida, assumed command of MSC Aug.
25, 2016, overseeing the on-time logistics,
strategic sealift and specialized missions
that MSC conducts around the world, many
of them utilizing SIU-crewed vessels.

The agency noted, “During his tenure,
Mewbourne, and his staff devoted signifi-
cant effort in developing and executing a
plan to adapt to the changing operational
environment and keep MSC ahead of com-
petitors and potential adversaries.”

A graduate of the Colorado State Uni-
versity and native of Alexandria, Virginia,
Wettlaufer assumed command of MSC
following his latest tour of duty as the
commander of Carrier Strike Group 3 in
Bremerton, Washington.

“I am truly humbled to be here and to
join this fantastic team,” said Wettlaufer.
“Just coming off a dynamic, around-the-
world (U.S. Navy) strike group deploy-
ment, my team was a prodigious consumer
and demanding customer of logistics sys-
tems around the globe. As such, I under-
stand and appreciate the challenges which
MSC overcomes every day in order to pro-
vide the systems and synchronize global
activities needed to deliver, distribute and
sustain our warriors forward.”

Wettlaufer previously commanded the

Dambusters of Strike Fighter Squadron
195, USS Denver and USS John C. Stennis.

According to MSC, “Wettlaufer’s com-
pleted sea assignments include multiple
deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, In-
dian Ocean and Arabian Gulf with Attack
Squadron 85 and Carrier Air Wing 1 fly-
ing the A-6 Intruder from the USS Amer-
ica including Operation Desert Storm.
Forward-deployed from Japan aboard USS
Independence and USS Kitty Hawk as a
Dambuster department head and CVW-5
operations officer, he flew the FA-18C
Hornet and he deployed to the Pacific as
executive officer aboard USS John C. Sten-
nis.”

Mewbourne now will serve as deputy
commander of the U.S. Transportation
Command.

MSC Conducts Change of Command Ceremony

Rear Adm. Michael Wettlaufer addresses service members and civilians at MSC’s change
of command ceremony aboard the CIVMAR-crewed USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10). (U.S.
Navy photo by Jennifer Hunt)

Arriving early for the ceremony are (from left) SIU Govt. Services Rep. Sam Spain, SIU VP
Govt. Services Kate Hunt, MM&P Rep. Randi Ciszewski and MEBA Branch Agent/Govt.
Fleet Rep. Tracy Burke.

Well-earned recognition for the
U.S. Merchant Marine is a big step
closer to becoming reality.

In late June, U.S. Rep. John Ga-
ramendi (D-California) announced
that his bipartisan Merchant Mari-
ners of World War II Congressional
Gold Medal Act of 2019 has se-
cured the 290 cosponsors necessary
to receive a mandatory vote in the
House of Representatives. The bill
will move to the Consensus Calen-
dar, which hosts legislation that’s
typically passed unanimously by the
House, according to Garamendi’s
office.

“Throughout the Second World
War, our armed forces relied on the
U.S. Merchant Marine to ferry sup-
plies, cargo and personnel into both
theaters of operation, and they paid
a heavy price in service to their
country,” said Garamendi. “The
U.S. Merchant Marine suffered the
highest per capita casualty rate in
the U.S. Armed Forces during World
War II. An estimated 8,300 mariners
lost their lives, and another 12,000
were wounded, to make sure our ser-
vice members could keep fighting.
Yet, these mariners who put their
lives on the line were not even given
veteran status until 1988.”

He recalled meeting three World
War II mariners last year: Charles
Mills of Texas, age 97; Eugene
Barner from Kansas, age 92; and
Robert Weagant from Illinois, age

92. Garamendi continued, “These
mariners put their lives on the line
for this country, braving German
and Japanese submarines in their
Liberty ships as they delivered criti-
cal supplies to our service members
in the European and Pacific the-
aters. Unfortunately, their sacrifice
is commonly overlooked. A Con-
gressional Gold Medal would give
them the recognition they deserve,
and that’s why I’ve introduced this
bill: to give these veterans and their
families the honor and respect they
are owed. I’m pleased that this bill
will receive a vote in the full House
of Representatives and is in an ex-
cellent position to become law,” Ga-
ramendi concluded.

“The time has come for our nation
to provide a well-deserved thank
you and honor the remaining U.S.
Merchant Marine Veterans of WWII
with a Congressional Gold Medal,”
said Christian Yuhas, vice president
of the American Merchant Marine
Veterans and a chief engineer in the
merchant marine. “I urge Congress
to support this important bill.”

The Merchant Mariners of World
War II Congressional Gold Medal
Act was introduced in the Senate
simultaneously by Senator Lisa
Murkowski (R-Alaska). U.S. Reps.
Don Young (R-Alaska) and Susan
Brooks (R-Indiana) are the original
cosponsors in the House of Repre-
sentatives.

Bill Honoring WWII Mariners
Well on Way to House Passage

The Protecting the Right to Organize
(PRO) Act – introduced May 2 by U.S.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) and
U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Virginia) – is a
potentially important piece of legislation
on many levels. The bill would address
several major problems with current labor
laws, and aims to give working people a
fair shot when they try to join together and
form a union.

“It is still too difficult for working
people to form a union at their workplace
when they want to,” noted the Economic
Policy Institute (EPI). “The law gives
employers too much power and puts too
many roadblocks in the way of workers
trying to organize with their co-workers.”

The EPI cited several highlights of
the bill, including stronger and swifter
remedies when employers interfere with
workers’ rights; more freedom to organize
without employer interference; protect-
ing strikes and other protest activity; and
tightening the definitions of independent
contractor and supervisor to crack down
on misclassification and extend National
Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protections
to more workers.

Significantly, the legislation also
would require employers to bargain in
good faith with the union chosen by their
employees to reach a contract addressing
wages, benefits, protections from sexual
harassment, and other issues. “But em-
ployers often drag out the bargaining pro-
cess to avoid reaching an agreement,” the

EPI noted. “More than half of all workers
who vote to form a union don’t have a col-
lective bargaining agreement a year later.
This creates a discouraging situation for
workers and allows employers to foster a
sense of futility in the process. The PRO
Act establishes a process for reaching a
first agreement when workers organize,
utilizing mediation and then, if necessary,
binding arbitration, to enable the parties
to reach a first agreement. And the PRO
Act overrides so-called ‘right-to-work’
laws by establishing that employers and
unions in all 50 states may agree upon a
‘fair share’ clause requiring all workers
who are covered by – and benefit from
– the collective bargaining agreement to
contribute a fair share fee towards the cost
of bargaining and administering the agree-
ment.”

The EPI concluded, “The PRO Act
does not fix all the problems with our
labor law, but it would address some
fundamental problems and help make it
more possible for workers to act on their
federally protected right to join together
with their coworkers to bargain with their
employer for improvements at their work-
place. Research shows that workers want
unions. There is a huge gap between the
share of workers with union representa-
tion (11.9 percent) and the share of work-
ers that would like to have a union and a
voice on the job (48 percent). The PRO
Act would take a major step forward in
closing that gap.”

House Legislation Addresses
Worker Rights Shortfalls

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG_X.indd 9 7/22/2019 5:33:39 PM



10 Seafarers LOG August 2019

At Sea and Ashore with the SIU

AROUND THE LAKES – Pictured from left in the photo above, taken aboard Armstrong
Steamship’s Walter J. McCarthy, are Safety Director Gerret Jarman, Chief Cook Theo
Iglieski, Port Agent Todd Brdak and SA Deja Nae Gardner-Johnson. The other two snap-
shots were taken at the hiring hall in Algonac, Michigan. Pictured from left in photo at
immediate right are AB Yousef Mohamed, receiving his A-book, and Jarman. The photo
at the far right includes Recertified Steward Ahmed Sharif, picking up his first pension
check, with Brdak.

ABOARD SLNC YORK – Pictured from left in the group photo above are Steward/Baker Robert Wright, Oiler Orlando Pajarillo, Oiler Dave Baclaan, Asst. Cook Abdalhakeem Hussein,
AB Clifford Carroll, Bosun Ryan Scott and SIU Oakland Port Agent Nick Marrone II. The photo at right from the Argent Marine ship includes (from left) Bosun Ryan Scott and Captain
Tim English. These snapshots were taken June 26 in San Francisco.

ABOARD APL ROOSEVELT – Pictured from left are Chief Cook
Perry Asuncion, Chief Steward Steven Bowmer and ACU Walter
Harris. Photo was taken June 21 in Oakland, California.

ABOARD USNS WILLIAM BUTTON – The deck gang aboard the Crowley-operated ship includes Recertified
Bosun Greg Jackson, ABs Samuel Thatcher, Warren Armstead, Robert Goldson, Nate Guevara and Editho Bar-
raca, and OSs Mark Campbell, Frank Muna and Roy Vencer.

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG.indd 10 7/19/2019 5:51:48 PM



August 2019 Seafarers LOG 11

ABOARD WEST VIRGINIA – Recertified Bosun John Cedeno shared
these snapshots (above, below and at immediate right) from the In-
trepid Personnel and Provisioning tanker. Pictured in the photo above
(from left) are Oiler Mario Cruz, Bosun Cedeno, OMU Paul Ianni

ABOARD HARLEY MARINE NY TUGS – In photo at left, Mate Andrew Beaird and Deckhand Dave Jakubowski stand in the wheelhouse of the tug St. Andrews. Tankermen Richard
Brockway and T.J. Bonilla demonstrate the surest way to land on the SIU Facebook page and in the LOG in center photo. The photo at right includes Tankermen T.J. Bonilla and
Jimmy Hargrove displaying the current SIU contract aboard the tank barge Stoddard Sea.

At Sea and Ashore with the SIU

ABOARD MAHI MAHI – Pictured from
left aboard the Matson ship are ACU
John Canson, Chief Steward Gerald Ar-
chie and Chief Cook Joel Molinos. Photo
was taken June 24 in Oakland, Califor-
nia.

B-BOOK IN NY – Tankerman Corey
Harris (right) receives his B-book
from SIU Patrolman Ray Henderson
at the Harley Marine New York office
in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

AT HOUSTON HALL – In photo at left, AB Daniel Ikegwu (left) receives his A-book from Safety
Director Kevin Sykes. The photo at right shows OMU David Cornelius (left) taking the oath before
receiving his full book from Patrolman J.B. Niday.

AT OAKLAND HALL – In photo above, Chief
Steward Clifton Medley (left) receives his A-
book from Patrolman Adrian Fraccarolli. The
photo below shows Chief Cook Steven Riley
(right) picking up his full B-book from Port Agent
Nick Marrone II.

AB Derek Minnix performs needle maintenance.
AB Juberto Perez is tasked with
splicing hard lines.

Nobody takes a more creative
group selfie than a Seafarer.
This one features the chief
mate, Pumpman Scott Fuller
and Bosun Cedeno.

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG.indd 11 7/19/2019 5:51:50 PM



12 Seafarers LOG August 2019

Independence Day Tradition Thrives
Aboard SIU-Crewed Midnight Sun

Even the most enthusiastic steward
department appreciates an occasional
break.

For the galley gang aboard the Mid-
night Sun, those moments often coincide
with holidays, including Independence
Day 2019.

“Our captain, Daniel Severino, did it
again,” said an appreciate Chief Cook
Sal Ahmed. “For the holiday, he took
care of barbecuing outside on the flame
grill. We thank him for giving us a break
and for doing a great job as grill master.
Our thanks also go to Recertified Bosun
Darryl Smith and his AB crew for tak-

ing care of cleaning and setting up the
grill.”

Ahmed said there was no shortage
of appealing menu items. The spread
included lobster, barbecued chicken,
hamburgers, smoked Alaskan salmon and
much more.

“Everyone was happy with the food,
and we’re always happy to celebrate our
nation’s birthday,” Ahmed added.

The rest of the steward department
includes Recertified Steward Dennis
Skretta and SA Else David.

The vessel is operated by TOTE Ser-
vices.

Recertified Steward Dennis Skretta checks out some of the goodies and the display he
put together.

From left: Chief Cook Sal Ahmed, Capt. Daniel Severino, Recertified Steward Dennis
Skretta

Enjoying the feast are (from left) AB Bakr Elbana, AB Gamal Muflahi, OMU Kasim Ahmed
and GUDE Walid Saleh.

Electrician Trevor Cohn (left), OMU Arlie Villasor

In photo above (from left), DEU Faissal
Alamri, AB Troy Ingersoll and a rider help
themselves. The Midnight Sun is operated
by TOTE Services. The photo at the immedi-
ate right shows the Midnight Sun underway
on the high seas.

Recertified Bosun Darryl Smith

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG_X.indd 12 7/22/2019 5:33:41 PM



August 2019 Seafarers LOG 13

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8/19

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG.indd 13 7/19/2019 5:51:53 PM



14 Seafarers LOG August 2019

With Seafarers Aboard Maersk Michigan

Bosun Gregorio Cudal chips and paints the main deck drain hole.

The steward department includes (from left) Chief Cook Mohammad Abou-Abdou, Chief
Steward Terrelyn Wallace and GVA Evelyn Cruz.

Standing, from left are AB Gregory Baker, Bosun Gregorio Cudal, and AB Tomas Robinson. Pictured in front, from
left are ABs Randell Paredes, Hiten Shrimankar and Osei Baffoe.

GVA Evelyn Cruz (left) receives the Maersk Line, Limited monthly
safety award. She is pictured with vessel master Capt. T. Pham,
who provided all of these photos.

QMEDs John Morrison and Theodore Gonzales

The vessel docks in the Middle East earlier this year.

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG_X.indd 14 7/22/2019 5:33:43 PM



August 2019 Seafarers LOG 15

June 16, 2019 - July15, 2019

Total Registered Total Shipped Registered on Beach
All Groups All Groups Trip All Groups

Port A B C A B C Reliefs A B C

Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea

Deck Department
Algonac 23 11 1 13 6 2 5 33 15 0
Anchorage 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 5 1 1
Baltimore 5 3 0 5 2 0 3 6 4 3
Fort Lauderdale 18 9 6 13 10 2 6 39 15 7
Guam 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0
Harvey 12 2 1 11 4 1 4 21 1 2
Honolulu 9 4 0 8 1 0 6 13 9 1
Houston 43 19 10 29 15 7 19 92 40 16
Jacksonville 34 24 10 37 18 6 24 51 29 9
Jersey City 44 8 6 24 4 2 13 68 14 6
Joliet 4 4 1 3 2 1 0 3 5 0
Mobile 5 3 6 10 3 1 4 13 8 8
Norfolk 17 13 5 16 14 6 12 38 15 8
Oakland 16 3 3 10 2 3 4 22 3 7
Philadelphia 2 2 1 2 2 1 0 4 1 1
Piney Point 1 5 0 1 3 1 2 4 7 0
Puerto Rico 6 6 2 8 6 0 4 12 7 3
Tacoma 32 5 3 29 5 4 11 53 10 4
St. Louis 5 1 3 3 1 2 0 5 1 1
Wilmington 23 11 5 17 6 7 8 59 27 5
TOTALS 302 134 63 242 104 47 126 541 213 82

Engine Department
Algonac 6 1 2 2 0 2 0 6 1 2
Anchorage 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 0
Baltimore 1 3 0 4 1 0 0 2 3 1
Fort Lauderdale 7 7 0 4 8 0 1 15 8 1
Guam 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0
Harvey 0 2 0 0 4 0 3 2 3 0
Honolulu 7 1 0 4 2 0 2 13 6 0
Houston 6 11 3 10 10 1 10 29 13 8
Jacksonville 19 13 2 18 14 1 8 31 23 3
Jersey City 13 7 3 7 5 0 2 25 11 4
Joliet 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 1 2
Mobile 3 2 1 2 2 1 1 5 3 1
Norfolk 17 16 7 8 11 3 9 27 22 9
Oakland 9 3 1 7 5 2 4 12 6 1
Philadelphia 5 0 0 2 1 1 1 7 0 0
Piney Point 2 5 0 2 3 0 2 1 3 0
Puerto Rico 4 0 1 0 2 0 0 12 5 1
Tacoma 16 3 5 16 3 2 8 23 7 5
St. Louis 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 4 2 1
Wilmington 9 7 5 8 7 6 6 24 18 3
TOTALS 127 83 32 96 82 20 59 243 137 42

Steward Department
Algonac 3 2 1 5 0 0 0 4 3 1
Anchorage 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0
Baltimore 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 1 0
Fort Lauderdale 9 6 1 4 6 0 2 18 4 2
Guam 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0
Harvey 3 0 1 3 1 1 3 7 1 1
Honolulu 5 2 1 9 3 1 2 15 0 1
Houston 17 1 0 14 1 1 4 37 2 1
Jacksonville 11 11 2 10 8 1 6 31 18 2
Jersey City 6 2 0 5 0 1 4 14 3 1
Joliet 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0
Mobile 5 1 1 5 1 0 1 5 5 1
Norfolk 16 5 2 7 2 1 4 26 11 4
Oakland 18 4 1 11 1 0 3 28 7 1
Philadelphia 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
Piney Point 5 6 1 3 4 1 2 4 5 0
Puerto Rico 4 5 0 3 4 0 0 6 5 0
Tacoma 10 1 1 8 2 1 3 16 0 2
St. Louis 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1
Wilmington 24 6 2 17 9 1 8 43 8 3
TOTALS 144 56 15 108 44 11 42 267 77 21

Entry Department
Algonac 1 15 12 0 8 5 5 2 15 18
Anchorage 0 1 0 1 4 0 0 0 4 1
Baltimore 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1
Fort Lauderdale 0 3 2 0 3 1 3 0 4 1
Guam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Harvey 1 2 1 0 1 3 0 2 4 1
Honolulu 2 3 3 1 2 2 0 2 10 3
Houston 5 11 7 2 11 2 5 7 19 12
Jacksonville 4 17 25 2 15 14 9 3 32 50
Jersey City 1 13 10 0 8 3 1 1 22 12
Joliet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Mobile 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Norfolk 0 22 24 0 11 19 4 0 30 33
Oakland 1 9 12 1 9 5 1 3 24 11
Philadelphia 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
Piney Point 0 2 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 2
Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Tacoma 4 11 5 3 11 12 3 6 20 12
St. Louis 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wilmington 0 10 6 0 12 5 0 1 25 27
TOTALS 20 121 112 12 98 73 33 28 215 185

GRAND TOTAL: 593 394 222 458 328 151 260 1,079 642 330

Piney Point...........Monday: August 5, *Tuesday: September 3
Algonac.........................................Friday: August 9, September 6
Baltimore................................Thursday: August 8, September 5
Guam......................................Thursday: August 22, September 19
Honolulu.....................................Friday: August 16, September 13

Houston........................................Monday: August 12, September 9

Jacksonville................................Thursday: August 8, September 5

Joliet.......................................Thursday: August 15, September 12

Mobile...............................Wednesday: August 14, September 11

New Orleans..............................Tuesday: August 13, September 10

Jersey City................................Tuesday: August 6, September 3

Norfolk......................................Thursday: August 8, September 5

Oakland.................................Thursday: August 15, September 12

Philadelphia............................Wednesday: August 7, September 4

Port Everglades.......................Thursday: August 15, September 12

San Juan.....................................Thursday: August 8, September 5

St. Louis.......................................Friday: August 16, September 13

Tacoma.......................................Friday: August 23, September 20

Wilmington...................................Monday: August 19, September 16

*Piney Point change due to Labor Day Holiday
Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m

August & September 2019
Membership Meetings

As previously reported, the
SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center
for Maritime Training and Edu-
cation continues to offer Culi-
nary 2.0 classes designed to help
students boost their skills while
complying with a new rule that
takes effect next year. Complet-
ing the coursework also is in-
tended to aid individual shipping
opportunities.

Shipping Rule 5.A.(6), which
will go into effect January 1, 2020,
states, “Within each class of se-
niority in the Steward Department,
priority shall be given to those
seamen who possess an advanced
Culinary 2.0 certificate from the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School
of Seamanship, in the event such
program is being offered and that
the seaman is registered in Group
I, Steward Department.”

While every new member
of the steward department who
completes their apprenticeship at
the Paul Hall Center’s Lundeberg
School of Seamanship will have
successfully passed Culinary
2.0, it’s important to remem-

ber that those already sailing as
chief cooks and chief stewards
must also take the coursework in
order to exercise preference and
priority beginning next year (un-
less they have received training
after January 1, 2017 at the Piney
Point, Maryland-based campus).

For those seamen currently
employed as permanent stewards
aboard commercial vessels, they
must attend Culinary 2.0 in order
to maintain their current employ-
ment status.

For those already sailing as
chief cooks and chief stewards,
there are two new revalidation
courses that have been designed
to ensure a consistent level of culi-
nary training and efficiency: Orien-
tation/Assessment Chief Steward
2.0 and Orientation/Assessment
Chief Cook 2.0. The courses are
being offered regularly, but spaces
are limited, so members are en-
couraged to plan ahead and enroll
as soon as possible.

For more information, con-
tact your port agent and/or the
school’s admissions office.

Culinary 2.0 Available at PHC

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Na-
tional Maritime Center (NMC)
on July 1 issued an update head-
lined “Mitigation Efforts Due
to Lapse in Fiscal Year 2019
Appropriations and Partial Gov-
ernment Shutdown.” The notice
and related links, plus the “at-
tached letter” referenced below,
are available both on the NMC
website and on the SIU website
(look for a July 1 post in our
News section).

The notice reads in part, “Due
to a continued backlog of creden-
tial applications and increased
net processing time of both mari-
ner credential applications and
medical certificate applications
caused by the lapse in appropria-
tions and shutdown of National
Maritime Center (NMC) opera-
tions, the following updated ac-
tions are being taken:

“Merchant mariner creden-
tials (MMC) and medical cer-
tificates (national endorsements

only) that expire in December
2018, January 2019, February
2019, March 2019, April 2019,
May 2019, June 2019, or July
2019 are extended as valid until
August 31, 2019. Mariners who
are actively working on expired
credentials that meet the expira-
tion criteria must carry the ex-
pired credential with a copy of
the attached letter.

“This extension does not
change the time frame dur-
ing which a credential may be
renewed. A credential may be
renewed at any time during its
validity and for 1 year after ex-
piration based on the expiration
date printed on the credential.

“If you have questions, visit
the NMC website, or contact
the NMC Customer Service
Center by using the NMC on-
line chat system, by e-mailing
IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by
calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-
5662).”

Coast Guard Announces
Latest Mitigation Efforts

August 2019 Seafarers LOG 15

June 16, 2019 - July15, 2019

Total Registered Total Shipped Registered on Beach
All Groups All Groups Trip All Groups

Port A B C A B C Reliefs A B C

Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea

Deck Department
Algonac 23 11 1 13 6 2 5 33 15 0
Anchorage 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 5 1 1
Baltimore 5 3 0 5 2 0 3 6 4 3
Fort Lauderdale 18 9 6 13 10 2 6 39 15 7
Guam 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0
Harvey 12 2 1 11 4 1 4 21 1 2
Honolulu 9 4 0 8 1 0 6 13 9 1
Houston 43 19 10 29 15 7 19 92 40 16
Jacksonville 34 24 10 37 18 6 24 51 29 9
Jersey City 44 8 6 24 4 2 13 68 14 6
Joliet 4 4 1 3 2 1 0 3 5 0
Mobile 5 3 6 10 3 1 4 13 8 8
Norfolk 17 13 5 16 14 6 12 38 15 8
Oakland 16 3 3 10 2 3 4 22 3 7
Philadelphia 2 2 1 2 2 1 0 4 1 1
Piney Point 1 5 0 1 3 1 2 4 7 0
Puerto Rico 6 6 2 8 6 0 4 12 7 3
Tacoma 32 5 3 29 5 4 11 53 10 4
St. Louis 5 1 3 3 1 2 0 5 1 1
Wilmington 23 11 5 17 6 7 8 59 27 5
TOTALS 302 134 63 242 104 47 126 541 213 82

Engine Department
Algonac 6 1 2 2 0 2 0 6 1 2
Anchorage 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 0
Baltimore 1 3 0 4 1 0 0 2 3 1
Fort Lauderdale 7 7 0 4 8 0 1 15 8 1
Guam 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0
Harvey 0 2 0 0 4 0 3 2 3 0
Honolulu 7 1 0 4 2 0 2 13 6 0
Houston 6 11 3 10 10 1 10 29 13 8
Jacksonville 19 13 2 18 14 1 8 31 23 3
Jersey City 13 7 3 7 5 0 2 25 11 4
Joliet 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 1 2
Mobile 3 2 1 2 2 1 1 5 3 1
Norfolk 17 16 7 8 11 3 9 27 22 9
Oakland 9 3 1 7 5 2 4 12 6 1
Philadelphia 5 0 0 2 1 1 1 7 0 0
Piney Point 2 5 0 2 3 0 2 1 3 0
Puerto Rico 4 0 1 0 2 0 0 12 5 1
Tacoma 16 3 5 16 3 2 8 23 7 5
St. Louis 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 4 2 1
Wilmington 9 7 5 8 7 6 6 24 18 3
TOTALS 127 83 32 96 82 20 59 243 137 42

Steward Department
Algonac 3 2 1 5 0 0 0 4 3 1
Anchorage 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0
Baltimore 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 1 0
Fort Lauderdale 9 6 1 4 6 0 2 18 4 2
Guam 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0
Harvey 3 0 1 3 1 1 3 7 1 1
Honolulu 5 2 1 9 3 1 2 15 0 1
Houston 17 1 0 14 1 1 4 37 2 1
Jacksonville 11 11 2 10 8 1 6 31 18 2
Jersey City 6 2 0 5 0 1 4 14 3 1
Joliet 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0
Mobile 5 1 1 5 1 0 1 5 5 1
Norfolk 16 5 2 7 2 1 4 26 11 4
Oakland 18 4 1 11 1 0 3 28 7 1
Philadelphia 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
Piney Point 5 6 1 3 4 1 2 4 5 0
Puerto Rico 4 5 0 3 4 0 0 6 5 0
Tacoma 10 1 1 8 2 1 3 16 0 2
St. Louis 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1
Wilmington 24 6 2 17 9 1 8 43 8 3
TOTALS 144 56 15 108 44 11 42 267 77 21

Entry Department
Algonac 1 15 12 0 8 5 5 2 15 18
Anchorage 0 1 0 1 4 0 0 0 4 1
Baltimore 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1
Fort Lauderdale 0 3 2 0 3 1 3 0 4 1
Guam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Harvey 1 2 1 0 1 3 0 2 4 1
Honolulu 2 3 3 1 2 2 0 2 10 3
Houston 5 11 7 2 11 2 5 7 19 12
Jacksonville 4 17 25 2 15 14 9 3 32 50
Jersey City 1 13 10 0 8 3 1 1 22 12
Joliet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Mobile 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Norfolk 0 22 24 0 11 19 4 0 30 33
Oakland 1 9 12 1 9 5 1 3 24 11
Philadelphia 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
Piney Point 0 2 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 2
Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Tacoma 4 11 5 3 11 12 3 6 20 12
St. Louis 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wilmington 0 10 6 0 12 5 0 1 25 27
TOTALS 20 121 112 12 98 73 33 28 215 185

GRAND TOTAL: 593 394 222 458 328 151 260 1,079 642 330

Piney Point...........Monday: August 5, *Tuesday: September 3
Algonac.........................................Friday: August 9, September 6
Baltimore................................Thursday: August 8, September 5
Guam......................................Thursday: August 22, September 19
Honolulu.....................................Friday: August 16, September 13

Houston........................................Monday: August 12, September 9

Jacksonville................................Thursday: August 8, September 5

Joliet.......................................Thursday: August 15, September 12

Mobile...............................Wednesday: August 14, September 11

New Orleans..............................Tuesday: August 13, September 10

Jersey City................................Tuesday: August 6, September 3

Norfolk......................................Thursday: August 8, September 5

Oakland.................................Thursday: August 15, September 12

Philadelphia............................Wednesday: August 7, September 4

Port Everglades.......................Thursday: August 15, September 12

San Juan.....................................Thursday: August 8, September 5

St. Louis.......................................Friday: August 16, September 13

Tacoma.......................................Friday: August 23, September 20

Wilmington...................................Monday: August 19, September 16

*Piney Point change due to Labor Day Holiday
Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m

August & September 2019
Membership Meetings

As previously reported, the
SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center
for Maritime Training and Edu-
cation continues to offer Culi-
nary 2.0 classes designed to help
students boost their skills while
complying with a new rule that
takes effect next year. Complet-
ing the coursework also is in-
tended to aid individual shipping
opportunities.

Shipping Rule 5.A.(6), which
will go into effect January 1, 2020,
states, “Within each class of se-
niority in the Steward Department,
priority shall be given to those
seamen who possess an advanced
Culinary 2.0 certificate from the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School
of Seamanship, in the event such
program is being offered and that
the seaman is registered in Group
I, Steward Department.”

While every new member
of the steward department who
completes their apprenticeship at
the Paul Hall Center’s Lundeberg
School of Seamanship will have
successfully passed Culinary
2.0, it’s important to remem-

ber that those already sailing as
chief cooks and chief stewards
must also take the coursework in
order to exercise preference and
priority beginning next year (un-
less they have received training
after January 1, 2017 at the Piney
Point, Maryland-based campus).

For those seamen currently
employed as permanent stewards
aboard commercial vessels, they
must attend Culinary 2.0 in order
to maintain their current employ-
ment status.

For those already sailing as
chief cooks and chief stewards,
there are two new revalidation
courses that have been designed
to ensure a consistent level of culi-
nary training and efficiency: Orien-
tation/Assessment Chief Steward
2.0 and Orientation/Assessment
Chief Cook 2.0. The courses are
being offered regularly, but spaces
are limited, so members are en-
couraged to plan ahead and enroll
as soon as possible.

For more information, con-
tact your port agent and/or the
school’s admissions office.

Culinary 2.0 Available at PHC

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Na-
tional Maritime Center (NMC)
on July 1 issued an update head-
lined “Mitigation Efforts Due
to Lapse in Fiscal Year 2019
Appropriations and Partial Gov-
ernment Shutdown.” The notice
and related links, plus the “at-
tached letter” referenced below,
are available both on the NMC
website and on the SIU website
(look for a July 1 post in our
News section).

The notice reads in part, “Due
to a continued backlog of creden-
tial applications and increased
net processing time of both mari-
ner credential applications and
medical certificate applications
caused by the lapse in appropria-
tions and shutdown of National
Maritime Center (NMC) opera-
tions, the following updated ac-
tions are being taken:

“Merchant mariner creden-
tials (MMC) and medical cer-
tificates (national endorsements

only) that expire in December
2018, January 2019, February
2019, March 2019, April 2019,
May 2019, June 2019, or July
2019 are extended as valid until
August 31, 2019. Mariners who
are actively working on expired
credentials that meet the expira-
tion criteria must carry the ex-
pired credential with a copy of
the attached letter.

“This extension does not
change the time frame dur-
ing which a credential may be
renewed. A credential may be
renewed at any time during its
validity and for 1 year after ex-
piration based on the expiration
date printed on the credential.

“If you have questions, visit
the NMC website, or contact
the NMC Customer Service
Center by using the NMC on-
line chat system, by e-mailing
IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by
calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-
5662).”

Coast Guard Announces
Latest Mitigation Efforts

August 2019 Seafarers LOG 15

June 16, 2019 - July15, 2019

Total Registered Total Shipped Registered on Beach
All Groups All Groups Trip All Groups

Port A B C A B C Reliefs A B C

Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea

Deck Department
Algonac 23 11 1 13 6 2 5 33 15 0
Anchorage 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 5 1 1
Baltimore 5 3 0 5 2 0 3 6 4 3
Fort Lauderdale 18 9 6 13 10 2 6 39 15 7
Guam 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0
Harvey 12 2 1 11 4 1 4 21 1 2
Honolulu 9 4 0 8 1 0 6 13 9 1
Houston 43 19 10 29 15 7 19 92 40 16
Jacksonville 34 24 10 37 18 6 24 51 29 9
Jersey City 44 8 6 24 4 2 13 68 14 6
Joliet 4 4 1 3 2 1 0 3 5 0
Mobile 5 3 6 10 3 1 4 13 8 8
Norfolk 17 13 5 16 14 6 12 38 15 8
Oakland 16 3 3 10 2 3 4 22 3 7
Philadelphia 2 2 1 2 2 1 0 4 1 1
Piney Point 1 5 0 1 3 1 2 4 7 0
Puerto Rico 6 6 2 8 6 0 4 12 7 3
Tacoma 32 5 3 29 5 4 11 53 10 4
St. Louis 5 1 3 3 1 2 0 5 1 1
Wilmington 23 11 5 17 6 7 8 59 27 5
TOTALS 302 134 63 242 104 47 126 541 213 82

Engine Department
Algonac 6 1 2 2 0 2 0 6 1 2
Anchorage 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 0
Baltimore 1 3 0 4 1 0 0 2 3 1
Fort Lauderdale 7 7 0 4 8 0 1 15 8 1
Guam 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0
Harvey 0 2 0 0 4 0 3 2 3 0
Honolulu 7 1 0 4 2 0 2 13 6 0
Houston 6 11 3 10 10 1 10 29 13 8
Jacksonville 19 13 2 18 14 1 8 31 23 3
Jersey City 13 7 3 7 5 0 2 25 11 4
Joliet 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 1 2
Mobile 3 2 1 2 2 1 1 5 3 1
Norfolk 17 16 7 8 11 3 9 27 22 9
Oakland 9 3 1 7 5 2 4 12 6 1
Philadelphia 5 0 0 2 1 1 1 7 0 0
Piney Point 2 5 0 2 3 0 2 1 3 0
Puerto Rico 4 0 1 0 2 0 0 12 5 1
Tacoma 16 3 5 16 3 2 8 23 7 5
St. Louis 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 4 2 1
Wilmington 9 7 5 8 7 6 6 24 18 3
TOTALS 127 83 32 96 82 20 59 243 137 42

Steward Department
Algonac 3 2 1 5 0 0 0 4 3 1
Anchorage 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0
Baltimore 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 1 0
Fort Lauderdale 9 6 1 4 6 0 2 18 4 2
Guam 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0
Harvey 3 0 1 3 1 1 3 7 1 1
Honolulu 5 2 1 9 3 1 2 15 0 1
Houston 17 1 0 14 1 1 4 37 2 1
Jacksonville 11 11 2 10 8 1 6 31 18 2
Jersey City 6 2 0 5 0 1 4 14 3 1
Joliet 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0
Mobile 5 1 1 5 1 0 1 5 5 1
Norfolk 16 5 2 7 2 1 4 26 11 4
Oakland 18 4 1 11 1 0 3 28 7 1
Philadelphia 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
Piney Point 5 6 1 3 4 1 2 4 5 0
Puerto Rico 4 5 0 3 4 0 0 6 5 0
Tacoma 10 1 1 8 2 1 3 16 0 2
St. Louis 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1
Wilmington 24 6 2 17 9 1 8 43 8 3
TOTALS 144 56 15 108 44 11 42 267 77 21

Entry Department
Algonac 1 15 12 0 8 5 5 2 15 18
Anchorage 0 1 0 1 4 0 0 0 4 1
Baltimore 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1
Fort Lauderdale 0 3 2 0 3 1 3 0 4 1
Guam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Harvey 1 2 1 0 1 3 0 2 4 1
Honolulu 2 3 3 1 2 2 0 2 10 3
Houston 5 11 7 2 11 2 5 7 19 12
Jacksonville 4 17 25 2 15 14 9 3 32 50
Jersey City 1 13 10 0 8 3 1 1 22 12
Joliet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Mobile 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Norfolk 0 22 24 0 11 19 4 0 30 33
Oakland 1 9 12 1 9 5 1 3 24 11
Philadelphia 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
Piney Point 0 2 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 2
Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Tacoma 4 11 5 3 11 12 3 6 20 12
St. Louis 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wilmington 0 10 6 0 12 5 0 1 25 27
TOTALS 20 121 112 12 98 73 33 28 215 185

GRAND TOTAL: 593 394 222 458 328 151 260 1,079 642 330

Piney Point...........Monday: August 5, *Tuesday: September 3
Algonac.........................................Friday: August 9, September 6
Baltimore................................Thursday: August 8, September 5
Guam......................................Thursday: August 22, September 19
Honolulu.....................................Friday: August 16, September 13

Houston........................................Monday: August 12, September 9

Jacksonville................................Thursday: August 8, September 5

Joliet.......................................Thursday: August 15, September 12

Mobile...............................Wednesday: August 14, September 11

New Orleans..............................Tuesday: August 13, September 10

Jersey City................................Tuesday: August 6, September 3

Norfolk......................................Thursday: August 8, September 5

Oakland.................................Thursday: August 15, September 12

Philadelphia............................Wednesday: August 7, September 4

Port Everglades.......................Thursday: August 15, September 12

San Juan.....................................Thursday: August 8, September 5

St. Louis.......................................Friday: August 16, September 13

Tacoma.......................................Friday: August 23, September 20

Wilmington...................................Monday: August 19, September 16

*Piney Point change due to Labor Day Holiday
Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m

August & September 2019
Membership Meetings

As previously reported, the
SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center
for Maritime Training and Edu-
cation continues to offer Culi-
nary 2.0 classes designed to help
students boost their skills while
complying with a new rule that
takes effect next year. Complet-
ing the coursework also is in-
tended to aid individual shipping
opportunities.

Shipping Rule 5.A.(6), which
will go into effect January 1, 2020,
states, “Within each class of se-
niority in the Steward Department,
priority shall be given to those
seamen who possess an advanced
Culinary 2.0 certificate from the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School
of Seamanship, in the event such
program is being offered and that
the seaman is registered in Group
I, Steward Department.”

While every new member
of the steward department who
completes their apprenticeship at
the Paul Hall Center’s Lundeberg
School of Seamanship will have
successfully passed Culinary
2.0, it’s important to remem-

ber that those already sailing as
chief cooks and chief stewards
must also take the coursework in
order to exercise preference and
priority beginning next year (un-
less they have received training
after January 1, 2017 at the Piney
Point, Maryland-based campus).

For those seamen currently
employed as permanent stewards
aboard commercial vessels, they
must attend Culinary 2.0 in order
to maintain their current employ-
ment status.

For those already sailing as
chief cooks and chief stewards,
there are two new revalidation
courses that have been designed
to ensure a consistent level of culi-
nary training and efficiency: Orien-
tation/Assessment Chief Steward
2.0 and Orientation/Assessment
Chief Cook 2.0. The courses are
being offered regularly, but spaces
are limited, so members are en-
couraged to plan ahead and enroll
as soon as possible.

For more information, con-
tact your port agent and/or the
school’s admissions office.

Culinary 2.0 Available at PHC

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Na-
tional Maritime Center (NMC)
on July 1 issued an update head-
lined “Mitigation Efforts Due
to Lapse in Fiscal Year 2019
Appropriations and Partial Gov-
ernment Shutdown.” The notice
and related links, plus the “at-
tached letter” referenced below,
are available both on the NMC
website and on the SIU website
(look for a July 1 post in our
News section).

The notice reads in part, “Due
to a continued backlog of creden-
tial applications and increased
net processing time of both mari-
ner credential applications and
medical certificate applications
caused by the lapse in appropria-
tions and shutdown of National
Maritime Center (NMC) opera-
tions, the following updated ac-
tions are being taken:

“Merchant mariner creden-
tials (MMC) and medical cer-
tificates (national endorsements

only) that expire in December
2018, January 2019, February
2019, March 2019, April 2019,
May 2019, June 2019, or July
2019 are extended as valid until
August 31, 2019. Mariners who
are actively working on expired
credentials that meet the expira-
tion criteria must carry the ex-
pired credential with a copy of
the attached letter.

“This extension does not
change the time frame dur-
ing which a credential may be
renewed. A credential may be
renewed at any time during its
validity and for 1 year after ex-
piration based on the expiration
date printed on the credential.

“If you have questions, visit
the NMC website, or contact
the NMC Customer Service
Center by using the NMC on-
line chat system, by e-mailing
IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by
calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-
5662).”

Coast Guard Announces
Latest Mitigation Efforts

August 2019 Seafarers LOG 15

June 16, 2019 - July15, 2019

Total Registered Total Shipped Registered on Beach
All Groups All Groups Trip All Groups

Port A B C A B C Reliefs A B C

Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea

Deck Department
Algonac 23 11 1 13 6 2 5 33 15 0
Anchorage 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 5 1 1
Baltimore 5 3 0 5 2 0 3 6 4 3
Fort Lauderdale 18 9 6 13 10 2 6 39 15 7
Guam 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0
Harvey 12 2 1 11 4 1 4 21 1 2
Honolulu 9 4 0 8 1 0 6 13 9 1
Houston 43 19 10 29 15 7 19 92 40 16
Jacksonville 34 24 10 37 18 6 24 51 29 9
Jersey City 44 8 6 24 4 2 13 68 14 6
Joliet 4 4 1 3 2 1 0 3 5 0
Mobile 5 3 6 10 3 1 4 13 8 8
Norfolk 17 13 5 16 14 6 12 38 15 8
Oakland 16 3 3 10 2 3 4 22 3 7
Philadelphia 2 2 1 2 2 1 0 4 1 1
Piney Point 1 5 0 1 3 1 2 4 7 0
Puerto Rico 6 6 2 8 6 0 4 12 7 3
Tacoma 32 5 3 29 5 4 11 53 10 4
St. Louis 5 1 3 3 1 2 0 5 1 1
Wilmington 23 11 5 17 6 7 8 59 27 5
TOTALS 302 134 63 242 104 47 126 541 213 82

Engine Department
Algonac 6 1 2 2 0 2 0 6 1 2
Anchorage 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 0
Baltimore 1 3 0 4 1 0 0 2 3 1
Fort Lauderdale 7 7 0 4 8 0 1 15 8 1
Guam 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0
Harvey 0 2 0 0 4 0 3 2 3 0
Honolulu 7 1 0 4 2 0 2 13 6 0
Houston 6 11 3 10 10 1 10 29 13 8
Jacksonville 19 13 2 18 14 1 8 31 23 3
Jersey City 13 7 3 7 5 0 2 25 11 4
Joliet 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 1 2
Mobile 3 2 1 2 2 1 1 5 3 1
Norfolk 17 16 7 8 11 3 9 27 22 9
Oakland 9 3 1 7 5 2 4 12 6 1
Philadelphia 5 0 0 2 1 1 1 7 0 0
Piney Point 2 5 0 2 3 0 2 1 3 0
Puerto Rico 4 0 1 0 2 0 0 12 5 1
Tacoma 16 3 5 16 3 2 8 23 7 5
St. Louis 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 4 2 1
Wilmington 9 7 5 8 7 6 6 24 18 3
TOTALS 127 83 32 96 82 20 59 243 137 42

Steward Department
Algonac 3 2 1 5 0 0 0 4 3 1
Anchorage 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0
Baltimore 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 1 0
Fort Lauderdale 9 6 1 4 6 0 2 18 4 2
Guam 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0
Harvey 3 0 1 3 1 1 3 7 1 1
Honolulu 5 2 1 9 3 1 2 15 0 1
Houston 17 1 0 14 1 1 4 37 2 1
Jacksonville 11 11 2 10 8 1 6 31 18 2
Jersey City 6 2 0 5 0 1 4 14 3 1
Joliet 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0
Mobile 5 1 1 5 1 0 1 5 5 1
Norfolk 16 5 2 7 2 1 4 26 11 4
Oakland 18 4 1 11 1 0 3 28 7 1
Philadelphia 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
Piney Point 5 6 1 3 4 1 2 4 5 0
Puerto Rico 4 5 0 3 4 0 0 6 5 0
Tacoma 10 1 1 8 2 1 3 16 0 2
St. Louis 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1
Wilmington 24 6 2 17 9 1 8 43 8 3
TOTALS 144 56 15 108 44 11 42 267 77 21

Entry Department
Algonac 1 15 12 0 8 5 5 2 15 18
Anchorage 0 1 0 1 4 0 0 0 4 1
Baltimore 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1
Fort Lauderdale 0 3 2 0 3 1 3 0 4 1
Guam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Harvey 1 2 1 0 1 3 0 2 4 1
Honolulu 2 3 3 1 2 2 0 2 10 3
Houston 5 11 7 2 11 2 5 7 19 12
Jacksonville 4 17 25 2 15 14 9 3 32 50
Jersey City 1 13 10 0 8 3 1 1 22 12
Joliet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Mobile 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Norfolk 0 22 24 0 11 19 4 0 30 33
Oakland 1 9 12 1 9 5 1 3 24 11
Philadelphia 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
Piney Point 0 2 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 2
Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Tacoma 4 11 5 3 11 12 3 6 20 12
St. Louis 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wilmington 0 10 6 0 12 5 0 1 25 27
TOTALS 20 121 112 12 98 73 33 28 215 185

GRAND TOTAL: 593 394 222 458 328 151 260 1,079 642 330

Piney Point...........Monday: August 5, *Tuesday: September 3
Algonac.........................................Friday: August 9, September 6
Baltimore................................Thursday: August 8, September 5
Guam......................................Thursday: August 22, September 19
Honolulu.....................................Friday: August 16, September 13

Houston........................................Monday: August 12, September 9

Jacksonville................................Thursday: August 8, September 5

Joliet.......................................Thursday: August 15, September 12

Mobile...............................Wednesday: August 14, September 11

New Orleans..............................Tuesday: August 13, September 10

Jersey City................................Tuesday: August 6, September 3

Norfolk......................................Thursday: August 8, September 5

Oakland.................................Thursday: August 15, September 12

Philadelphia............................Wednesday: August 7, September 4

Port Everglades.......................Thursday: August 15, September 12

San Juan.....................................Thursday: August 8, September 5

St. Louis.......................................Friday: August 16, September 13

Tacoma.......................................Friday: August 23, September 20

Wilmington...................................Monday: August 19, September 16

*Piney Point change due to Labor Day Holiday
Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m

August & September 2019
Membership Meetings

As previously reported, the
SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center
for Maritime Training and Edu-
cation continues to offer Culi-
nary 2.0 classes designed to help
students boost their skills while
complying with a new rule that
takes effect next year. Complet-
ing the coursework also is in-
tended to aid individual shipping
opportunities.

Shipping Rule 5.A.(6), which
will go into effect January 1, 2020,
states, “Within each class of se-
niority in the Steward Department,
priority shall be given to those
seamen who possess an advanced
Culinary 2.0 certificate from the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School
of Seamanship, in the event such
program is being offered and that
the seaman is registered in Group
I, Steward Department.”

While every new member
of the steward department who
completes their apprenticeship at
the Paul Hall Center’s Lundeberg
School of Seamanship will have
successfully passed Culinary
2.0, it’s important to remem-

ber that those already sailing as
chief cooks and chief stewards
must also take the coursework in
order to exercise preference and
priority beginning next year (un-
less they have received training
after January 1, 2017 at the Piney
Point, Maryland-based campus).

For those seamen currently
employed as permanent stewards
aboard commercial vessels, they
must attend Culinary 2.0 in order
to maintain their current employ-
ment status.

For those already sailing as
chief cooks and chief stewards,
there are two new revalidation
courses that have been designed
to ensure a consistent level of culi-
nary training and efficiency: Orien-
tation/Assessment Chief Steward
2.0 and Orientation/Assessment
Chief Cook 2.0. The courses are
being offered regularly, but spaces
are limited, so members are en-
couraged to plan ahead and enroll
as soon as possible.

For more information, con-
tact your port agent and/or the
school’s admissions office.

Culinary 2.0 Available at PHC

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Na-
tional Maritime Center (NMC)
on July 1 issued an update head-
lined “Mitigation Efforts Due
to Lapse in Fiscal Year 2019
Appropriations and Partial Gov-
ernment Shutdown.” The notice
and related links, plus the “at-
tached letter” referenced below,
are available both on the NMC
website and on the SIU website
(look for a July 1 post in our
News section).

The notice reads in part, “Due
to a continued backlog of creden-
tial applications and increased
net processing time of both mari-
ner credential applications and
medical certificate applications
caused by the lapse in appropria-
tions and shutdown of National
Maritime Center (NMC) opera-
tions, the following updated ac-
tions are being taken:

“Merchant mariner creden-
tials (MMC) and medical cer-
tificates (national endorsements

only) that expire in December
2018, January 2019, February
2019, March 2019, April 2019,
May 2019, June 2019, or July
2019 are extended as valid until
August 31, 2019. Mariners who
are actively working on expired
credentials that meet the expira-
tion criteria must carry the ex-
pired credential with a copy of
the attached letter.

“This extension does not
change the time frame dur-
ing which a credential may be
renewed. A credential may be
renewed at any time during its
validity and for 1 year after ex-
piration based on the expiration
date printed on the credential.

“If you have questions, visit
the NMC website, or contact
the NMC Customer Service
Center by using the NMC on-
line chat system, by e-mailing
IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by
calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-
5662).”

Coast Guard Announces
Latest Mitigation Efforts

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG_X.indd 15 7/22/2019 5:33:45 PM



16 Seafarers LOG August 2019

Michael Sacco, President
Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President

David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer
George Tricker, Vice President Contracts

Tom Orzechowski,
Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters
Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast

Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast
Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast

Kate Hunt,
Vice President Government Services

HEADQUARTERS
5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746

(301) 899-0675

ALGONAC
520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001

(810) 794-4988

ANCHORAGE
721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503

(907) 561-4988

BALTIMORE
2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224

(410) 327-4900

GUAM
P.O. Box 3328, Hagatna, Guam 96932
Cliffline Office Ctr. Bldg., Suite 103B

422 West O’Brien Dr., Hagatna, Guam 96910
(671) 477-1350

HONOLULU
606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 845-5222

HOUSTON
625 N. York St., Houston, TX 77003

(713) 659-5152

JACKSONVILLE
5100 Belfort Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32256

(904) 281-2622

JERSEY CITY
104 Broadway, Jersey City, NJ 07306

(201) 434-6000

JOLIET
10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432

(815) 723-8002

MOBILE
1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605

(251) 478-0916

NEW ORLEANS
3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058

(504) 328-7545

NORFOLK
115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510

(757) 622-1892

OAKLAND
1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607

(510) 444-2360

PHILADELPHIA
2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148

(215) 336-3818

PINEY POINT
P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674

(301) 994-0010

PORT EVERGLADES
1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316

(954) 522-7984

SAN JUAN
659 Hill Side St., Summit Hills

San Juan, PR 00920
(787) 721-4033

ST. LOUIS/ALTON
4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116

(314) 752-6500

TACOMA
3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409

(253) 272-7774

WILMINGTON
510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744

(310) 549-400

Seafarers International
Union Directory Inquiring Seafarer

This month’s question was answered by members at the hiring hall in Jersey City, New Jersey.

John Nunez
Chief Cook

My father was a seaman with the
SIU for nine or 10 years. Being a
chief cook is my favorite job. I like
sailing and I like to cook different
kinds of meals. This job has made
things better for my kids and my life.

Hussain Nagi Ali
SA

I heard about it from my friends,
and it was the best decision of my life
to join the SIU 19 years ago. Since
then, I’ve provided my family with a
house, food – everything. It’s a happy
life. I enjoy the travel and seeing the
world.

Ion Boros
AB

I started working on ships in Ro-
mania in 1973. I sailed as an AB, a
captain and a pilot. I started sailing
on U.S.-flag ships in 2004. It’s excit-
ing, and I try to do an excellent job,
regardless of which ship I’m aboard
or which company I’m working for.
I enjoy making my contribution to
the job. I also appreciate our pension
plan.

Mike Adorno
Chief Cook

I was working dead-end jobs and
there was too much negative stuff
happening in my neighborhood. I had
two friends already in the maritime
industry, (Electrician) Carlos Perez
and (Jersey City Patrolman) Eddie
Ruiz…. Eddie took me to the hall, I
filled out some paperwork, and the
rest is history. The money is good
and I like to travel and see how big
the world is.

Question: Why did you enter this industry and why have you stayed with it?

Alex-Stephen Amarra
QMED

I got into the industry almost by
accident. I was doing odd jobs before
I went into the apprentice program. I
like the work schedule – it’s not like a
regular 9-to-5 job. I have more vaca-
tion time when I want it. This job also
gives me the chance to do what I like
– technical stuff, working around en-
gines. Upgrading in Piney Point also
makes me stay.

Videlio Roman
Bosun

When I was in the Philippines, I
worked as a mariner for almost 22
years. Here in the States, I worked
at the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York but was laid off, then joined the
SIU. I like it, and the benefits are im-
portant.

Pic From The Past

If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share with other Seafarers LOG readers, please send it to the
Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. High-resolution digital images may
be sent to webmaster@seafarers.org

SIU hawsepiper Don Malozi submitted this 1984 snapshot, taken aboard the American Hawaii Cruises vessel SS Independence.
He’s standing second from right, chatting with (respectively) a fireman, plumber and third assistant engineer. Malozi (Piney Point
Class 359) currently sails as chief engineer on the SS Wright, and has been a member of the Seafarers-affiliated American
Maritime Officers for the last 28 years.

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG.indd 16 7/19/2019 5:51:57 PM



August 2019 Seafarers LOG 17

DEEP SEA

FADHL AHMED
Brother Fadhl Ahmed, 65, signed on
with the Seafarers in 1992, initially
sailing on the Global Sentinel. A
member of the steward department,
he last shipped on the Maersk Ala-
bama. Brother Ahmed makes his
home in Brooklyn, New York.

HENRY COMMAGER
Brother Henry Commager, 66,
joined the SIU in 1988. A stew-
ard department member, he first
sailed on the
Independence.
Brother Com-
mager upgraded
on numerous
occasions at the
Paul Hall Center
before conclud-
ing his career on
the APL Guam.
He lives in Columbia, Missouri.

WILLIAM CSAPO
Brother William Csapo, 65, be-
came a member of the union in
1978 when he shipped on the

Commerce. He
primarily sailed
in the deck de-
partment and
upgraded on
multiple occa-
sions at the Piney
Point school.
Brother Csapo
concluded his

career on the Cape Trinity. He re-
sides in Vancouver, Washington.

DEMETRIO FAULVE
Brother Demetrio Faulve, 65,
donned the SIU colors in 2001,
during the SIU/NMU merger. His
first SIU vessel was the Innovator.
A member of the steward depart-
ment, Brother Faulve upgraded
at the Paul Hall Center in 2001
and concluded his career on the
Patriot. He lives in Long Beach,
California.

ANDRZEJ FURMANOWSKI
Brother Andrzej Furmanowski,
67, began sailing with the union in
1999, first shipping on the Sumner.
He upgraded at the Piney Point
school in 2002 and sailed in both
the deck and engine departments.
Brother Furmanowski most recently
shipped aboard the North Star. He
calls Tacoma, Washington, home.

EDWARD GERENA
Brother Edward Gerena, 65, em-
barked on his SIU career in 1977
when he sailed on the Boston. He
upgraded on numerous occasions
at the Piney Point school and was
a member of the deck department.
Brother Gerena concluded his ca-
reer on the Eugene A. Obregon. He
resides in Panama City, Florida.

HAROLD HENDERSON
Brother Harold Henderson, 73,

joined the union in 2001, during
the SIU/NMU merger. The stew-
ard department member’s first SIU
vessel was the Kenai; his last, the
Cape Texas. Brother Henderson
calls Hayward, California, home.

ABDULLA JINAH
Brother Abdulla Jinah, 66, signed
on with the Seafarers in 1992, first
sailing on the
Independence. A
steward depart-
ment member,
he upgraded at
the Piney Point
school in 2003.
Brother Jinah
most recently
shipped on the
Maunawili. He makes his home in
Melvindale, Michigan.

MCKINLEY JONES
Brother McKinley Jones, 62,
became an SIU member in 1990

when he shipped
on the USNS
Persistent. He
was a member
of the steward
department and
upgraded often
at the Paul Hall
Center. Brother
Jones last

shipped on the Cape Washington.
He lives in Portsmouth, Virginia.

FORTAN MARTINEZ
Brother Fortan Martinez, 65,
joined the union in 1992. The
deck department
member’s first
vessel was the
Independence.
Brother Martinez
upgraded on
multiple occa-
sions at the Piney
Point school. He
last sailed on the
Ocean Crescent and makes his
home in Houston.

SAIAD MONASAR
Brother Saiad Monasar, 65, began
his career with the union in 1976,
initially sailing on the Trader.
Shipping in the steward depart-
ment, he upgraded on numer-
ous occasions at the Piney Point
school. Brother Monasar’s final
vessel was the Cape Jacob. He is a
resident of Bridgeview, Illinois.

FRANCISCO OCADO
Brother Francisco Ocado, 65,
signed on with the SIU in 2004.
He first sailed on the Tyco Deci-
sive and upgraded often at the Paul
Hall Center. A steward department
member, Brother Ocado most
recently sailed aboard the Global
Sentinel. He makes his home in
Lexington Park, Maryland.

CELSO ORDONEZ
Brother Celso Ordonez, 65, em-
barked on his career with the SIU
in 1998 when he sailed on the

Cape Florida. He sailed in both
the steward and deck departments.
Brother Ordonez upgraded at the
union-affiliated Piney Point school
in 2003 and last sailed aboard the
Freedom. He resides in Miami.

KIRK PIPER
Brother Kirk Piper, 65, became
a member of the union in 1976,
initially sail-
ing aboard the
Zapata Ranger.
A deck depart-
ment member,
he upgraded his
skills in 1977 at
the Piney Point
school. Brother
Piper last sailed
on the Westward Venture in 1986.
He makes his home in Excelsior,
Minnesota.

CHARLES SANDINO
Brother Charles Sandino, 65,
joined the Seafarers in 1975 when
he worked for G&H Towing. He
sailed in both the deck and engine
departments and upgraded often
at the Paul Hall Center. Brother
Sandino’s last vessel was the De-
veloper. He resides in Texas City,
Texas.

WOODROW SMITH
Brother Woodrow Smith, 65,
signed on with the SIU in 1970,
initially sailing with Vivian Tank-
ships. He primarily worked in the
engine department and upgraded at
the Piney Point school on numer-
ous occasions. Brother Smith most
recently sailed aboard the Atlantic
Forest. He makes his home in
New Orleans.

JOHN THRASHER
Brother John Thrasher, 65, began
his career with the Seafarers in
2005, first sailing on the Virgin-
ian. He shipped as a deck depart-
ment member and last sailed on
the Black Eagle in 2014. Brother
Thrasher is a resident of Palm Bay,
Florida.

CHARLOTTE TUGGLE
Sister Charlotte Tuggle, 65,
donned the SIU colors in 1991

when she sailed
on the USNS
Wyman. She
sailed in both the
deck and steward
departments and
upgraded often
at the Piney
Point school.
Sister Tuggle

most recently sailed on the USNS
John Glenn. She makes her home
in Drury, Missouri.

JOE WALKER
Brother Joe Walker, 65, signed
on with the Seafarers in 1974,
initially sailing on the Yukon. A
member of the engine department,
he upgraded on several occasions
at the Paul Hall Center. Brother

Walker last sailed on the USNS
Chesapeake. He calls Dixon, Cali-
fornia, home.

WAYNE WEBB
Brother Wayne Webb, 60, became
a member of the union in 1991
when he shipped
on the USNS
Bold. He sailed
in the steward
department and
upgraded on
multiple occa-
sions at the Piney
Point school.
Brother Webb
most recently sailed on the USNS
Gilliland. He resides in Norfolk,
Virginia.

GREAT LAKES

PENNY POLLARD
Sister Penny Pollard, 65, joined
the union in 2001 and first sailed

on the Sam Laud.
She shipped
in the steward
department and
upgraded often
at the union-
affiliated Paul
Hall Center.
Sister Pollard’s
last vessel was

the Green Bay. She lives in Clio,
Michigan.

DEAN ROBINSON
Brother Dean
Robinson, 65,
started shipping
with the union
in 1973, initially
sailing on the
Merle McCurdy.
A deck depart-
ment member, he
last shipped on
the St. Clair in 1987. He resides in
Mesa, Arizona.

INLAND

WESLEY CAREY
Brother Wesley Carey, 62, began
sailing with the SIU in 1991 when

he shipped on
the Anders. Sail-
ing in the deck
department, he
upgraded on nu-
merous occasions
at the Piney Point
school. Brother
Carey concluded
his career work-

ing for Crowley Towing and
Transportation. He is a resident of
Hawthorne, Florida.

NICHOLAS CONWAY
Brother Nicholas Conway, 55,
became a member of the union
in 1985, when he shipped on the
Pride of Texas. He upgraded on
multiple occasions at the Paul Hall

Center and shipped in the deck
department. Brother Conway most
recently sailed with Crowley Tow-
ing and Transportation and settled
in Wenonah, New Jersey.

ROBERT HOFFMAN
Brother Robert Hoffman, 64,
donned the SIU colors in 1975,
initially sailing
with Mariner
Towing. A deck
department mem-
ber, he upgraded
on numerous
occasions at the
maritime training
center located
in Piney Point,
Maryland. Brother Hoffman most
recently sailed on the Overseas
Boston. He resides in Erwin, Ten-
nessee.

FRANKLYN LORD
Brother Franklyn Lord, 86, donned
the SIU colors in 1973 when he
sailed with McAllister Towing of
Philadelphia. He was a member
of the deck department and last
worked with Interstate Oil Trans-
portation. Brother Lord lives in
Glassboro, New Jersey.

RICHARD SUMMERS
Brother Richard Summers, 65,
signed on with the union in 2004,
initially sailing aboard the USNS
Hayes. He worked in the deck de-
partment and upgraded on multiple
occasions at the Paul Hall Center.
Brother Summers’ last vessel
was the Terrapin Island. He calls
Craig, Alaska, home.

BRENDA TAYLOR
Sister Brenda Taylor, 68, joined
the SIU in 2012, sailing first on
the Padre Island. She was a mem-
ber of the steward department and
upgraded at the Piney Point school
on numerous occasions. Sister
Taylor last shipped on the USNS
Brittin. She resides in Brandon,
Mississippi.

DONALD TILLMAN
Brother Donald Tillman, 65, began
sailing with the SIU in 1970 when

he worked for
Michigan Tank-
ers. He upgraded
in 1981 at the
Paul Hall Center
and sailed in
the deck depart-
ment. Brother
Tillman was last

employed by Crescent Towing and
Salvage. He makes his home in
Kenner, Louisiana.



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 water-
ways 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.

Welcome Ashore

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG.indd 17 7/19/2019 5:51:58 PM



18 Seafarers LOG August 2019

Final
Departures

DEEP SEA

ROBERT BIRMINGHAM
Pensioner Robert Birmingham,
83, died April 23. He joined
the SIU in 1958,
sailing first
with Suwannee
Steamship. A
deck department
member, Brother
Birmingham last
sailed aboard the
El Faro in 1997.
He went on pension in 2000 and
made his home in New Orleans.

RICHARD BUCHANAN
Pensioner Richard Buchanan,
76, passed away June 2. He

became an SIU
member in 1977
when he sailed
aboard the Long
Lines. A deck
department
member, Brother
Buchanan last

sailed on the Intrepid. He went
on pension in 2007 and lived in
Reno, Nevada.

JOSEPH FRANCIS
Brother Joseph Francis, 43, died
May 8. Signing on with the Sea-
farers in 2003, he first shipped
on the Observation Island.
Brother Francis was a member
of the steward department and
last sailed aboard the USNS
Charlton. He called Norfolk,
Virginia, home.

STEVEN GAGNON
Brother Steven Gagnon, 52,
passed away April 23. He started
sailing with the SIU in 2012
when he shipped on the Bernard
F. Fisher. A deck department
member, Brother Gagnon last
sailed aboard the Patriot. He
lived in Palm Coast, Florida.

ALPHONSO HOLLAND
Pensioner Alphonso Holland, 76,
died July 5. He donned the SIU
colors in 1965 when he sailed on
the Ridgefield Victory. Brother
Holland primarily shipped in
the steward department. He last
sailed on the USNS Red Cloud
before becoming a pensioner
in 2004. Brother Holland was a
resident of Chesapeake, Virginia.

EVANS SMITH
Pensioner Evans Smith, 88,
passed away June 21. He signed
on with the union in 1991 when
he sailed on the Cape Florida.
Brother Smith was a member
of the deck department and
concluded his career working
for Crowley Towing and Trans-
portation. He retired in 1999 and
settled in Brooklyn, New York.

CHRYLE SYKES
Sister Chryle Sykes, 59, died
April 14. She began her career
with the SIU in 1989, initially
sailing aboard the Anders. Sister
Sykes shipped in the steward
department and last sailed on the
USNS Gilliand in 2001. She re-
sided in Norfolk, Virginia.

HERBERT WON
Pensioner Herbert Won, 90,
passed away May 22. He signed
on with the Sea-
farers in 1954,
initially sailing
on an Isco Inc.
vessel. A deck
department mem-
ber, Brother Won
last sailed aboard
the Consumer.
He began collecting his pension
in 1993 and made his home in
Honolulu.

STANLEY ZEAGLER
Pensioner Stanley Zeagler, 90,
died July 7. He began his SIU

career in 1953
when he worked
for American
Dredging.
Brother Zeagler
sailed in the deck
department and
also worked as

a patrolman. He last shipped
on the Leader, in 1987. Brother
Zeagler lived in Nampa, Idaho.

BRUCE ZENON
Pensioner Bruce Zenon, 66,
passed away June 7. He became
an SIU member in 1989 when
he sailed aboard the Champion.
Brother Zenon shipped in the
engine department and most
recently sailed on the Safmarine
Nimba. He called Gretna, Loui-
siana, home.

INLAND

PHILIP AUSTIN
Brother Philip Austin, 38, died
January 20. He joined the SIU
in 2002 when
he shipped with
American Ma-
rine Corporation.
Brother Austin
sailed in both the
deck and engine
departments. He
remained with the same com-
pany for the duration of his ca-
reer and lived in Honolulu.

CHARLES GARRISON
Pensioner Charles Garrison, 84,
passed away May 26. He started
his career with the Seafarers
in 1973 when he worked for
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.
Brother Garrison continued to

work with the same company for
his entire career. He became a
pensioner in 2006 and made his
home in Seaford, Virginia.

WILLIAM MCCONNELL
Pensioner William McConnell,
75, died June 1. He began his
SIU career in 1966, when he
sailed aboard the Reiss Broth-
ers. Shipping in the deck de-
partment, Brother McConnell
concluded his career working
for Mariner Towing. He retired
in 2006 and settled in Roches-
ter, Minnesota.

EDWARD STRAUSS
Pensioner Edward Strauss, 67,
passed away
May 22. He
donned the SIU
colors in 1977,
initially work-
ing for National
Marine Service.
Brother Strauss
was a deck de-
partment member. He last sailed
with Moran Towing of Texas,
and went on pension in 2013.
Brother Strauss called Masaryk-

town, Florida, home.

PMA

HERMAN CERBANA
Pensioner Herman Cerbana, 73,
died June 29. He signed on with
the union in 1972
and sailed in the
steward depart-
ment. Brother
Cerbana’s first
vessel was the
President Pierce;
his last, the R. J.
Pfeiffer. He retired in 2009 and
was a resident of Lakewood,
Washington.

NMU

PILAR HERNANDEZ
Pensioner Pilar Hernandez,
79, passed away June 20. He
joined the SIU in 2001 during
the SIU/NMU merger. Brother
Hernandez was a deck depart-
ment member and last sailed
aboard the Argonaut. He lived in
Catano, Puerto Rico.

JORGE RIOS
Pensioner Jorge Rios, 86, died
June 14. He sailed with both the
SIU and the NMU before the
unions merged. The deck depart-
ment member frequently sailed
aboard the American Condor.
One of his first Seafarers ves-
sels was the Sea Fox in 1989.
Brother Rios retired in 1998.

In addition to the foregoing in-
dividuals, the following union
members have also passed away.
Insufficient information was
available to develop summaries
of their respective careers.

NAME AGE DOD
Chacon, Lucio 87 07/05/2019
Del Valle, Samuel 82 06/23/2019
Dunning, Stanley 90 04/16/2018
Figueroa, Antonio 87 06/01/2019
Guindon, Marie 92 06/11/2019
Hingada, Flaviano 85 06/12/2019
Jones, Eugene 70 07/11/2019
Paige, Joseph 91 09/30/2018
Tsimogiannis, George 79 05/22/2019
Vega, Florencio 92 06/09/2019

The REAL ID Act, a bill passed by Congress in 2005, is set to come into enforcement in
October of 2020. The act is the result of the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Fed-
eral Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s
licenses.”

According to the Transportation Security Agency (TSA), “Beginning October 1, 2020, every
air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another
acceptable form
of ID to fly within
the United States.
REAL ID-compliant
cards are generally
marked with a star
located in the upper
portion of the card.”

The effects of this
change will be less
for active mariners
than other Ameri-
cans, thanks to the
prevalence of the
Transport Worker
Identification Cre-
dential (TWIC) and
the U.S. Merchant
Mariner Credential,
which can be used
in place of other
forms of identifica-
tion. In addition,
a U.S. passport or a
passport issued by a foreign government is also a compliant form of identification. However, a
mariner’s family members or a retired member with an expired TWIC should ensure that they
obtain a REAL ID compliant card.

The first step should be to visit your state driver’s license agency’s website, as the require-
ments vary by state. It’s worth noting that some states have been issuing licenses with stars for
years, some of which may still not be compliant.

REAL ID: TWIC, MMC Unaffected,
Remaining IDs May Need Revision

This is a sample graphic of what a REAL ID compliant drivers license
looks like. This one was issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG.indd 18 7/19/2019 5:51:59 PM



August 2019 Seafarers LOG 19

FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitu-
tion of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and In-
land Waters District makes specific provision
for safeguarding the membership’s money
and union finances. The constitution requires
a detailed audit by certified public accoun-
tants every year, which is to be submitted to
the membership by the secretary-treasurer.
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 recommenda-
tions. 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 Dis-
trict 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 expenditures and disburse-
ments of trust funds are made only upon ap-
proval 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 ship-
ping rights and seniority are protected exclu-
sively 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 em-
ployers, they should notify the Seafarers Ap-
peals 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 Seafar-
ers 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 fil-
ing 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 SEA-
FARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG tradition-
ally has refrained from publishing any article
serving the political purposes of any individual
in the union, officer or member. It also has re-
frained from publishing articles deemed harm-
ful to the union or its collective membership.
This established policy has been reaffirmed
by membership action at the September 1960
meetings in all constitutional ports. The respon-
sibility for Seafarers LOG policy is vested in an
editorial board which consists of the executive
board of the union. The executive board may
delegate, from among its ranks, one individual
to carry out this responsibility.

PAYMENT OF MONIES. No monies are
to be paid to anyone in any official capacity in
the SIU unless an official union receipt is given
for same. Under no circumstances should any
member pay any money for any reason unless
he is given such receipt. In the event anyone
attempts to require any such payment be made
without supplying a receipt, or if a member is
required to make a payment and is given an
official receipt, but feels that he or she should
not have been required to make such payment,
this should immediately be reported to union
headquarters.

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OB-
LIGATIONS. 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 guar-
anteed equal rights in employment and as
members of the SIU. These rights are clearly
set forth in the SIU Constitution and in the con-
tracts which the union has negotiated with the
employers. Consequently, no member may be
discriminated against because of race, creed,
color, sex, national or geographic origin.

If any member feels that he or she is denied
the equal rights to which he or she is entitled,
the member should notify union headquarters.

SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY

DONATION (SPAD). SPAD is a separate
segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to fur-
ther 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 Ameri-
can merchant marine with improved employ-
ment opportunities for seamen and boatmen
and the advancement of trade union concepts.
In connection with such objects, SPAD sup-
ports and contributes to political candidates
for elective office. All contributions are vol-
untary. 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 Interna-
tional Union or SPAD by certified mail within
30 days of the contribution for investigation
and appropriate action and refund, if involun-
tary. A member should support SPAD to pro-
tect and further his or her economic, political
and social interests, and American trade union
concepts.

NOTIFYING THE 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 Mi-
chael 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.

Know Your Rights

Digest of Shipboard
Union Meetings

CHEMICAL PIONEER (USS
Transport), April 14 – Chair-
man David Seeman, Secretary
Richard Jones, Deck Delegate J
Michael Nardella, Steward Del-
egate John Val Teodosio. Steward
department was commended for a
job well done. Educational director
discussed importance of keeping
documents current. He advised
members to upgrade as often as
possible at the Piney Point school.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crew went over information re-
lated to new contract. Cook needed
on ship. Next port: Lake Charles,
Louisiana.

USNS STOCKHAM (Crowley),
April 15 – Chairman Munassar
Ahmed, Secretary Shanita Flach-
bart, Educational Director Randy
Slue, Deck Delegate Ethan Mims.
Chairman advised crew to be safe
and work together. Secretary re-
minded members to keep house
clean and to wipe their feet upon
entering. Crew is to wipe bulk-
heads down after touching with
dirty hands. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Members requested
travel reimbursement when trav-
eling with bags. Also requested
new TV and new calendar in crew
lounge. Crew asked that more ap-
parel be offered at the SIU slop
chest. Next port: South Korea.

ENDURANCE (TOTE), April
27 – Chairman Dominic Marco,
Secretary Gregory Johnson, Deck
Delegate Kevin Stehlik, Engine
Delegate Benjamin Stanley,
Steward Delegate Sandra Vann.
Members are to leave vessel only
when a relief is present or after
being cleared by master. Food
is not permitted on decks or in
staterooms. Chairman reported a
smooth voyage and praised crew
for getting ship in order. Steward

department was thanked for a job
well done. Chairman reminded
members to keep medical certifi-
cations up to date. New linen to be
provided to crew as needed. Secre-
tary asked members to wash their
own linens and be mindful not to
overload the washing machine.
Crew was thanked for keeping
house clean. Educational director
reminded members to ensure bet-
ter pay by upgrading at the Paul
Hall Center. He directed crew to
read the LOG for course schedule
and urged them to keep documents
current. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Members requested
change in frequency for physical
requirements and an increase to
vacation days per trip. Crew re-
quested new pillows for oncoming
members and travel vouchers for
each exiting member. Crew asked
for update to video library and
Wi-Fi access. Steward department
was thanked again for great food.

ISLA BELLA (TOTE), April
28 – Chairman Timothy Fogg,
Secretary Robert Wilcox, Educa-
tional Director Mahare Kidane,
Deck Delegate Paul Riley, Engine
Delegate Landon Clemons, Stew-
ard Delegate Yoaquin Gonzalez.
Members reviewed good and wel-
fare from last meeting. Chairman
reminded crew to stay on top of
documents and thanked them for
their hard work and professional-
ism. Secretary thanked members
for a great job keeping accommo-
dations clean. Educational director
discussed new engine courses. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Members read and discussed Presi-
dent Michael Sacco’s report in the
Seafarers LOG. Chairman plans
to check on details related to low
flash-point course. Crew requested
increase in optical and life insur-
ance benefits. Members thanked

steward department for a job well
done with food and service.

OVERSEAS CHINOOK (Over-
seas Ship Management), May 5
– Chairman Arnaldo Fernandez,
Secretary Jack Hart, Steward Del-
egate Christopher Kirchhofer,
Engine Delegate Walter Sainvil,
Steward Delegate Rocel Alvarez.
Next payoff to be at sea. Chairman
thanked steward department for a
job well done. Secretary reminded
crew to leave clean rooms for on-
coming members. He urged mem-
bers to donate to SPAD to help
support the Jones Act. Educational
director encouraged crew to attend
upgrading courses at the Paul Hall
Center and to keep documents up
to date. He advised longer-tenured
seamen to inquire about latest pen-
sion information with the union.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crew expressed gratitude to union
for securing more and more jobs.
Members requested vacation pay
to be given every 30 days and
refrigerators be available in each

room. Crew asked for increase to
pension and health care benefits.
Next port: Philadelphia.

WEST VIRGINIA (Intrepid Per-
sonnel and Provisioning), May 30
– Chairman John Cedeno, Secre-
tary Milton Yournett, Educational
Director Victor Martinez, Engine
Delegate Paul Ianni. Chairman
shared information following
recent visit from Houston patrol-
man. He discussed various topics
including new health care and
benefits form, Jones Act, Seafarers
Appeals Board, medical cover-
age, 401k participation, and rotary
shipping. Crew was encouraged
to upgrade at the Paul Hall Center
and participate in 401k. Educa-
tional director reminded members
to keep documents current and ex-
plained the importance of SPAD.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
New microwave and speed bag re-
ceived and installed. Chairman re-
iterated the importance of working
safely. New pillows arrived. Water
bottles and electrolyte popsicles

available. Crew discussed issues
with smoking on board. They re-
quested increase in vacation days
and optical coverage. Members
would like 401k match for their
contributions. Captain pleased
with Recertified Bosun Cedeno
and AB Joe Caruso for their work
executing complete maintenance
and paint job to entire lifeboat
davit in only four days. Next port:
Tampa.

GREEN BAY (Central Gulf
Lines), June 2 – Chairman Albert
Williams, Educational Director
Todd Williams, Deck Delegate
Julius Thomas, Engine Delegate
James Tolan. Chairman thanked
crew for working well together.
Educational director reminded
members to keep papers in order
and to upgrade at the union-affili-
ated Piney Point school. No beefs
or disputed OT reported. Crew
expressed concern with the quality
of ship’s drinking water. Steward
department was thanked for good
food.

The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes as pos-
sible. On occasion, because of space limitations, some will be omitted.

Ships’ minutes first are reviewed by the union’s contract department. Those issues requir-
ing attention or resolution are addressed by the union upon receipt of the ships’ minutes. The
minutes are then forwarded to the Seafarers LOG for publication.

Aboard Global Sentinel
Pictured from left are
SIU Baltimore Port
Agent John Hoskins,
SIU Piney Point Port
Agent Victor Nunez,
Capt. Carl Winter, Chief
Steward Brian Bautista
and SIU Baltimore Pa-
trolman DeCarlo Har-
ris. Photo was taken
in Baltimore earlier this
year while the ship was
mobilizing for sea tri-
als and a cable load in
New Hampshire. The
vessel is operated by
Transoceanic Cable
Ship Co.

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20 Seafarers LOG August 2019

Paul Hall Center Upgrading Course Information
The following is a schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime

Training and Education in Piney Point, Maryland, for the next several months. All
programs are geared toward improving the job skills of Seafarers and promoting
the American maritime industry.

Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at
the Paul Hall Center may call the admissions office at (301) 994-0010.

Title of Start Date of
Course Date Completion

Deck Department Upgrading Courses

Able Seafarer Deck August 17 September 13
October 12 November 8

AB to Mate Modules Modules must be taken in order. Those who
are not in the mates program cannot apply
for these courses. Contact the Admissions
Office for further details.

ARPA September 28 October 4

Crane Familiarization October 5 October 11

ECDIS September 21 September 27
November 16 November 22


Fast Rescue Boat August 17 August 23

GMDSS August 31 September 13

Lifeboat August 24 September 6
September 21 October 4
October 19 November 1
November 16 November 29
December 14 December 27

Radar Observer September 14 September 27

Radar Renewal (one day) Contact the PHC Admissions Office

RFPNW September 14 October 11
November 9 December 6

100 Ton Master October 19 November 8

Engine Department Upgrading Courses

Advanced Refer Containers July 13 July 26

BAPO September 14 October 11
November 9 December 6

FOWT August 17 September 13
October 12 November 8

Junior Engineer September 28 November 22

Machinist October 19 November 8

Title of Start Date of
Course Date Completion

Marine Electrician August 10 October 4

Marine Refer Tech October 5 November 15

Pumpman November 9 November 15

Welding August 17 September 6
September 14 October 4
October 19 November 8

Steward Department Courses

Advanced Galley Operations September 21 October 18

Certified Chief Cook Modules run every other week. The next
class will start August 10.

Chief Steward October 19 December 6

Galley Operations September 14 October 11
November 9 December 6

Orientation/Assessment Chief Cook 2.0 August 17 August 23
September 14 September 20
September 28 October 4

Orientation/Assessment Chief Steward 2.0 August 10 August 16
August 24 August 30
September 21 September 27
October 5 October 11


Safety Upgrading Courses

Basic Training/Basic FF September 21 September 27
October 19 October 25
November 2 November 8

Basic Training Revalidation August 9 August 9
August 30 August 30

Basic Training/Adv. FF Revalidation September 14 September 20


Combined Basic/Advanced Firefighting August 17 August 23
September 21 September 27

Government Vessels August 17 August 23
August 24 August 30
September 28 October 4

Medical Care Provider August 24 August 30
September 28 October 4

Tank Ship Familiarization - DL September 21 September 27

Tank Ship Familiarization - LG September 14 September 20
November 9 November 15
December 7 December 13

UPGRADING APPLICATION

Name_________________________________________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Telephone (Home)_________________________ (Cell)_________________________
Date of Birth___________________________________________________________________
Deep Sea Member o Lakes Member o Inland Waters Member o

If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed.

Social Security #_______________________ Book #__________________________________
Seniority_____________________________ Department_____________________________
Home Port____________________________________________________________________
E-mail_______________________________________________________________________
Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? o Yes o No
If yes, class # and dates attended_ __________________________________________________
Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? oYes o No
_____________________________________________________________________________

With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty-five
(125) days seatime for the previous year, MMC, TWIC, front page of your book including your
department and seniority and qualifying sea time for the course if it is Coast Guard tested.
Must have a valid SHBP clinic through course date.
I authorize the Paul Hall Center to release any of the information contained in this applica-
tion, or any of the supporting documentation that I have or will submit with this application
to related organizations, for the purpose of better servicing my needs and helping me to apply
for any benefits which might become due to me.

COURSE START DATE OF
DATE COMPLETION
____________________________ _______________ ________________________
____________________________ _______________ ________________________

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

LAST VESSEL: ___________________________________ Rating: ____________________

Date On: _______________________________ Date Off:____________________________

SIGNATURE ____________________________________ DATE______________________

NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if
you present original receipts and successfully complete the course. If you have any
questions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point. Not all classes are
reimbursable. Return completed application to: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training
and Education Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax
to (301) 994-2189.

The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits stu-
dents, who are otherwise qualified, or any race, nationality or sex. The school complies with
applicable laws with regard to admission, access or treatment of students in its programs or
activities. 8/19

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August 2019 Seafarers LOG 21

Paul Hall Center Classes

Students who have reg-
istered for classes at the
Paul Hall Center for Mari-
time Training and Educa-
tion, but later discover - for
whatever reason - that they
can’t attend, should inform
the admissions department
immediately so arrange-
ments can be made to have
other students take their
places.

Important Notice
To All Students

Apprentice Water Survival Class
#849 – Graduated April 19 (photo
at right, in alphabetical order):
JaShon Adams, Brian Branch,
Jamie Brown, Troy Hubbard,
James Moody II, Sage Parrish,
Charles Patchin, Shannon Peter-
son, Dalvin Storey and Eric Trine-
meyer.

Welding – Graduated March 8 (above, in alphabetical order): Rashawn Arrington, Austin Blake,
Colton Edmiston, Alex Adelmir Oliva and Michael Smith. Class instructor Chris Raley is at the
far left.

Radar Observer – Graduated March 8 (above, in alphabetical order): James
Brooks, Karleen Grenier, Brian Guiry and Chenequa Moet Rodriguez. Brian Moore,
their instructor, is at the far left.

FOWT (UAs and Upgraders) – Graduated March 15 (above, in alphabetical order): Samuel Ayers, Reco Bennefield, Eshrak El Sami Dewan, Elhassene Elkori, Casey Frederick,
Mohamed Alam Gir, Luzern Hawkins, Trevor Johnson, Joshua Kraynak, Jorge Laboriel Lalin, Tresten Porter, Andy Salado, Mercelino Jose Santos Bermeo, Maksim Shpylyevyy, Jes-
sica Valentin, Anthony Williams Jr., and Thomas Zamora. Class instructor Keith Adamson is at the far left. (Not all are pictured.)

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22 Seafarers LOG August 2019

Paul Hall Center Classes

Tank Ship Familiarization
DL – Graduated March 29
(photo at right, in alphabeti-
cal order): Abdul-Ghaffar
Abu-Bakr, Ali Ahmed, Evan
Bradley, Ferdinand Malicay
Cabanlit, Gary Davis Jr.,
Patrick Dean, Piotr Kwi-
atkowski, Morey Lewis,
Thomas MacGregor, Dan-
iel Afran Mensah, Efren
Asdrubal Ramos-Sosa,
Chenequa Moet Rodriguez,
Ovidio Joana Santos, Terry
Santure, Patrick Slade Jr.
and David Tucker.

Junior Engineer (Plant
Management – Graduated
March 29 (photo at left, in
alphabetical order): John
Abernathy, Ryan Cameron,
Oliver Luc Especa, Marquez
Fields, Christopher McAfee,
Viliamu Milikini, Bryan
Moreira, James Parker, Rob-
ert Pendarvis, Michael Smith,
Boleslaw Tomasz Szatkowski
and Keshawn Webster. Chris-
topher Morgan, their instruc-
tor, is at the far right.

Government Vessels –
Graduated March 8 (photo at
right, in alphabetical order):
Brandon Edward Cruz Agu-
igui, Gervacio Francisco
Antonio Simon, Barry Bet-
tis, Tekeisha Brown, Ana
Marie Chona Razon Calma,
Frederick Conroy, Jeffrey
Gleason, Wilbert Hinton,
Christopher McAfee, Darius
McCastle, Luis Alberto Mejia,
Nagi Ahmed Mihakel, Jony
Morales Martinez, James
Parker, Irvin Rowe, Rahjahn
Travail Sorey, Orlin Thomas,
Gerald Terria Toledo and Luis
Armando Valerio Jr. (Note:
Not all are pictured.)

Government Vessels – Graduated March 29 (above, in alphabetical order): Danilo Galos Achacoso, Glenn Valera Agustin, Towfiek Hassan Ahmed, Julien Arevalo, Jason Gregory
Bentz, James Bleckley III, Michael Congress, Matthew Conyac, Clifford Cronan, Bebiana Eason, Christopher Eason, Thomas Flores, Brian Frederick, Benjamin Ines, Demarkus
McNabb, Charles Ortiz Quinones, Suallah Osman, Robert Resurreccion, Kaishona Stimphil and Nigel Williams. (Note: Not all are pictured.)

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August 2019 Seafarers LOG 23

Paul Hall Center Classes
Combined Basic & Advanced Firefight-
ing – Graduated March 8 (left, in alphabeti-
cal order): Carlton Banks, Angel Carrillo,
Jason Connick, Thomas Jones and Mehdi
Youssef. Michael Roberts, their instructor,
is at the far left.

Chief Cook 2.0 – Graduated March 15 (above, in alphabetical order): Tekeisha Brown, Fred-
erick Conroy, Wilfred Lambey and Juan Ramon Palacios Clother.

Chief Cook 2.0 – Graduated March 29 (above, in alphabetical order): Luis Salome
Gonzalez, Jacob Parrilla, Valerie Russo and Manes Sainvil.

Chief Steward 2.0 – Graduated March 22 (above, in alphabetical order): Jatniel Cesar Agu-
ilera Santiago, Jorcell Davis, Ibrahim Abdelrauf Elsayed and Prasert Yowaka Mastrototaro.

Chief Steward 2.0 – Graduated March 22 (above, in alphabetical order): Rudolph Dan-
iels, Sheryl Farmer, Avis Hawkins, Carlton McMiller II and Toney Morris.

Chief Steward 2.0 – Graduated March 8 (above, in alphabetical order): Steven Dickson, Kenneth Hagan, Michael Kozak and
Douglas Neubauer. Their instructor, Robert “RJ” Johnson, is at the far right.

Certified Chief Cook – Arturo Montoya (above)
graduated from this course March 22.

April 2019 Seafarers LOG 27

Paul Hall Center Classes
SUA (Galley Operations) – Grad-
uated October 5 (photo at left, in
alphabetical order): Alexandra Er-
ickson, Paisami Gay, Daniel How-
ard, Lamarai Jones, Shadonna
Jones, EsStonia Moore, Eugenia
Porter, Noah Susumu Santiago-
Stephens, Lareesa Warren, Jessica
Williams, Kendra Williams and Jarid
Wilson.

SUA (Galley Opera-
tions) – Graduated No-
vember 2 (photo at right,
in alphabetical order):
Reginald Howard, Billie
Mahealani Kawelo, Alize
Lassiter, Christian Louis,
Gerardo Kaindoy Melano,
Wilfredo Ramos Silva,
James Scott, Tahn Stuart,
Nicholas Tacy, Jalisa Wil-
liams and Derek Wilson.

Chief Steward 2.0 – Graduated October 19 (above, in alphabetical order): Tommy Bel-
vin, Karl Meyer, Mark Salvador Scardino and Velicia Williams.

Galley Operations – Graduated October 5 (above, from left): Stevon Taylor, Porcia John-
son and Tuliga Fuega.

Chief Steward – Graduated November 9: (above, from left), Merly Ford,
real Coronel and Delia Miral Peters.

Certified Chief Cook (Module 3) – Graduated November 30 (above, from left): John Billington, Alvinmar
Iremedio Aldana, Dindo Prellagera Reforsado and Norma Painitan Baucan.

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54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG.indd 23 7/19/2019 5:52:06 PM



Paul Hall Center
Class Photos
Pages 21-23

O F F I C I A L P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E S E A F A R E R S I N T E R N A T I O N A L U N I O N A T L A N T I C , G U L F, L A K E S A N D I N L A N D W A T E R S , A F L - C I O

AUGUST 2019 VOLUME 81, NO. 8

With Seafarers Aboard Pride of America
The SIU represents deck and engine crew members aboard the Pride

of America – the only American-flag deep-sea cruise ship. These photos,
provided by SIU Safety Director Amber Akana, were taken aboard the
ship in May.

Deck department members enjoy a barbeque as the vessel sails by the Na
Pali coastline in Kauai.

OS Majaddeen Alseraji, OS Patrick An-
derson, AB Markee Meggs

SIU members gather for a photo after a union meeting.

AB Alan Eng, Recertified Bosun Renato Govico, AB Nick Sabuco

Paul Hall Center Apprentices Jacob Booth (left) and Johnny Matthews

Asst. Electrician Henry Cacal
Assistant Carpenter

Julee Quiapos

AB Bobby Licudine

OS Vener Dela Pena PelayoEO Mohtasim Muthala

54928_AUGUST 2K19 LOG.indd 24 7/19/2019 5:52:09 PM