-
http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/1292740cd0a1be4e9f7e243c9b47e513.pdf
3ea1aba693f2d2a0e3396b9e5316779b
PDF Text
Text
AUGUST 2021
VOLUME 83, NO. 8
O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E S E A F A R E R S I N T E R N AT I O N A L U N I O N AT 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 AT E R S , A F L- C I O
SIU Crews Step Up During Exercise
Seafarers from the USNS Bob Hope (photo at left) and USNS Yuma (above) earlier this year
did their parts to help ensure the success of Defender-Europe 21, a large-scale exercise
involving numerous countries. The Bob Hope (operated by U.S. Marine Management) is
pictured in late March in Jacksonville, Florida, in preparation for the exercise (U.S. Army
photo by Kimberly Spinner). The Yuma, crewed by CIVMARS from the SIU Government
Services Division, is shown in early May in Albania, during the deployment (photo courtesy
U.S. Military Sealift Command). Page 7.
More Contracts Ratified
This has been an exceptionally active year for the union’s contracts department, and that
pattern continued with the recent ratifications of three more collective bargaining agreements. New pacts are in place at Matson, Intrepid Personnel and Provisioning, and Argent
Marine. Without exception, the new contracts boost wages and maintain or improve benefits. Pictured above are Seafarers aboard the Matson ship Matsonia (from left): Steward/
Baker Raymond Lackland, Chief Cook Nadzeya Kuptsova and ACU J. Recaido. All voted
in favor of the new Matson contract. Page 4.
Great Grub on Maersk Michigan
AB Fernando Haber appears pleased with the July 4 offerings aboard the Maersk
Line, Limited, vessel. Additional photos of the crew and holiday spread are on Page
4 (and on the SIU Facebook page).
Pandemic Coverage
Page 3
SAB Action 484
Page 6
�President’s Report
Excellent Opportunities
Although the global COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, there’s
a lot of discussion about what various workplaces will look like
when it’s finally, fully behind us. Employers and employees alike
have seen the benefits of telework – and, if they’re being honest,
they’ve seen the drawbacks, too.
I’m sure there won’t be a one-size-fits-all
answer, simply because there are so many
variables. Some jobs flat-out require hands-on,
in-person work. Others could mostly be done
without a traditional office, while many more
are somewhere in between.
Since I got vaccinated, I’ve taken advantage of several chances to informally chat with
workers from outside the maritime industry.
Those conversations help me get a real-world
feel for how our shipboard jobs compare to
Michael Sacco
others that are out there.
While we’re always striving for improvement, I believe – more strongly than ever – that we’ve got a lot to
offer. With very few exceptions, our contracts steadily boost wages
and help ensure safe working conditions. Our benefits are secondto-none. The Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan, for instance, processed nearly 11,000 claims for members and dependents in June
alone, and those claims were worth millions of dollars.
The Seafarers Pension Plan is in fantastic shape, and eligible
members can also take advantage of vacation benefits.
Best of all in my view, Seafarers can upgrade at our affiliated
school in Piney Point, Maryland: the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. The school is an open gateway for
higher-paying jobs. We fought hard to make the school a reality,
and I hope you share my pride in it.
Upgrading takes sacrifice, but in the long run it pays off. And I don’t
think you can find a similar opportunity in other industries, no matter
where you go. Take advantage of the opportunities to increase your
knowledge and make more money. Brothers and sisters, that’s a winning formula, and it’s a big part of what the SIU and the school offer.
You Delivered
The pandemic in some ways may feel like one big blur, but I
want to point out that Seafarers delivered throughout this ordeal –
and you continue getting the job done today. Going back to when
this all started, we haven’t had a single ship lay up due to lack of
manpower. On that note, I thank our rank-and-file membership,
our port agents, patrolmen and staff, and our area vice presidents
and assistant vice presidents. As always, it has taken a total team
effort to get the job done. And as always, you’ve come through.
Eye-Popping Numbers
If you’ve read these columns for any length of time, you know
I pick my spots when it comes to tossing out statistics. They can
be a little too convenient at times, and context is very important.
(You may have heard the very old saying that there are three kinds
of lies: lies, darn lies, and statistics.)
Nevertheless, this data hits like a sledgehammer, and I don’t
think it’s open to misinterpretation. A closely estimated 99.5 percent of all COVID-19-related deaths in the United States occur
among unvaccinated people, while 0.5 percent (half of one percent) of COVID deaths occur among vaccinated people.
As you let that sink in, consider it part of my monthly plea to
anyone who’s able to take the vaccine but hasn’t yet done so. I
got vaccinated and I believe the vaccines are safe and effective.
They’re essential to our continued ability to deliver. More importantly, they are proven life-savers.
O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E S E A F A R E R S I N T E R N AT I O N A L U N I O N AT 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 AT E R S , A F L- C I O
Volume 83 Number 8
August 2021
The SIU online: www.seafarers.org
The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the
Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters,
AFL-CIO; 5201 Capital Gateway Drive; Camp Springs, MD 20746.
Telephone (301) 899-0675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland
20790-9998. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG,
5201 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746.
Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo;
Assistant Communications Director & Managing Editor/
Production, Jim Guthrie; Assistant Editor, Nick Merrill;
Photographer, Harry Gieske; Administrative Support,
Jenny Stokes; Content Curator, Mark Clements.
Copyright © 2021 Seafarers International Union, AGLIW. All Rights
Reserved.
The Seafarers International
Union engaged an environmentally friendly printer
for the production of this
newspaper.
2 Seafarers LOG
Shipbuilders Honor U.S. Legislators
Association Bestows ‘Maritime Leadership Awards’ to Industry Stalwarts
Two legislators with long,
steady histories of backing the
United States maritime industry
were honored recently in the nation’s capital.
The Shipbuilders Council of
America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S.
shipbuilding, maintenance, and
repair industry, on June 17 presented U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby
(R-Alabama) and U.S. Rep. John
Garamendi (D-California) with
the SCA Maritime Leadership
Award. According to the association, “The award is given annually to national leaders who
demonstrate exemplary dedication and support for the U.S.
shipbuilding and repair industry.”
“The American maritime industry is fortunate to have had
Sen. Shelby as a strong advocate
in the U.S. Senate throughout
his impressive career,” said SCA
President Matthew Paxton. “With
this award, we recognize Sen.
Shelby and his significant contributions and unwavering support
for the industry, maritime workers, and the defense sector as he
completes his final term.”
As the vice chairman of the
U.S. Senate Appropriations
Committee, Shelby has been
instrumental in support for
naval shipbuilding as a critical
component of the U.S. defense
industrial base. He has also
been a strong advocate for the
domestic maritime industry as
a whole, by voicing his support
for the positive impact of U.S.
shipbuilding on jobs and the
economy throughout the country.
Shelby stated, “I am honored
to receive this award on behalf
of the Shipbuilders Council of
America. The security of the
nation must be our top priority,
and the maritime industry is a
critical part of our national defense. Our shipbuilders provide
significant and essential support
in the maintenance and modernization of our naval forces, our
Coast Guard, and our commercial industry – creating thousands of good-paying jobs and
driving economic growth in the
process. I look forward to continuing to prioritize the work of
our nation’s shipbuilding industry.”
After presenting Garamen-
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby
(R-Alabama)
di’s award, Paxton said, “Rep.
Garamendi has been a strong
champion of the Jones Act and
U.S. shipbuilding throughout
his entire time in Congress. He
understands the breadth of the
domestic maritime industry and
how the industry’s success is critical to our economic and national
security, which can most recently
be seen in his efforts to ensure the
domestic maritime industry has a
leading role in the development
of offshore wind.”
“I’m honored to receive
the 2021 Maritime Leadership
Award,” Garamendi said. “Supporting the U.S. maritime industry is critically important for our
economy and national security.
That’s why I’ve spent my tenure in Congress fighting to end
Congressional neglect of our
maritime industry by introducing my ‘Energizing American
Shipbuilding Act,’ which would
recapitalize America’s domestic
shipbuilding and maritime industries by requiring increasing
percentages of liquified natural
gas (LNG) and crude oil exports
to be transported on U.S.-built
ships. As a senior member of the
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I will
always fight to support our vital
maritime industry.”
Garamendi has been a strong
proponent of the nation’s shipyard industrial base and American
maritime industry as a member of
the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and four
of its subcommittees, including the Subcommittee on Coast
Guard and Maritime Transporta-
U.S. Rep. John Garamendi
(D-California)
tion. In these roles, he advances
his “Make it in America” agenda
to create new middle-class jobs
and rebuild infrastructure using
American materials and workers.
His role in developing legislation for the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
helped reaffirm Congressional
support for the Jones Act and resulted in significant funds being
put into the domestic maritime
industry.
Garamendi has also been a
champion of the defense industry, as well as the country’s veterans and active duty members of
the military, during his time serving as the Chairman of the Armed
Services Subcommittee on Readiness, which oversees more than
one-third of the Department of
Defense’s authorization.
Both legislators were given
the awards during the SCA annual membership meeting.
SCA members “constitute
the shipyard industrial base that
builds, repairs, maintains and
modernizes U.S. Navy ships and
craft, U.S. Coast Guard vessels
of all sizes, as well as vessels for
other U.S. government agencies.
In addition, SCA members build,
repair and service America’s fleet
of commercial vessels,” the association noted. “The Council represents 40 companies that own
and operate over 82 shipyards,
with facilities on all three U.S.
coasts, the Great Lakes, the inland waterways system, Alaska
and Hawaii. SCA also represents
87 partner members that provide
goods and services to the shipyard industry.”
Union Wins Major Arbitration Award
The SIU in late June won an arbitration decision
that is expected to result in thousands of dollars’ worth
of overtime being paid to eligible Seafarers employed
by Crowley Maritime and its subsidiaries.
New York-based arbitrator Jay Nadelbach on June 25
sided with the union in its efforts to secure compensation
for mariners who were restricted to ship in domestic ports
at any time from July 12, 2020 through August 25, 2020.
It is unknown when payments will begin.
SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker
stated, “I truly believe that this case was nothing more
than an honest difference of opinion about interpreting contractual language. It has been obvious throughout the pandemic that the company has the members’
safety and best interests at heart. Nevertheless, I obviously agree with the arbitrator’s decision, and look
forward to eligible members being compensated.”
As noted both during the March 23 hearing (conducted online) and in the ruling, this grievance proved
unique. It centered on a pandemic-induced circumstance that simply hadn’t been considered before last
year – namely, that American mariners could be restricted to ship in U.S. ports.
Representing the SIU during the hearing were
Tricker and, from the union’s legal department, Leslie
Tarantola, Stan Dubin and Zachary Chase. The union
and the company are in the process of identifying all
unlicensed mariners who were aboard the company’s
vessels during that specific time, while the vessels
were in domestic ports. The union will forward settlement checks to the respective ports where the mariners
are registered, for distribution.
August 2021
�Health care professionals board a foreign-flag ship near New Haven, Connecticut, earlier
this summer to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to crew members who want them.
(Photo courtesy Hill Health Center)
AB Patricia Placek gets vaccinated while upgrading at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney
Point, Maryland
Recent Cases Remind All: Pandemic Not Done
CDC Continues Strong Advocacy for COVID-19 Vaccinations
Worldwide progress against the
COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, but
the union recently got some unwelcome reminders that it’s definitely not
finished.
Six Seafarers from the Maersk Montana, two from the Millville (Keystone)
and three from the USNS Curtiss (Crow-
ley) tested positive for the novel coronavirus while aboard the respective vessels
(as did some officers from each ship).
All of them bounced back, but three
from the Maersk ship had been hospitalized in Bahrain, including two who
spent time in the intensive care unit.
Perhaps as if to underscore the im-
Presidential Encouragement
SIU President Michael Sacco addresses Seafarers, apprentices and other attendees July 6 at the membership meeting in Piney Point, Maryland. He encouraged
people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and also stressed the importance of
taking advantage of the upgrading opportunities at the union-affiliated school.
August 2021
portance of vaccines, four of the five relief crew members sent for the Montana
tested negative for COVID-19 before
boarding. All had been vaccinated. The
lone individual who wasn’t vaccinated,
tested positive (and therefore didn’t sign
onto the ship).
Across the United States, more than
159.3 million people had been fully vaccinated around press time, and nearly 25
million others had received the first dose
of a two-shot regimen against the virus.
Within the SIU, most (though not all)
personnel at union headquarters, the hiring halls and the union-affiliated school
in Piney Point, Maryland, had been fully
vaccinated before Independence Day.
As previously reported, recently updated rules at the Paul Hall Center for
Maritime Training and Education allow
fully vaccinated individuals to leave the
base, though numerous safeguards remain in place. The school also continues
working with local health agencies to
facilitate vaccinations for students and
staff who want them.
Two other pandemic-related topics
dominated recent headlines: the delta
variant, and the question about whether
vaccine boosters are needed.
On July 9, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a joint statement that rules out any current need for
booster shots. The statement reads, “The
United States is fortunate to have highly
effective vaccines that are widely available for those aged 12 and up. People
who are fully vaccinated are protected
from severe disease and death, including from the variants currently circulating in the country such as Delta. People
who are not vaccinated remain at risk.
Virtually all COVID-19 hospitalizations
and deaths are among those who are unvaccinated. We encourage Americans
who have not yet been vaccinated to get
vaccinated as soon as possible to protect
themselves and their community.
“Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this
time,” the statement continued. “FDA,
CDC, and NIH (National Institutes of
Health) are engaged in a science-based,
rigorous process to consider whether or
when a booster might be necessary. This
process takes into account laboratory
data, clinical trial data, and cohort data
– which can include data from specific
pharmaceutical companies, but does not
rely on those data exclusively. We continue to review any new data as it becomes available and will keep the public
informed. We are prepared for booster
doses if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed.”
Also on July 9, the CDC updated its
“Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in
K-12 Schools,” essentially advocating for
a return to in-person instruction this fall.
In part, the updated guidance reads,
“Vaccination is currently the leading
public health prevention strategy to end
the COVID-19 pandemic. Promoting
vaccination can help schools safely return to in-person learning as well as extracurricular activities and sports. Masks
should be worn indoors by all individuals (age 2 and older) who are not fully
vaccinated. Consistent and correct mask
use by people who are not fully vaccinated is especially important indoors
and in crowded settings, when physical
distancing cannot be maintained.”
Moreover, as of mid-July, delta variant of COVID-19 was present in all 50
states and already had become dominant in many parts of the country. It had
grown in prevalence by a factor of five
in less than one month.
“Although we expected the delta
variant to become the dominant strain in
the United States, this rapid rise is troubling,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said during a White House news
briefing in early July.
Elsewhere, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) continues spearheading efforts to improve
vaccine access for mariners around the
world. That work has proven successful
in the U.S., where at least 20,000 foreign crew members had been vaccinated
in 72 American cities as of early July,
according to SIU Secretary-Treasurer
David Heindel, who also chairs the ITF
Seafarers’ Section.
Seafarers LOG 3
�Three New Contracts Undergo Ratification
Seafarers could be forgiven for wondering if there’s a calendar somewhere that
lists 2021 as the year of the contract.
Three more SIU agreements recently
were ratified, on top of a half-dozen that
were finalized earlier in the year – and
more are on the way. The most recent
pacts cover members at Matson Navigation, Intrepid Personnel and Provisioning
(Crowley ATBs), and Argent Marine, respectively.
Matson
A new five-year agreement between
Matson Navigation and the SIU has been
reached. The new contract took effect July
1.
Highlights include yearly increases
in wages and wage-related items, plus
increased pension contributions and a
conditional cost-of-living adjustment. In
addition, members will receive increases
to meal allowances, and gain the newest
federal holiday, Juneteenth, which occurs
on June 19 every year.
Representing the SIU on the negotiat-
ing committee were Vice President West
Coast Nick Marrone and Port Agent Nick
Marrone II. Also involved in their own
respective negotiations were two SIUNAaffiliated unions: the Sailors’ Union of
the Pacific, represented by President
Dave Connolly, and the Marine Firemen’s
Union, represented by President/Secretary
Treasurer Anthony Poplawski.
Intrepid/Crowley ATB
SIU boatmen have ratified a new
three-year agreement covering more
than 250 Seafarers employed by Intrepid
Personnel and Provisioning aboard company-operated articulated tug and barge
units. The contract includes wage gains
plus boosts to maternity leave benefits,
subsistence and the reimbursement for
safety shoes. Modifications to work
schedules have been incorporated along
with the consolidation of work rules. The
agreement maintains Seafarers Health
and Benefits Plan medical coverage at
the top level (Core Plus), along with pension benefits.
The SIU negotiating team included
Assistant Vice President Michael Russo,
Assistant Vice President Kris Hopkins,
Captain Larry Soulier, Chief Mate Coronado Hickman, AB Chad Cunningham
and Engineers Chris Surehoffer and
Jimmy Broussard.
Russo said, “It was a difficult negotiation, but the committee stood fast and we
were able to hammer out a deal that was
beneficial to all the members.”
Argent Marine
The SIU also recently secured a new
three-year contract with Argent Marine.
The contract, negotiated by SIU Vice Pres-
ident of Contracts George Tricker and SIU
Assistant Vice President Kris Hopkins, includes wage increases all three years, and
maintains pension contributions throughout.
Hopkins described the bargaining as
“tough but successful.” He added, “Any
time we can negotiate gains for our members, it is a good thing, and shows the company wants to do right by their employees.”
Earlier in the year, the union secured
new contracts with Inland Lakes Management, American Steamship Company,
Crescent Towing, Seabulk Towing, OSG
(inland), and Penn Terminal, among others.
Aboard Maersk Michigan
The Independence Day spread aboard the Maersk Line, Limited vessel was a big
hit, as reflected by these photos (submitted by vessel master Capt. T. Pham). Visit
the SIU Facebook page for additional snapshots.
QMED Joshua Bonita, QMED Fontanos Elllison, Capt. T. Pham
Tolan is pictured near a Sea-Land ship many years ago (above) and, in the other snapshot, more recently.
Industry Pioneer Tolan Dies at 88
David J. Tolan, a longtime Sea-Land executive who helped modernize the American
maritime industry, died July 6 in Cary, North
Carolina. He was 88.
A former mariner, Tolan came ashore in
1957 to work for Alcoa Steamship Co., and
became an industry stalwart for decades. His
tenure included serving as senior vice president
of labor relations at SIU-contracted Sea-Land
from 1985 until he retired in 1999 (he subsequently opened a consulting business). Tolan’s
other posts with Sea-Land included executive
vice president of the Americas Division and
vice president of human resources.
Tolan also headed up organizations that negotiated key agreements with shipboard and
shore-side labor unions, including the U.S.
Maritime Alliance, the Carriers Container
Council, and the American Maritime Association (which includes companies that are signatory to the SIU’s standard contracts). He is also
considered one of the pioneers of containerization.
SIU Executive Vice President Augie Tellez
worked with Tolan many times.
“He was an honest guy,” Tellez said. “He
didn’t play games and you always knew where
he was coming from. I thought he was fair and
he understood that a contract had to be a winwin.”
Former Horizon Lines CEO Chuck Raymond told the Journal of Commerce (JOC),
“Dave was able to achieve incredible results
through his creativity, energy and strong and
compassionate understanding of the workplace
and the special role laborers played in shipping
worldwide.”
Tolan received the Admiral of the Ocean
Seas award from the United Seamen’s Service
in 2000. During the ceremony, he stated, “I’ve
been involved with labor at every level for a
long time and I have learned that the most important message we can give to the unions is
4 Seafarers LOG
Chief Steward Gerard Cox, GVA Gene Ajoste
that real job security could only come from their
ability and willingness to adapt to change.”
One online remembrance of Tolan credited
him with being “especially influential in building positive longshore labor relations on the
East and Gulf Coasts after decades of strife.”
A New York City native, Tolan sailed as a
deck officer for six years. He graduated from the
State University of New York Maritime College
at Fort Schuyler.
Anthony Scioscia, who also worked as a senior labor relations official with Sea-Land, told
the JOC that Tolan “was instrumental in aligning the union activities to the new container
movement, including not just the longshore
labor unions, but the seagoing unions as well.
His efforts brought the labor movement and
management into sync in terms of containerization and in doing so, he was very effective. The
unions … might not have agreed with him, but
they certainly respected him.”
AB Carlos Zapata
August 2021
�Trumka Underscores PRO Act’s Benefits
The head of America’s largest labor federation recently said it’s time to enact pro-worker
legislation that would reshape the country for
the better.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, a
longtime friend of the SIU, spoke June 29 during an online meeting organized by Jobs With
Justice, a workers’ rights organization. He recalled his own experience as a coal miner, and
then explained the urgency of passing the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which
is the labor movement’s top legislative priority.
The U.S. House of Representatives already
passed the bill, and President Biden is an outspoken advocate of it. However, support in the
Senate has been stuck at slightly less than a majority, and the threat of a filibuster also looms.
Trumka said the AFL-CIO, to which the SIU
is affiliated, believes that “the single best agent
for change is the PRO Act. We must pass the
PRO Act so that the 60 million workers who
want to join a union right now can do so freely
and fairly. We also recognize that the majority of working people are women and people
of color. And when working people organize,
the power of our unity eclipses the differences
between us. That’s why passing the PRO Act
is not just about rising wages, it’s about racial
justice and gender justice, immigrant rights and
LGBTQ rights. Collective action and collective
power would lift more families and communities to a better life, in urban centers and Appalachia, in big tech and the American south. Like
the New Deal and the civil rights movement,
the PRO Act will have a multiplying effect,
boosting efforts to fight climate change, win
racial justice and fix our democracy.”
But, he added, the labor movement can’t do
it alone. “We need a broader coalition to win
– one as big and broad as the hopes and aspirations of the American people,” Trumka stated.
“You can’t change America if you don’t change
our labor laws…. What we do in these next
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (left), pictured in a file photo, gave an impassioned
speech earlier this summer about the value of the PRO Act. SIU President Michael Sacco
(right) utilized one of his recent LOG editorials to strongly back the pro-worker legislation.
weeks and months and over the next year may
well set the table for decades. And I am absolutely convinced that we have the public’s support, the president’s support and the resources
and brainpower in each of our organizations to
come together and shock the world.”
Despite skepticism about the bill’s prospects, Trumka said he’s optimistic.
“Let me say this as clearly as I can,” he de-
Aboard Cape Intrepid
Pictured aboard the Ocean Duchess vessel during a shipyard
activation period (June 25-July 2) in Portland, Oregon, are
(from left in each photo) (above) Chief Steward Ingra Maddox, Chief Cook Keesha Holloway and SA Abduljalil Ahmed;
(below, left) GVA Ahmed Kassem and OS Malek Ahmed; and
(below, right), (a Seafaring selfie) AB Antoinne Kelly, GVA
Ahmed Kassem, OS Malek Ahmed and Recertified Bosun
LBJ Tanoa.
August 2021
clared. “We passed the PRO Act in the House.
The president has urged Congress to send it to
his desk. And for that we need 50 votes in the
Senate. Fifty real votes. Fifty senators that are
not playing procedural games or looking to run
out the clock. That’s all we need. It’s written
right there in the Constitution plain as day – the
Senate runs by a simple majority.
“This is not the time for excuses or equivo-
cation,” he continued. “We need consistent,
relentless forward motion…. Though on any
given day we will have targets, this fight has
to be a national fight in every state. Though we
have a calendar, we must commit to fighting
until we win. And we must be ready to lift up
those who join us and hold those who stand in
our way accountable, no matter which political
party they come from.”
He reminded attendees that the federation
scheduled an action week for late July and encouraged broad participation.
Earlier in his speech, Trumka said the collective strength available through unions is
what sold him on membership. He saw the benefits of a union contract in his own home and in
his community in Pennsylvania.
“But in the years since, those rights have
been hacked away,” he said. “Workers who try
to improve their lives are far too often met with
retaliation, intimidation, loss of employment,
and the list goes on. And this silencing of working people has profoundly hurt our country and
threatened our democracy.”
The erosion of workers’ rights that has corresponded with drops in union membership
harms America, Trumka said. Such deterioration has led to “wages held down for decades
as profits skyrocket, and runaway inequality.
Inequality of income, opportunity and most of
all, power. Our democracy is hanging on by a
thread as private equity billionaires fund legal
attacks on voting rights and inspire actual terrorist attacks on our Capitol.
“This must change,” he said. “America must
build a future based on democracy – political
democracy and democracy at work. We must
make big, structural change that empowers all
working people…. The stakes are as high as
they could be: our economic future, our democracy. The PRO Act is the path to a brighter day,
a stronger country and a future worthy of our
children.”
Week Highlights Need for Mariners, Ships
In early May, the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) announced it was partnering with
the Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC) to
solicit articles on strategic sealift. These articles were posted
online during what was dubbed “Strategic Sealift Week” in
late June, and included insights from eight different subject
matter experts.
They examined different components of the American
maritime industry, but concluded – without exception – that
U.S. mariners and American-flag bottoms remain crucial to
protecting national, economic and homeland security.
Salvatore R. Mercogliano focused on the history of the
merchant marine, and the importance of civilian crews operating militarily-useful ships. Mercogliano, a former merchant mariner and an adjunct professor at the U.S. Merchant
Marine Academy, pointed out, “Following the Vietnam War,
the fleet of troopships and government-owned freighters
were largely eliminated, with movement of personnel shifting to aircraft and contracts awarded to American shipping
companies to handle cargo. [The Military Sealift Command]
also rediscovered an old mission when the oiler Taluga was
transferred to their control and the Navy crew replaced by
merchant mariners. Civilian crews on Navy supply ships
date back to the age of sail, and in the modern Navy to 1899,
when the fuel ship USS Alexander received a merchant marine crew. That mode of crewing ended at the start of the
First World War. But with the Navy facing personnel issues
and the priority to crew warships over auxiliaries, the Navy
resurrected this concept.
“Over the span of decades, civilian crewing of auxiliaries grew with MSC operating not only shuttle ships – those
that provide fuel and supplies from shore facilities – but to
station ships providing underway replenishment to strike
groups,” he continued. “The first MSC station ship went
online in 1991. By the time of the Iraq War in 2003, half
of the oilers, store and ammunition station ships supporting strike groups were operated by MSC. In 2010, the last
Navy auxiliary transitioned over to civilian merchant marine
crews. This change, along with a realignment of missions in
the mid-1990s that transferred container operations to U.S.
Transportation Command, oriented MSC to more of a Navy
fleet support vice cargo mission.”
James Caponiti addressed the importance of civilian
mariners. Caponiti, a 37-year veteran of the Maritime Administration, said, “The availability of a trained and qualified mariner pool sufficient to support the activation and
operation of the U.S. Government’s surge sealift assets is a
key element of U.S. strategy and planning. This organic lift
includes the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Ready
Reserve Force (RRF) which currently numbers 41 ships and
the Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) 19 Large MediumSpeed Roll-on Roll-off ships (LMSRs). These vessels are
maintained by commercial ship managers in prescribed levels of readiness and outported in reduced operating status
(ROS) in commercial berths or in government facilities,
available to be activated when crises arise. To promote readi-
ness and to enable rapid transition to operational capability,
ROS vessels are partially crewed while idle. Once activated
and fully crewed, all of these assets, RRF and LMSR alike,
fall under MSC’s operational control. The surge sealift capabilities comprised from these vessels enable deployment
of combat forces in the early stages of a conflict. Of course,
the vessels themselves are essentially useless without trained
civilian crews to maintain and operate them.
“The government relies on a partnership with U.S.-flag
operators and maritime labor organizations to assure access
to commercial sealift capability and civilian merchant mariners,” he continued. “The investment also works to ensure
the continued viability of both a U.S.-flag fleet engaged in
international trade and the pool of seafarers to crew those
vessels. Without a viable U.S.-flag commercial fleet, and the
American merchant mariners this fleet supports, the United
States would be unable to deploy and effectively sustain its
military forces on a global basis.”
Dan Gouré, Ph.D., a vice president at the public-policy
research think tank Lexington Institute, described the importance of recapitalization. “Over the past several decades,
the number of hulls in the government-owned portion of
the strategic sealift fleet (the RRF and MSC) has declined
and those that remain are aging badly,” he explained. “In
testimony, the then-MARAD Administrator (Mark) Buzby
warned the House Armed Services Committee that the RRF
and MSC surge sealift fleets, about half of the total strategic
sealift capability available to the military, are aging severely
and in need of recapitalization. To underscore the problem,
MARAD and MSC conducted a ‘turbo activation’ exercise
designed to test their ability to surge for a major contingency
in September 2019. Of the 39 vessels that were called on to
support the exercise, only 25 were ready for tasking and just
16 were able to operate at the expected level of performance.
(Seafarers LOG editor’s note: None of the perceived shortfalls during the activation involved the crews, but instead the
vessels themselves.)
“This test simulated what is possibly the most serious
vulnerability the U.S. military faces in preparing for a highend conflict,” he continued. “The lack of adequate strategic sealift could outright negate the billions of dollars the
U.S. military is investing in next-generation platforms and
weapons systems. The military will not be able to get these
‘wonder weapons’ to the fight or support them if they are
deployed. According to the U.S. Army’s G-4 logistics directorate: ‘Without proactive recapitalization of the Organic
Surge Sealift Fleet, the Army will face unacceptable risk in
force projection capability beginning in 2024.’”
He concluded, “It should seem obvious that the recapitalization of the strategic sealift force should be at the top of
the Pentagon’s list of modernization objectives. If DoD truly
desired to fully secure its strategic sealift capability, it would
actively work to do so by recapitalizing the U.S. sealift fleet
with ships designed and built in the United States.”
Maj. John Bowser stressed the importance of the nation’s
sealift capabilities, citing potential conflict with China.
Seafarers LOG 5
�UMWA President Cecil Roberts (left) and MTD Executive Secretary-Treasurer Daniel
Duncan rally with striking Mine Workers in Alabama
USW Local 13-423 Secretary-Treasurer Karla Konning (left) and President Darrell Kyle
(center) receive the MTD strike fund donation from Fr. Sinclair Oubre.
MTD Stands in Solidarity with Union Strikers
The Maritime Trades Department
(MTD) recently expressed its support for
1,100 striking Mine Workers (UMWA)
in Brookwood, Alabama, who have entered their third month on the picket lines
against Warrior Met Coal.
The SIU is an affiliate of the MTD,
which is a constitutional department of
the AFL-CIO. SIU President Michael
Sacco also serves as MTD president.
MTD Executive Secretary-Treasurer
Daniel Duncan joined several picket
sites, then participated in a solidarity
rally on June 23 just west of Birmingham, Alabama. He told the Mine Workers
(an MTD affiliate) that the department,
its affiliates and its port councils would
stand with them until they return to work.
In addition to the words and action, the
MTD presented UMWA President Cecil
Roberts with a check for the strike fund.
The miners have been on strike since
April 1, seeking better pay and benefits.
The UMWA negotiated a contract with
Warrior Met five years ago that reduced
wages and benefits in order to keep the
mines operating when that company took
over for bankrupt Walter Energy. The
coal is used for steel production in Asia,
Europe and South America.
The union noted on its website,
“While upper management was getting
New SAB Allows
For Extended Tours
As announced during the July membership meetings, the Seafarers Appeals
Board (SAB) recently took action that
extends the maximum tour of duty for
A- and B-seniority Seafarers above entry
ratings. This step was taken due to ongoing effects of the global COVID-19
pandemic.
Full text of the new regulation follows.
SEAFARERS APPEALS BOARD
Action Number 484 (Setting Specific
Parameters for Action 481)
WHEREAS, Article IX entitled Shipping
Rules, Sections 7. and 9. grant the sole
and exclusive authority to administer
and/or amend the shipping rules to the
Seafarers Appeals Board; and
WHEREAS, by prior action the Seafarers
Appeals Board has amended the Shipping
Rules to secure and maintain an adequate
supply of qualified and trained personnel
aboard various U.S.-flagged vessels, in
particularly Action Number 481 which
suspended Shipping Rules 2, 4 and 5 to
be in sync with established Coronavirus
Precautionary Protocols; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to this grant of
authority and in accordance with the current state of emergencies declared by the
Federal Government and by the majority
of U.S. States and taking into account
world-wide conditions and emergencies
resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic
the Seafarers Appeals Board has decided,
while adhering to the provisions of Action 481, to implement specific altered
tours of duty within suspended Shipping
Rules 2, 4 and 5.
NOW THEREFORE, with the afore-
6 Seafarers LOG
mentioned in mind the Seafarers Appeals
Board hereby takes the following additional actions regarding specified “A”
Seniority Permanent & Trip Reliefs and
“B” Seniority.
Amend Article IX, Rule 2. Shipping
Procedure, G. (17.), (a) to provide for the
following specific extension of “B” Seniority maximum employment as specified below.
(17.) (a) Except as specifically provided
for herein or by SAB action, seamen with
Class “B” seniority ratings, shipped pursuant to these Rules, may retain such jobs
for three hundred and sixty (360) days
and shall request a relief before their
one hundred and eightieth (180th) day of
employment. At the termination of such
round trip or on the first opportunity following the three hundred and sixtieth
(360th) day on the job, such seamen shall
sign off their vessels and the vacant job
shall be referred to the Union hiring hall.
Such retention may be extended sixty
(60) days when mutually agreed to between the Union and the Company.
The remainder of this rule shall remain in
full force and effect within the alterations
of SAB Action 481
Amend Article IX, Rule 5 Preference and Priority, A., (13.) Trip Reliefs
and Permeant Ratings to extend the
maximum tour of duty for “A” Seniority Seamen. This Action shall not amend
the seventy-five (75) day criteria for designation as “Permanent” nor the list of
those that may be deemed as permanent.
(a) The following specified ratings enumerated in this subsection (a), possessing
Class “A” seniority, upon completing a
tour of duty aboard a specified vessel of
no less, or as close to, seventy-five (75)
bonuses, UMWA miners took pay and
benefit cuts.”
Just a day before Duncan was in Alabama, about one dozen of the strikers
marched in front of three hedge fund
headquarters along Wall Street in New
York City. Dressed in the union’s camouflage logo T-shirts, they were joined
on those lines by Association of Flight
Attendants-CWA President Sara Nelson
and Retail, Wholesale and Department
Store Union President Stuart Applebaum.
(Applebaum was returning the solidarity
shown by the Alabama UMWA members
during the recent effort to organize an
Amazon distribution center in nearby
days and no more, or as close to, one hundred and eight (180) days, shall be designated as having permanent status for such
vessel and shall request a relief of no
less, or as close to, forty-five (45) days
and no more, or as close to, sixty (60)
days depending on the vessel’s schedule
of operations, upon the vessel’s arrival at
a port in the Continental United States or
Puerto Rico or other mutually agreed to
port. Subsequent tours aboard the vessel for permanent personnel shall be between seventy-five (75) and one hundred
and eighty (180) days duration as agreed
by the seaman and the Company at time
of their sign-on for each tour. Transportation expenses for the seaman requesting
a relief and the seaman providing a relief
shall be borne by the Company.
The remainder of this rule shall remain in
full force and effect within the alterations
of SAB Action 481
Amend Article IX, Rule 5 Preference and Priority, A., (13), (r), (2) &
(4) Tanker Employment (2) [“A” Seniority] During the specific period of
employment their tours of duty shall be
scheduled at approximately a two-to-one
employment ratio with time on of no
less, or as close to seventy-five (75) days
and no more, or as close to one hundred
and eighty (180) days of employment between periods of time off of no less, or as
close to forty-five (45) days and no more,
or as close to sixty (60) days of time off.
Work schedules may be modified subject
to the vessel’s operational necessities,
and as mutually agreed to between the
Union and the Company. Transportation expenses for the seaman requesting
a relief and the seaman providing a relief
shall be borne by the Company.
(4) Seamen possessing Class “B” employment seniority employed above the
Entry Level aboard tanker class vessels
in the domestic trades upon mutual consent may request a relief of forty-five
(45) days upon completion of no less
than ninety (90) days employment. Subsequent tours of duty shall be no less than
Bessemer.)
UMWA District 20 International Vice
President Larry Spencer announced during
the rally that talks would resume in July.
Meanwhile, 650 United Steelworkers (USW) from Local 13-423 have been
walking picket lines since May 1 when
ExxonMobil locked them out of its Beaumont, Texas, refinery.
The MTD also sent support to the
local’s strike fund as the USW is an affiliate. Father Sinclair Oubre, an SIU
member who is the Diocesan Director for
the Apostleship of the Sea in Beaumont,
presented the MTD donation to Local 13423’s officers.
ninety (90) days and no more than one
hundred and eight (180) days, based on
vessel necessity.
The remainder of this rule shall remain in
full force and effect within the alterations
of SAB Action 481
Amend Article IX, Rule 5 Preference and Priority, A., (13), (t), (2) & (4)
Freightship Employment
(2) [“A” Seniority] During the specific
period of employment their tours of duty
shall be scheduled at approximately a
two-to-one employment ratio with time
on of no less, or as close to seventy-five
(75) days and no more, or as close to one
hundred and eighty(180) days of employment between periods of time off of no
less, or as close to forty-five (45) days
and no more, or as close to sixty days
(60) of time off. Work schedules may be
modified subject to the vessel’s operational necessities, and as mutually agreed
to between the Union and the Company.
Transportation expenses for the seaman
requesting a relief and the seaman providing a relief shall be borne by the Company.
(4) Seamen possessing Class “B” employment seniority employed above the
Entry Level may request a relief of fortyfive (45) days upon completion of no less
than ninety (90) days of employment.
Such relief will only be provided in a
domestic port and subject to the vessel’s
operational necessities. Transportation if
any shall be borne by the seaman requesting and the seaman providing relief.
Subsequent tours of duty shall be no less
than ninety (90) days and no more than
one hundred and eight (180) days, based
on vessel necessity.
The remainder of this rule shall remain in
full force and effect within the alterations
of SAB Action 481
This action will be reviewed every fourteen days and will be kept in place until
such time that the parties have determined that the current emergency no longer exists.
July 2021
�SIU Crews Help Ensure Success of Military Exercise
A pair of SIU-crewed vessels, the USNS
Bob Hope and USNS Yuma, played key roles
in the recently completed Defender-Europe
21, an annual, large-scale U.S. Army Europe
and Africa-led, multinational, joint exercise.
Conducted from March through June,
Defender-Europe 21 was designed to build
strategic and operational readiness and interoperability between U.S. and NATO allies
and partners by testing America’s ability to
move troops, cargo and vehicles overseas.
The exercise involved some 30,000 U.S.
troops (members of the National Guard and
U.S. Army Reserve included) along with allied and partner forces from 27 nations.
The Bob Hope, a large, medium-speed,
roll-on, roll-off ship (LMSR) operated by
U.S. Marine Management, in early March
sailed out of the Pacific northwest before
loading in the Ports of Jacksonville, Florida,
and Portsmouth, Virginia, on its way across
the Atlantic to the Adriatic Sea in Durres,
Albania. The vessel’s cargo comprised more
than 700 pieces of Army light infantry brigade equipment including Humvees, trucks,
and light artillery. The USNS Yuma, an expeditionary fast transport vessel crewed by
members of the SIU Government Services
Division, also participated in the exercise.
Once the Bob Hope and its cargo arrived
in Europe at its predetermined location, crew
members aboard the vessel and personnel
from several other deployed military units
took part in a Joint Logistics Over the Shore
Operations (JLOTS) exercise. Such exercises
test and hone the Army’s and Navy’s capabilities to conduct ship-to-shore logistics and
open a strategic port to support surge forces
and equipment. JLOTS maneuvers allow
U.S. strategic sealift ships to anchor near
coastlines and download combat equipment
and forces for transport to shore when existing ports are inadequate or damaged, or if access is denied. JLOTS watercraft can also be
used to reposition units and materials within
a theater.
The Bob Hope prepares to discharge military equipment onto floating platforms during Defender-Europe 21.
During this JLOTS exercise, the Bob
Hope discharged more than 800 pieces of
equipment using Navy floating causeway
ferries and Army Logistics Support Vessels
to deliver cargo to the shore. Equipment was
also transported by the UNSN Yuma and a
British roll-on/roll-off ship to Zadar, Croatia,
demonstrating distributed logistics as part of
the JLOTS exercise. The Navy also used the
Amphibious Bulk Liquid Transfer System to
stream fuel from a barge to a tank on shore,
the Army’s Fuel System Supply Point.
Personnel from the U.S Transportation
Command (USTRANSCOM) also participated in the JLOTS, and the role they played
was vital. Essentially, USTRANSCOM was
tasked with assessing the capability and interoperability of the Army and Navy in delivering this critical capability to a geographic
combatant commander.
“Our ability to integrate the Army and
Navy for ship-to-shore logistics is essential, and JLOTS is one way we exercise and
improve this capability,” said U.S. Army
Gen. Stephen R. Lyons, commander of USTRANSCOM, in a command new release on
Defender-Europe 21. “We must be ready to
respond to crisis on a moment’s notice and
project the Joint Force anywhere across the
globe.”
With 85 percent of U.S. forces based in
the United States, nearly 90 percent of military equipment is expected to deploy via
sealift in a major conflict. JLOTS exercises
test the Joint Force’s ability to move from the
U.S. to various locations around the world
and open a logistics hub to provide vital supplies, equipment, and forces to support military operations or humanitarian assistance
during disaster relief missions.
“The strategic significance of exercising a port opening alongside our allies and
partners in southeastern Europe and surging
forces and equipment onward underscores
USTRANSCOM’s mission to provide a
large-scale response anywhere in the world,
in order to assure our allies, deter our adversaries, and ensure our national leaders always
have options,” added Lyons.
SIU members aboard the Bob Hope just
before, during and just after the exercise period included: Bosun Bryan Hayden; ABs
Joseph Eaton, Harsono Saratoga, Rommel Ines Martinez-Arriola and Damon
Zschoche; Ordinary Seamen Xavier Brown,
Elbert Irvine III and Tomesha Wood;
QMED Ryan Palmer, QEE Terrell Cuffee,
QE4s Gabriel Freeman and Jason Fuller,
Wiper Abdulrehman Shayef, Chief Cook
Joseph Huls, ACU Brandy Griffin, SAs
Raenell Brewster, Kaberlyn Daniel, and
Arkala Williams; SB Kenneth Epps and
Storekeeper Joedy Lee.
Heartfelt Gift from the Crew of the MV Capt. David I. Lyon
While the MV Capt. David I. Lyon (Sealift) was in Palau earlier this summer, the crew chipped in and had a local “storyboard” made for
Jeannie Lyon, mother of the vessel’s namesake. The wooden board is 18 by 27 inches and depicts the story of the breadfruit tree. Capt.
David Lyon, a logistics officer from Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, was killed in action in Afghanistan Dec. 27, 2013. The ship was
named in his memory in January 2015.
August 2021
Seafarers LOG 7
�Artist’s rendering (above) of future USNS Robert F. Kennedy. In photo at right, longtime
shipyard employee Francisco Medina (right) oversees the ceremonial cut of the first piece
of steel for the new ship. (All images courtesy General Dynamics NASSCO)
Construction Starts on USNS Kennedy
New jobs for CIVMARS from the SIU
Government Services Division are on the
horizon following the recent start of construction on the USNS Robert F. Kennedy
in San Diego.
The Kennedy is being built at General
Dynamics NASSCO, a union shipyard,
for the U.S. Military Sealift Command
(MSC). It’s the fourth in a series of six
John Lewis-class fleet oilers. The others
are the USNS John Lewis, USNS Harvey
Milk, USNS Earl Warren, USNS Lucy
Stone and USNS Sojourner Truth.
Designed to transfer fuel to U.S. Navy
carrier strike group ships operating at
sea, the 742-feet vessels have a full load
displacement of 49,850 tons, with the
capacity to carry 162,000 barrels of oil,
a significant dry cargo capacity, aviation
capability and up to a speed of 20 knots.
Each ship will have accommodations for
up to 125 individuals.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, the
shipyard hosted a hybrid online/in-person
ceremony to kick off construction. Francisco Medina, a longtime NASSCO employee, initiated the first cut of steel that
will be used to construct the vessel.
“Today, we celebrate a time-honored
tradition that marks the beginning of production for the ship and to celebrate the
life and service of the ship’s namesake
Robert F. Kennedy,” said Dave Carver,
president of General Dynamics NASSCO.
“This ship represents the thousands of
men and women who have worked hard to
make this ship class a success.”
Kennedy was a Navy veteran, former U.S. Attorney General
and U.S. Senator from New York.
“USNS Robert F. Kennedy will provide
significant contributions to the fleet, serving as the primary fuel pipeline to refuel
ships at sea. The building of the John
Lewis-class ships marks an important
milestone in enhancing our Navy’s fleet
capabilities and providing critical support
to our Sailors,” said John Lighthammer, a
program manager for the Navy.
According to the U.S. Congressional
Research Service, “Although the role of
fleet oilers might not be considered as
glamorous as that of other Navy ships,
fleet oilers are critical to the Navy’s
ability to operate in forward-deployed
areas around the world on a sustained
basis. The U.S. Navy’s ability to perform
UNREP operations in a safe and efficient
manner on a routine basis is a skill that
many other navies lack. An absence of
fleet oilers would significantly complicate the Navy’s ability to operate at sea
on a sustained basis in areas such as the
Western Pacific or the Indian Ocean/Persian Gulf region.”
The USNS John Lewis was launched
earlier this year, while the USNS Harvey
Milk and USNS Earl Warren are under
construction.
General Dynamics NASSCO President
Dave Carver joins the ceremony virtually.
Spotlight on Mariner Health
Hypertension: Know the Risks
Editor’s note: This article was provided
by the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan
Medical Department.
There are several important considerations about blood pressure that can help
individuals avoid related problems.
Remember that blood pressure is more
than just a number that is written in one’s
medical chart. Hypertension is one of the
most pressing public health challenges
around the world. It is clearly recognized
as the biggest contributor to the burden of
disease in society today.
A person’s blood vessels are like a series of pipes in a home. These pipes/blood
vessels deliver needed blood, nutrients, and
oxygen to all the organs in the body. If the
pressure in the vessels becomes too high, it
can damage that vessel or what it connects
to – such as the heart, brain, and kidneys.
Blood pressure must be controlled to
maintain the health of the body and the organs in that body. High blood pressure is a
big deal!
Blood pressure tends to increase as
people age. It rarely causes any symptoms
until it is too late. Keeping a check on one’s
blood pressure is key to maintaining his or
her overall health.
Hypertension affects about 121 million
adults in the United States, per the American Heart Association. It is defined as a
systolic blood pressure (top number) of
130 or higher or a diastolic pressure (bottom number) of 80 or higher that stays high
over a period of time.
It is recommended that people who
8 Seafarers LOG
have a family history of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, or kidney disease pay very close attention to their blood
pressure and follow up with their doctor for
any treatments. People can reduce the risk
of hypertension by maintaining a healthful
body weight, exercising, not smoking, and
avoiding stressors.
Managing hypertension will protect a
person’s brain and reduce the risk of stroke.
It also decreases the likelihood of dementia
and boosts cognitive function.
Limiting one’s fat and sodium intake
are very important in a person’s diet. Balancing sodium and potassium intake is
crucial to help in the regulation of blood
flow through the blood vessels and cells
in the body.
The DASH or Mediterranean diet offers
a healthy balance of nutrients, potassiumrich foods, and low-fat dairy products.
Little changes in one’s daily routines
can make a big difference in a person’s life.
Control body weight, and get some type of
exercise daily. Walking will increase heart
rate and cardiac output to help nourish the
vessels and organs of the body. It also helps
to relieve stress.
Moreover, smokers have higher blood
pressure, on average, than non-smokers.
There are many new medications on
the market today to help with the control
of hypertension. Follow your doctor’s advice and keep appointments so that he or
she can monitor you and adjust medications
as needed. Stay active and be informed on
your blood pressure so that you can be
healthy!
Healthy Recipe
Baked Cod with Coconut Basil Sauce
Servings: 25
Main Ingredients
7 1/2 pounds cod fillet
1/4 cup gallic pepper seasoning
1 tablespoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce Recipe
1/4 cup garlic, minced fine
3/4 cup onion, small chopped
3/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1 quart coconut milk
1/4 cup chili paste
2 tablespoons ginger root, peeled and
grated
1 1/2 teaspoons lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 cup green onion, sliced
1/2 cup basil, fresh, chopped
To Make Sauce:
Preheat sauce pan over medium
heat. When several drops of water
sprinkled in pan skitter and dissipate,
add garlic, onions and peppers. Saute
for 3-4 minutes until softened. In a
bowl, mix coconut milk, ginger, chili
paste, lime juice and salt. Add to
pan and cover. Then reduce heat to
low and cook sauce for 5-7 minutes.
Reduce sauce slightly and thicken.
Turn off heat. Add scallions and basil
leaves. Taste and adjust seasonings as
needed.
To Cook The Cod:
Cut the cod into 5oz. fillets. Drizzle
olive oil evenly over the cod. Season
with garlic pepper and kosher salt.
Place the seasoned cod into 2” hotel
pans. Bake in a 350° F oven for 15
minutes, uncovered. Internal temp. of
145° F. Pour off any excess liquid from
the cooked fish. Sauce each fillet with
the coconut basil sauce. Serve hot.
Per Serving (excluding unknown
items): 229 Calories; 12g Fat (46.1%
calories from fat); 26g Protein; 5g
Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 59mg
Cholesterol; 435mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain (Starch); 3 1/2 Lean
Meat; 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 2 Fat.
(Recipe courtesy of Paul Hall Center’s
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of
Seamanship)
August 2021
�Notice from U.S. Coast Guard
Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea
REC New York Closes
Doors for Relocation
Regional Exam Center (REC) New York’s historical location in the Battery Park building is undergoing a major
renovation that is expected to last a minimum of 12 months.
During the renovation, REC New York is being relocated to
an alternate office space in lower Manhattan. To affect this
move, the REC examination room was closed on Monday,
June 28, 2021, and is expected to reopen in the new location
on Monday, July 26, 2021. During this closure, mariner applications may still be e-mailed to RECNY@uscg.mil.
Mariners seeking to complete examinations during this
period should consider testing at another REC. Additional
REC locations and application submission information can
be found on the National Maritime Center (NMC) website.
The new location for REC New York is 201 Varick St.,
9th Floor, Suite 904, New York, NY 10014. The NMC will
issue additional information and update the NMC website
confirming the reopening date, examination room hours, how
to schedule an exam, and building access provisions for the
new facility.
The NMC Customer Service Center remains open from
8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. Mariners
may reach our call center at 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662)
and IASKNMC@uscg.mil.
Note to Our Readers
Without exception, anyone entering an SIU hiring hall or signing
onto a vessel has passed a number of safety protocols, often including testing for COVID-19, two-week quarantines, vaccination and
verifying health-related items on a questionnaire. For that reason,
not everyone you see pictured in the LOG is wearing a mask. In addition, in many cases, people have briefly removed their masks only
long enough to snap a quick photo. We cannot stress enough the importance of following all safety protocols for your protection and the
protection of those around you.
August & September
Membership Meetings
Piney Point.............Monday: August 2, *Tuesday: September 7
“Total Registered” and “Total Shipped” data is cumulative from June 11-July 12. “Registered on the Beach” data is as of July 12.
Total Registered
Port
A
All Groups
B
Total Shipped
C
A
Registered on Beach
All Groups
B
C
Trip
Reliefs
0
0
0
4
1
0
1
3
6
2
1
2
1
1
0
2
0
3
0
1
28
4
1
0
9
0
3
3
19
16
8
1
5
5
1
0
2
4
11
2
9
103
All Groups
B
C
33
1
5
40
7
19
13
72
66
57
3
13
36
26
9
2
14
39
8
46
509
11
3
0
17
0
4
3
28
35
12
0
4
21
5
2
0
5
14
2
11
177
3
1
0
5
0
5
0
10
8
5
1
0
8
5
1
0
0
7
1
6
66
A
Algonac
Anchorage
Baltimore
Fort Lauderdale
Guam
Harvey
Honolulu
Houston
Jacksonville
Jersey City
Joliet
Mobile
Norfolk
Oakland
Philadelphia
Piney Point
Puerto Rico
Tacoma
St. Louis
Wilmington
TOTALS
19
2
5
28
2
13
9
45
33
38
2
8
19
14
3
1
8
24
6
30
309
9
3
0
10
0
4
2
22
19
11
2
3
11
3
1
2
2
10
3
8
125
3
1
0
4
1
3
0
9
8
4
2
0
7
2
0
1
0
3
1
4
53
Deck Department
14
4
2
1
3
0
12
9
1
0
7
4
6
3
25
21
17
15
21
7
4
3
8
5
16
5
9
1
0
1
1
2
3
3
21
6
1
1
22
13
193
104
Algonac
Anchorage
Baltimore
Fort Lauderdale
Guam
Harvey
Honolulu
Houston
Jacksonville
Jersey City
Joliet
Mobile
Norfolk
Oakland
Philadelphia
Piney Point
Puerto Rico
Tacoma
St. Louis
Wilmington
TOTALS
5
1
4
7
0
4
2
17
18
7
4
3
16
7
3
0
6
15
1
9
129
0
0
0
9
0
2
3
11
11
6
0
2
11
1
0
2
3
4
1
10
76
2
0
0
2
0
1
0
2
1
2
0
0
2
3
1
0
1
4
1
1
23
Engine Department
4
1
0
0
1
0
6
4
0
0
3
0
2
1
16
4
16
12
7
3
1
0
1
4
7
4
1
0
1
0
1
3
1
2
8
4
0
0
9
6
85
48
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
3
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
11
3
0
0
3
0
0
0
10
14
4
1
1
4
1
0
1
1
8
0
6
57
6
3
5
11
2
7
9
25
33
11
5
3
18
10
3
2
9
25
3
15
205
2
1
0
9
1
4
4
21
15
7
0
2
25
7
1
4
7
10
4
12
136
2
0
0
5
0
2
0
3
4
2
2
1
4
4
1
0
1
3
0
1
35
Algonac
Anchorage
Baltimore
Fort Lauderdale
Guam
Harvey
Honolulu
Houston
Jacksonville
Jersey City
Joliet
Mobile
Norfolk
Oakland
Philadelphia
Piney Point
Puerto Rico
Seattle
St. Louis
Wilmington
TOTALS
5
1
0
10
2
7
9
15
17
8
0
0
15
13
2
2
5
9
0
21
141
2
0
0
9
0
3
2
8
12
2
0
3
14
6
0
1
3
2
0
9
76
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
0
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
Steward Department
2
2
0
0
0
0
4
2
0
0
2
0
8
1
13
7
16
9
5
3
2
0
2
1
9
6
5
3
4
0
2
1
3
3
10
1
1
0
10
8
98
47
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
7
2
0
0
4
0
0
1
6
17
1
0
2
3
2
2
1
0
3
0
10
54
8
1
2
19
3
9
12
29
39
15
1
4
26
20
1
5
6
13
2
28
243
4
0
1
9
1
3
5
9
15
4
1
3
20
8
0
2
6
3
0
10
104
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
0
0
3
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
10
Algonac
Anchorage
Baltimore
Fort Lauderdale
Guam
Harvey
Honolulu1
Houston
Jacksonville
Jersey City
Joliet
Mobile
Norfolk
Oakland
Philadelphia
Piney Point
Puerto Rico
Tacoma
St. Louis
Wilmington
TOTALS
1
1
0
0
0
2
2
2
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
3
0
2
16
9
1
0
2
2
2
3
7
18
19
0
0
8
16
1
2
2
12
0
14
117
6
2
2
3
0
1
0
6
52
8
1
1
14
4
1
22
4
8
1
8
147
Entry Department
1
9
0
1
0
1
0
4
0
0
0
1
4
0
0
8
0
15
4
8
0
1
0
0
2
11
0
5
0
1
0
0
1
0
2
8
0
0
2
8
12
85
2
0
0
1
1
0
1
2
38
3
2
1
3
0
1
22
1
8
0
4
89
7
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
15
1
2
0
4
0
1
7
1
5
0
3
49
2
1
0
0
0
2
7
5
5
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
9
0
3
31
15
2
0
3
3
4
5
19
37
20
1
0
16
29
1
2
3
20
0
29
211
12
2
2
5
1
4
7
83
11
1
1
27
8
3
18
4
11
2
14
221
GRAND TOTAL:
595
394
230
135
263
988
628
332
Algonac.........................................Friday: August 6, September 10
Baltimore............................Thursday: August 5, September 9
Guam................................Thursday: August 19, September 23
Honolulu...............................Friday: August 13, September 17
Houston...................................Monday: August 9, September 13
Jacksonville.........................Thursday: August 5, September 9
Joliet.......................................Thursday: August 12, September 16
Mobile...............................Wednesday: August 11, September 15
New Orleans.....................Tuesday: August 10, September 14
Jersey City..............................Tuesday: August 3, September 7
Norfolk...................................Friday: August 6, September 10
Oakland..........................Thursday: August 12, September 16
Philadelphia.......................Wednesday: August 4, September 8
Port Everglades......................Thursday: August 12, September 16
San Juan................................Thursday: August 5, September 9
St. Louis...............................Friday: August 13, September 17
Tacoma.............................Friday: August 20, September 24
Wilmington...............................Monday: August 16, September 20
* Piney Point change due to Labor Day observance.
Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m
ATTENTION SEAFARERS
Contribute To The
Seafarers Political Activities Donation
SPAD
SPAD Works For You.
August 2021
388
284
Seafarers LOG 9
�At Sea and Ashore with the SIU
STEPPING UP FOR COMMUNITY – Seafarers in Oakland are participating in a months-long collection and drop-off for Covenant House California, a self-described “non-profit youth homeless shelter
that provides sanctuary and support for homeless and trafficked youth, ages 18-24.” Some of the
volunteers are pictured at the Oakland hiring hall in late June. The drive runs through August.
ABOARD TUG PATRIARCH – Pictured aboard the Crowley boat in Jacksonville, Florida, are (seated, from left) Second Mate Jose LeBron, Chief Engineer Ruben Ortiz, SIU Port Agent Ashley Nelson, (standing) AB Raymond
Petterson, Barge Maintenance Peter Bondarenko, AB Ronald Boatwright,
Barge Maintenance Owen “Rick” O’Keefe, Chief Mate Angel Ayala and Capt.
Charles Williams.
ABOARD FREEDOM – Steward department personnel have made extra efforts aboard the TOTE
Services ship, including a Father’s Day menu featuring eggs Benedict (above, left), lamb chops,
purple cabbage, dinner rolls, jambalaya, double-layer coconut cake and much more. Later in the
month, Chief Steward Pauline Crespo (second from left) prepared homemade Shrimp Empanadas.
Chief Cook Steve Laubach is pictured second from right, while the remaining photo shows SA Mahfoud Alesfoor.
ABOARD GRAND CANYON STATE – Seafarers are pictured aboard the
Pacific Gulf Marine vessel July 1 on the West Coast. The ship was decommissioned later in the week. Snapshot includes mariners from the Gem State,
Keystone State and Grand Canyon State, as follows (from left): front row, SB
Abdullah Falah, GUDE Sari Alkarnoon, GVA Ahmed Hussain, GVA Ali Naser,
(second row) SIU Safety Director Adrian Fraccarolli, GVA Greg Tojong, QEE
Jessie Turner, (third row) Bosun Michael Carvalho, SB Charlito Aseberos,
GUDE Emmanuel Nuez, (fourth row) Bosun John Young, SIU Port Agent Nick
Marrone II, Bosun Gheorghe Savencu and QEE Sukhbir Bains.
BOOKWAVES PROJECT CONTINUES – At the San Juan hall in late
June, SIU members took action, unloading another Crowley Maritime
Corporation container packed with books as part of the ongoing BookWaves operation, a joint effort between the SIU, American Federation of Teachers and Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico, among
others. In the photo: SIU Port Agent Amancio Crespo, Bosun Raul
Colon, QMED Edwin Morales, Chief cook Jesus Pacheco, ABM Jorge
Corrales, SA Eliezer Estremera, ABW Edwin Pagan Jr., SA Ricardo
Ramos, SA Juan Santiago, AB Carlos Diaz and AB Edwin Pagan.
SIU TRADITIONS –
It’s no exaggeration to
say the SIU runs in the
family for these gents,
pictured in Piney
Point, Maryland. From
left are Recertified
Steward Jatniel “Bam
Bam” Aguilera, SIU
Executive VP Augie
Tellez and Recertified Steward Edwin
Bonefont. Tellez’s and
Bonefont’s respective familial predecessors were charter
members, while Bam
Bam’s son also has
joined the union.
10 Seafarers LOG
AT SAN JUAN HALL – In
photo above, Seafarer Emir
Omar Quinones (right) –
better known to some as
Bam Bam Jr. – displays certificates of completion for
certified chief cook along
with his registration at the
hiring hall. SIU Port Agent
Amancio Crespo (left) helps
with photo op. In the photo
below, Seafarer William
Munoz (right) proudly displays his full B-book. He is
also pictured with Crespo.
RECONNECTING
WITH RETIREE – The
SIU delivers in more
ways than one. Asst. VP
Mike Russo (left) brings
a pension application
to former Chief Cook
Davie Guyton, who
sailed with the union
from the early 1990s
until 2008. Guyton was
at a VA Hospital but was
hopeful of an imminent
discharge.
WITH OSG INLAND CREWS
– AB/Tankerman Ed Putro
(left) and STOS
Daryl Ballance
pose for a
snapshot with
their favorite
publication in
Philadelphia.
OSG inland
crews recently
ratified a new
three-year contract.
August 2021
�WELCOME ASHORE IN PHILLY – Longtime member Robert Ott
(left), who started sailing with the SIU in 1974, is pictured at the
Philadelphia hall, receiving his first pension check from SIU Port
Agent Joe Baselice. Ott most recently sailed as a QEE, and he also
spent time as an instructor in Piney Point.
ABOARD LURLINE – Pictured from left aboard the Matson ship in late June following a servicing on the West
Coast are ACU Majed Alsunbahi, Chief Cook Richard Walker, Recertified Steward Donald Spangler and SIU
Safety Director Adrian Fraccarolli.
At Sea and Ashore with the SIU
ABOARD GLOBAL SENTINAL – Recertified Bosun Lee Hardman submitted these photos
(below and top right) and the following note from the SubCom vessel: “We recently crossed
the Equator laying cable and had a shellback ceremony for all the polywogs. There were
a lot of them. Fun was had by all after a long mission.” He also commended the steward
department for a tasty Independence Day spread.
BACK ON RECRUITING TRAIL – More signs of life slowly getting back to normal: SIU
Patrolman J.B. Niday (left) recently attended a recruiting event at a San Jacinto College
facility in the Houston area. He’s pictured with G&H Inland Captain Chris Bartholmey
(Piney Point Class #624). (If you know anyone who’s interested in the apprentice program
and/or anyone who already sails and may be interested in joining the union, please direct
them to https://mymaritimecareer.org/
SHIPYARD PERIOD – The SIU-crewed Pride of America earlier this year spent time in a shipyard in Portland, Oregon, for routine work. Crew members are pictured next to the NCL
America vessel. At press time, it wasn’t known when the ship would resume offering cruises around the Hawaiian Islands. (Thanks to Engine Storekeeper Tanya Awong for the photo.)
August 2021
Seafarers LOG 11
�Seafarers International
Union Directory
Inquiring Seafarer
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
This month’s question was answered by Seafarers who were enrolled in the chief cook class at the Paul Hall
Center for Maritime Training and Education.
Question: What are some things you like about your job?
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 Capital Gateway Drive
Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675
Emir Quinones
I like feeding people and seeing them happy. The steward
department is really the heartbeat
of the ship, and that’s what I like
the most..
Arielle Collier
I like the chance to meet new people
and to learn different skills. It’s enjoyable to be around other people and still
be independent. I also get to travel for
free.
Kristine Lacy
I enjoy learning, and there’s a
lot of learning to do. I also enjoy
seeing other countries and meeting many different people.
Jenell Jones
I have a passion for cooking. Growing up, that was a way to stay out of
trouble. Now, it’s also a way to get to
travel the world. I recently had a daughter, and I want to give her a better life.
This career will enable me to do so.
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
Laura Davies
I really like the money – if I’m
ever having a bad day, I just think
about all the money piling up at
home. Also, it’s the scenery. I
don’t think I will ever get enough
pictures of all the incredible sunrises, sunsets and ever-changing
cloud formations.
Zarya Ward
Gaining new life experiences and
being able to satisfy other people on
the ship – because without us, they
don’t eat.
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
Kenisha Neal
I like the diversity and I like
the travel experience. And of
course, it’s also a very lucrative
business.
NEW ORLEANS
3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058
(504) 328-7545
NORFOLK
115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510
(757) 622-1892
Pic From The Past
OAKLAND
1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 444-2360
PHILADELPHIA
2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215) 336-3818
PINEY POINT
45353 St. George’s Avenue, 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
Then-Senator Joe Biden (center) and others endure 95-degree heat and lots of humidity on June 19, 2007, during a pro-worker
rally in the nation’s capital. SIU Asst. VP Pat Vandegrift (a port agent at that time) is pictured at right, along with students from
the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Maryland.
WILMINGTON
510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744
(310) 549-4001/4002
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 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. High-resolution digital
images may be sent to webmaster@seafarers.org
12 Seafarers LOG
August 2021
�Welcome Ashore
Each month, the Seafarers LOG pays tribute to the SIU members who have devoted
their working lives to sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels on the deep seas, inland waterways or Great Lakes. Listed below are brief biographical sketches of those members
who recently retired from the union. The brothers and sisters of the SIU thank those
members for a job well done and wish them happiness and good health in the days
ahead.
DEEP SEA
KASIM AHMED
Brother Kasim Ahmed, 65, joined
the Seafarers International Union
in 1981, initially
sailing aboard the
Santa Mariana.
He upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on multiple occasions
and shipped in all
three departments.
Brother Ahmed’s
final vessel was
the Indiana Harbor. He is a resident of Palos Hills,
Illinois.
ROGELIO AGUSTIN
Brother Rogelio Agustin, 71, began
sailing with the SIU in 2003. A
deck department
member, he first
shipped on the
Maersk Alaska.
Brother Agustin
upgraded his
skills at the Paul
Hall Center on
multiple occasions. He last
sailed on the
Maersk Kensington and lives in Norwalk, Connecticut.
GABRIEL ARHIN
Brother Gabriel Arhin, 70, donned
the SIU colors in 1996 when he
shipped aboard
the USNS Capella. He sailed
in the engine
department and
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center
for Maritime
Training and
Education on
numerous occasions. Brother
Arhin most recently shipped on the
Cape Texas. He makes his home in
Alief, Texas.
ALLAN CONATSER
Brother Allan
Conatser, 65,
embarked on his
career with the
Seafarers in 2001,
initially sailing
on the Lawrence
Gianella. He was
a member of the
deck department
and last shipped
on the Black Eagle. Brother Conatser lives in Pahrump, Nevada.
RICARDO ELLIS
Brother Ricardo Ellis, 65, joined
the union in
1984 when he
sailed with Orgulf Transport.
He sailed in all
three departments
and upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on multiple occasions.
Brother Ellis most
recently shipped aboard the Pennsylvania and settled in the Bronx, New
York.
August 2021
PATRICIA GERAS
Sister Patricia Geras, 68, signed on
with the SIU in
1994, initially
shipping aboard
the Independence.
She was a steward
department member and upgraded
at the Piney Point
school on several
occasions. Sister
Geras last sailed
on the National
Glory and resides in Clifton, Colorado.
ANTHONY HULSEY
Brother Anthony
Hulsey, 64, started
his career with the
Seafarers in 2001
and first shipped
aboard the Tonsina. He sailed
in the engine
department, most
recently aboard
the Overseas
Martinez. Brother Hulsey lives in
Springfield, Oregon.
RAFAEL IRIZARRY
Brother Rafael Irizarry, 66, signed
on with the SIU in 2001. He initially
sailed aboard the
Maersk Vermont
and was a steward department
member. Brother
Irizarry upgraded
at the Piney Point
school on numerous occasions.
He last shipped
on the Safmarine
Ngami and is a
resident of the Bronx, New York.
ment member
and upgraded
at the Piney
Point school in
1978. Brother
Seratt’s first
vessel was the
Long Lines;
his last, the
Overseas
Boston. He lives in Trout Creek,
Montana.
JOSE PAQUITO VALENTON
Brother Jose Paquito Valenton,
66, began his career with the SIU
in 2006 when he
sailed aboard the
Pride of Aloha.
He was a member
of the engine department and concluded his career
aboard the Global
Sentinel. Brother Valenton resides in
Elk Grove, California.
STEVEN WASCH
Brother Steven Wasch, 66, embarked on his
career with the
SIU in 1991. He
first sailed on the
USNS Wilkes and
primarily sailed
in the steward
department.
Brother Wasch
upgraded often
at the Paul Hall
Center. He concluded his career on the Overseas
Los Angeles and lives in Redding,
California.
GREAT LAKES
JAMES MAY
Brother James May, 72, joined the
SIU in 2010 when
he sailed on the
Pride of America.
He sailed in both
the deck and engine departments
and upgraded at
the Paul Hal Center on multiple
occasions. Brother
May last shipped
on the Independence and makes his
home in Pensacola, Florida.
ROBERT OTT
Brother Robert Ott, 65, signed on
with the union in 1974, initially
shipping on the
Jacksonville. He
sailed in both the
deck and engine
departments and
upgraded often at
the Paul Hall Center (in addition to
teaching there).
Brother Ott last
shipped aboard
the Cape Mohican. He calls Woodbury Heights, New Jersey, home.
ROBERT SERATT
Brother Robert Seratt, 67, joined
the Seafarers International Union
in 1975. He was a deck depart-
CLAYTON CHURCH
Brother Clayton Church, 68,
joined the Seafarers in 1978. He
initially shipped on the John Boland and sailed in both the deck
and engine departments. Brother
Church’s final vessel was the St.
Clair. He resides in Lenoir, North
Carolina.
ERIC JOHNSON
Brother Eric Johnson, 76, signed
on with the union in 2005 when he
sailed aboard the
Detroit Princess.
He upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on several
occasions and
shipped in both
the deck and
engine departments. Brother
Johnson was
most recently employed by Great
Lakes Towing. He calls Sylvania,
Ohio, home.
WAYNE ROBITAILLE
Brother Wayne Robitaille, 65,
donned the SIU colors in 1998. He
was employed with Upper Lakes
Towing for the duration of his
career. Brother Robitaille lives in
Gladstone, Michigan.
INLAND
CRAIG AMACKER
Brother Craig Amacker, 66, embarked on his
career with the
SIU in 1994. A
deck department
member, he was
employed by
Westbank Riverboat Services for
the duration of his
career. Brother
Amacker makes
his home in Madisonville, Louisiana.
JOSEPH BLANKS
Brother Joseph Blanks, 63, joined
the Seafarers International Union
in 1977 when he
sailed aboard a
Hudson Waterways boat. He
was a member
of the deck department and
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center
on multiple occasions. Brother
Blanks was last
employed by American Marine. He
resides in Oceanside, California.
MILBURN BUCKLER
Brother Milburn Buckler, 63, joined
the Seafarers in
1995. He was a
member of the
deck department
and upgraded
at the Paul Hall
Center in 1996.
Brother Buckler
worked for the
Association of
Maryland Pilots
for his entire career. He resides in Lusby, Maryland.
Initially working for National Marine Services, he shipped in the deck
department. Brother Fowler was
last employed by Port City Marine
Services. He lives in Courtland,
Mississippi.
JOHN HITCHCOCK
Brother John Hitchcock, 65, became
a member of the
SIU in 1990. He
was a member
of the engine
department and
upgraded at
the Piney Point
school in 1997.
Brother Hitchcock
worked for Moran
Towing of Maryland for the duration of his career.
He calls Seward, Alaska, home.
STEPHEN KIDD
Brother Stephen
Kidd 63, donned
the SIU colors in
1978, first working for Interstate
Oil. He sailed in
the deck department and was
last employed by
OSG Ship Management. Brother
Kidd makes his home in Bridgeton,
New Jersey.
WILLIAM KILLIAN
Brother William Killian, 66, embarked on his career with the SIU in
1975 when he worked with Steuart
Transportation. He upgraded at the
Piney Point school in 1978 and
primarily sailed in the deck department. Brother Killian last worked
for Mariner Towing. He is a resident
of Bristol, Rhode Island.
DOMINIC LASENNA
Brother Elijah Collins, 66, signed
on with the union in 1998 and first
sailed with Penn
Maritime. He was
a deck department member
and upgraded at
the Piney Point
school in 1999.
Brother Collins
was last employed
by Harley Marine.
He makes his
home in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Brother Dominic Lasenna, 65,
joined the Seafarers in 1978, initially working for
Crowley Puerto
Rico Services.
He was a member of the deck
department and
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center
on multiple occasions. Brother Lasenna was last
employed by Crowley Towing and
Transportation. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida.
NATHAN ELDRIDGE
RICHARD PITRE
Brother Nathan Eldridge, 57, joined
the SIU in 1983. He sailed in the
deck department
and first shipped
with Delta Queen
Steamboat Company. Brother
Eldridge most recently worked on
the Liberty Island
and resides in
Moss Point, Mississippi.
Brother Richard Pitre, 69, signed
on with the Seafarers in 1970. He
worked with Dravo Basic Materials
for his entire career. Brother Pitre
lives in Kissimmee, Florida.
ELIJAH COLLINS
WILLIAM FOWLER
Brother William Fowler, 70, began
sailing with the Seafarers in 1975.
ARNAZ STAMPLEY
Brother Arnaz Stampley, 62, began
his career with the union in 1986.
He was a member of the deck department and was first employed
by Dravo Basic Materials. Brother
Stampley last worked with Martin
Marietta. He is a New Orleans resident.
Seafarers LOG 13
�Final
Departures
DEEP SEA
THOMAS BONNER
Pensioner Thomas Bonner, 88, died
May 31. He became a member of
the SIU in 1952,
initially sailing
aboard the Alcoa
Pegasus. Brother
Bonner was a
deck department
member. He
last shipped on
the Eugene A.
Obregon before
retiring in 1992.
Brother Bonner made his home in
Eight Mile, Alabama.
FLAVIO CASTILLO
Brother Flavio
Castillo, 64,
passed away
December 26.
Born in Honduras, he joined
the Seafarers in
1990. Brother
Castillo’s first
vessel was the
Independence
and he sailed in all three departments. He most recently sailed
aboard the Maersk Wisconsin and
lived in Houston.
DANIEL ECKERT
Pensioner Daniel Eckert, 70,
died April 9. He
signed on with
the union in 1978
and was a deck
department member. Brother Eckert first shipped
on the Overseas
Aleutian. He last
sailed on the Achiever and went on
pension in 2015. Brother Eckert was
a resident of Webster, Texas.
JOHN GALLAGHER
Pensioner John Gallagher, 97,
passed away
May 26. He
began his career
with the SIU in
1951. Brother
Gallagher’s first
vessel was the
Walker D. Hines.
He sailed in the
deck department
and last shipped
on the USNS Regulus. Brother Gallagher became a pensioner in 1991
and resided in Sellersville, Pennsylvania.
ORLANDO GONZALEZ
Pensioner Orlando Gonzalez, 93,
died May 22. He started shipping
with the SIU in 1959 when he sailed
on the Corsair. An engine department member, Brother Gonzalez
concluded his career on the Discovery. He retired in 1992 and lived in
New Orleans.
KAYED HRBY
Pensioner Kayed Hrby, 78, passed
away December 15. He joined the
SIU in 1967 when he sailed with
14 Seafarers LOG
Isthmian Lines.
Brother Hrby
sailed in all three
departments. He
last shipped on
the Overseas Juneau and retired
in 2007. Brother
Hrby lived in the
Bronx, New York.
was an engine department member
and last worked aboard the Baldomero Lopez. He went on pension
in 2015 and resided in Lakewood,
Washington.
OREN PARKER
JEROME KEBBELL
Pensioner Jerome Kebbell, 77, died
June 19. Sailing
in the steward department, he began
his career with the
SIU in 1990 when
he shipped on the
USNS Stalwart.
Brother Kebbell’s
final vessel was
the USNS Bold.
He became a pensioner in 2008 and resided in Virginia
Beach, Virginia.
JAMES KEITH
Pensioner James Keith, 68, passed
away June 14. He
donned the SIU
colors in 1978
when he sailed
on the Overseas
Ohio. Brother
Keith primarily
sailed in the deck
department and
concluded his
career aboard the
USNS Bellatrix.
He retired in 2018 and was a New
Orleans resident.
FORTAN MARTINEZ
Pensioner Fortan Martinez, 67, died
June 8. He joined
the Seafarers in
1992, initially
shipping on the
Independence.
Brother Martinez
sailed in all three
departments and
most recently
shipped on the
Ocean Crescent.
He became a pensioner in 2019 and
settled in Houston.
JOSE MARTINEZ
Brother Jose Martinez, 40, has passed
away. He started
his career with the
SIU in 2007 when
he sailed aboard
the President
Adams. Brother
Martinez worked
in both the deck
and engine departments. He last
shipped on the
Maersk Hartford
and resided in Honduras.
LAWRENCE MILLER
Pensioner Lawrence Miller, 73,
died May 22.
Signing on with
the union in 2005,
he first sailed on
the Pride of America. Brother Miller
Pensioner Oren Parker, 85, passed
away June 4. He began shipping
with the SIU in
1993 when he
sailed aboard the
USNS Regulus.
Brother Parker
was a steward
department
member. He
retired in 2006
after concluding his career on
the Liberty Glory. Brother Parker
lived in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi.
ROGER PHILLIPS
Pensioner Roger Phillips, 75,
died May 16. He
donned the SIU
colors in 2000
and initially
sailed aboard the
Global Sentinel.
Brother Phillips
sailed in the engine department
and concluded
his career aboard
the Ocean Atlas. He went on pension in 2011 and was a resident of
Rosenburg, Texas.
PHILEMON QUITORIANO
Pensioner Philemon Quitoriano,
69, passed away
June 15. He was
a deck department member
and joined the
SIU in 1992
when he sailed
aboard the Independence.
Brother Quitoriano’s final vessel
was the Horizon Reliance. He
became a pensioner in 2020 and
made his home in Rancho Santa
Margarita, California.
and lived in Smithfield, Virginia.
SANTOS VELASQUEZ RUIZ
Brother Santos Velasquez Ruiz, 56, died
February 25. He
began his career
with the SIU in
2020 and initially
sailed on the Green
Ridge. Brother
Velasquez Ruiz
was a member of
the deck department and most
recently sailed
on the Patriot. He resided in Kenner,
Louisiana.
MARTIN ZEIDENBERG
Pensioner Martin
Zeidenberg, 71,
passed away January 11. He signed
on with the union
in 2001 and first
worked on the
Patriot. Brother
Zeidenberg sailed in
the deck department
and concluded his
career aboard the Horizon Reliance. He
began collecting his pension in 2014 and
made his home in the Philippines.
GREAT LAKES
JAMES SORENSON
Pensioner James Sorenson, 66, died June
5. He signed on with the union in 1973
and sailed in both the deck and engine
departments. Brother Sorenson shipped
with Arnold Transit for the duration of his
career. He went on pension in 2013 and
was a resident of St. Ignace, Michigan.
Pensioner Jeffrey Lee, 66, died May
30. He began sailing with the union
in 1977, initially
working with
Crowley Puerto
Rico Services. A
deck department
member, Brother
Lee continued to
work for the same
company for the
duration of his
career. He went on
pension in 2016 and lived in Cypress,
California.
RAYMOND MCMULLEN
Pensioner Raymond McMullen, 94,
passed away June 4. He joined the
union in 1961 when he sailed with
P.F. Martin. Brother McMullen was
last employed by McAllister Towing
of Philadelphia. He retired in 1986
and settled in Woodbury, New Jersey.
DONALD OAKLEY
Pensioner Donald Oakley, 71, died
May 5. He signed
on with the SIU
in 1972, initially
working for
Steuart Transportation. Brother
Oakley sailed in
the deck department. He was last
employed by STC
Little Curtis and
retired in 2011.
Brother Oakley was a resident of
Bartow, Florida.
NMU
EDWARD BALAJEWSKI
Pensioner Edward Balajewski, 94,
passed away February 20. He signed
on with the SIU in 1966 when he was
employed by Meyle Towing. Brother
Balajewski last worked with Taylor
Marine Towing and retired in 1988. He
resided in Philadelphia.
STEVIE ELLIOTT
Pensioner Leon Scott, 87, died
May 19. He embarked on his career with the Seafarers in 1978
when he shipped on the Santa
Mariana. Brother Scott was a
member of the steward department. He last shipped on the President Roosevelt before retiring in
2002. Brother Scott lived in Cordova, Tennessee.
Pensioner Stevie Elliott, 65, died April
25. He joined the
Seafarers in 1977
when he worked
for Higman Barge
Lines. Brother Elliot
worked in the deck
department and
remained with the
same company for
the duration of his
career. He retired
in 2018 and called
Wiergate, Texas, home.
Brother David Sexton, 67, passed
away June 1. He started sailing
with the Seafarers International
Union in 2005,
initially shipping aboard the
Florida. Brother
Sexton was an
engine department member.
He most recently
shipped on the
Cape Washington
JEFFREY LEE
INLAND
LEON SCOTT
DAVID SEXTON
Transportation for his entire career. He
became a pensioner in 2015 and lived in
Norris, Tennessee.
JAMES GILSON
Pensioner James
Gilson, 70, passed
away May 20. He
signed on with
the SIU in 1997.
A deck department member, he
worked for Crowley Towing and
JOSEPH BROWN
Pensioner Joseph
Brown, 94, passed
away April 26. He
began sailing with
the NMU in 1943,
prior to the 2001
NMU/SIU merger.
Brother Brown’s
first vessel was
the Francis Scott
Key; his last, the
American Lark. He retired in 1969
and settled in Philadelphia.
In addition to the foregoing individuals, the following union members have
also passed away. Insufficient information was available to develop summaries of their respective careers.
NAME
AGE
Bush, Fred
93
Carrasquillo, Angel 97
Carter, Emmett
91
Cole, Darrell
82
Donato, Miguel
86
Garcia, Jose
90
Jones, Vernon
95
Larkin, Thomas
87
Payton, Hirbry
103
Perez, George
87
Powell, Darryl
74
Tatum, Mitchell
84
Terry, Necho
92
Torres, Luis
92
DOD
04/03/2021
05/01/2021
05/28/2021
03/17/2021
04/19/2021
05/13/2021
06/13/2021
04/16/2021
05/07/2021
02/23/2021
06/04/2021
12/04/2020
05/19/2021
06/03/2021
August 2021
�Digest of Shipboard
Union Meetings
MONTFORD POINT (Ocean
Shipholdings Inc.), April 16 –
Chairman Kenneth Steiner,
Secretary Jean Favreaux,
Educational Director Jose
Encarnacion, Deck Delegate
Jon Sunga, Engine Delegate
Montree Nakwichet, Steward Delegate Joseph Arigo.
Crew still waiting for email
access and satellite TV parts.
Members reviewed upcoming
vessel schedule. Chairman reminded crew to stay on top of
documents. Secretary praised
everyone for a job well done
and suggested a shoreside
barbecue at next port of call.
Educational director urged
members to take advantage of
the upgrading opportunities
at the Piney Point school and
to sign up for classes early.
Major portion of ship’s fund
will go towards entertainment
system. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Crew went over
relief guidelines applying during the pandemic. Members
discussed vaccine opportunities and inquired about pension benefits.
GOLDEN STATE (Intrepid
Personnel & Provisioning), April 28 – Chairman
Philip McGeoghegan, Secretary Michael Carello,
Educational Director Juan
Castillo, Steward Delegate
Jeffrey Phillips. No Wi-Fi
aboard ship. Laundry items
have been ordered. Crew
discussed latest President’s
Column in Seafarers LOG.
Secretary reiterated the importance of the Jones Act
and encouraged members to
contribute to SPAD (Seafar-
The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes as possible. On occasion, because of space limitations, some will be omitted.
Ships’ minutes first are reviewed by the union’s contract department. Those issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the union upon receipt of the ships’ minutes. The
minutes are then forwarded to the Seafarers LOG for publication.
ers Political Activities Donation), the union’s voluntary
political action fund. Educational director recommended
upgrading courses at the Paul
Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education. He
advised members to check for
courses early, as class space
may be limited. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Repairs needed on A-deck flooring. Pantry and crew lounge
also in need of repairs. Crew
requested new mattresses,
refrigerators in all rooms and
Wi-Fi availability. Members
want increases to vacation
days and a day’s pay in leu of
days off.
HORIZON KODIAK (Horizon
Lines), May 16 – Chairman
Darryl Smith, Secretary Antoinette Amato, Educational
Director Jason Powell. Members went over old business
including reimbursement for
safety shoes. Members are to
take receipts to union for reimbursement if such is denied
on board. Unlicensed laundry
room access expanded to 24
hours. Chairman reminded
members to keep current on
union dues and to contribute
to Maritime Defense League
and Seafarers Political Activities Donation. Members are
to ask for tour of duty slip
before disembarking the vessel. Chairman advised crew to
register for the Johnson and
Johnson vaccine. Vaccines
will be administered on board
to those who want them while
in Tacoma. Educational director reminded crew to check
for upgrading courses well
in advance as they may fill
quickly. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Crew read and
discussed President’s Report.
Members requested electronic
access to physical paperwork,
satellite TV in crew lounge,
60-day minimum reliefs or
30-45 vacation checks and
an increase to vacation days.
Vote of thanks given to steward department for good food
and clean house. Deck department praised for dedication to
plankton tow, which contributes to ship’s fund. Next port:
Anchorage, Alaska.
EMPIRE STATE ( Intrepid
Personnel & Provisioning),
June 3 – Chairman Abdulkarim Mohamed, Secretary Troy Smith, Educational
Director Mohsen Mohamed.
Crew members are awaiting
Wi-Fi availability. Chairman
read the latest LOG column
from SIU President Michael
Sacco. Everything going
well as reported by secretary.
Educational director recommended crew to upgrade
and take any and all classes
needed. No beefs or dispute
OT reported. Members requested 90-day reliefs be
made optional to those who
are permanent. Crew was encouraged to donate to SPAD.
Among current shipboard
personnel, 85 percent are vaccinated.
MAERSK HARTFORD
(Maersk Line, Limited), June
13 – Chairman Sergio Gonzalez Lopez, Secretary James
McLeod, Educational Director Steven Miller. Chair-
man thanked crew for a safe
voyage and job well done.
He encouraged everyone to
continue working safely and
to stay on top of documents.
Votes of thanks given to all
departments. Members were
reminded to leave clean rooms
and fresh linen for oncoming
crew. Educational director
urged members to upgrade
at the Paul Hall Center for
Maritime Training and Education. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Members were
advised to regularly read the
Seafarers LOG and were reminded how to find it online.
Crew requested increases in
vacation time as well as pension and health benefits. Next
payoff scheduled for Norfolk,
Virginia. Restrictions to ship
have been lifted and members
can now go to shore. Special
thanks to the steward department for good food and an
overall job well done. Next
port: Norfolk.
OCEAN FREEDOM (Crowley), June 17 – Chairman
Jovan Williams, Secretary
Jason Jambeter, Educational
Director Daryl Hicks, Deck
Delegate Robert O’Connell,
Engine Delegate Reinaldo
Roman. Ship received new
linen and a new dryer. Chairman advised mariners to
continue practicing social
distancing and to wear masks
when going ashore. He
thanked the steward department for their hard work.
Educational director reminded
crew to keep documents current and to continue upgrading. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Doctor to come
aboard ship June 21 to offer
Johnson and Johnson vaccine
to members who want it. Next
port: Beaumont, Texas.
OHIO (Intrepid Personnel & Provisioning), June
21 – Chairman Paul Narro,
Secretary Louins Johnson,
Educational Director Melvin
Ratcliff, Deck Delegate Rafael Cortina Tuells, Engine
Delegate Kevin Johnson.
New microwave and XBOX
game purchased. Ship computer is up and running.
Chairman encouraged members to upgrade at the Piney
Point school and to renew
documents prior to expiration.
Crew should continue to practice social distancing. Special
thanks given to the steward
department. Secretary reminded everyone to make sure
laundry machines are emptied
after each use and thanked
crew for keeping house clean.
He discussed vaccines and
thanked the bosun and his
day worker for food waste
buckets. Educational director
urged crew to keep an eye on
expiration dates and to make
sure they request upgrading
classes early since they are
filling up fast. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Chairman discussed the President’s
Report in the Seafarers LOG
and emphasized the importance of vaccinations. Crew
requested new mattresses
and Wi-Fi aboard ship. Members would like to purchase
produce and milk every two
weeks and asked for a new TV
in crew lounge.
Know Your Rights
FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District makes specific provision for safeguarding the membership’s
money and union finances. The constitution requires a detailed audit by certified
public accountants every year, which is
to be submitted to the membership by the
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 recommendations. Members
of this committee may make dissenting reports, specific recommendations and separate findings.
TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of the
SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District are administered in accordance
with the provisions of various trust fund
agreements. All these agreements specify
that the trustees in charge of these funds
shall equally consist of union and management representatives and their alternates.
All expenditures and disbursements of trust
funds are made only upon approval by a
majority of the trustees. All trust fund financial records are available at the headquarters of the various trust funds.
SHIPPING RIGHTS. A member’s shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively by contracts between the union
and the employers. Members should get to
know their shipping rights. Copies of these
contracts are posted and available in all
union halls. If members believe there have
been violations of their shipping or seniority rights as contained in the contracts between the union and the employers, they
should notify the Seafarers Appeals Board
August 2021
by certified mail, return receipt requested.
The proper address for this is:
Augustin Tellez, Chairman
Seafarers Appeals Board
5201 Capital Gateway Drive
Camp Springs, MD 20746
Full copies of contracts as referred to are
available to members at all times, either by
writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board.
CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These
contracts specify the wages and conditions
under which an SIU member works and lives
aboard a ship or boat. Members should know
their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the
proper sheets and in the proper manner. If,
at any time, a member believes that an SIU
patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she
should contact the nearest SIU port agent.
EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any
article serving the political purposes of any
individual in the union, officer or member.
It also has refrained from publishing articles
deemed harmful to the union or its collective membership. This established policy has
been reaffirmed by membership action at the
September 1960 meetings in all constitutional
ports. The responsibility for Seafarers LOG
policy is vested in an editorial board which
consists of the executive board of the union.
The executive board may delegate, from
among its ranks, one individual to carry out
this responsibility.
PAYMENT OF MONIES. No monies
are to be paid to anyone in any official capacity in the SIU unless an official union
receipt is given for same. Under no circumstances should any member pay any money
for any reason unless he is given such receipt. In the event anyone attempts to require
any such payment be made without supplying a receipt, or if a member is required to
make a payment and is given an official
receipt, but feels that he or she should not
have been required to make such payment,
this should immediately be reported to union
headquarters.
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS. Copies of the SIU Constitution are available in all union halls. All
members should obtain copies of this constitution so as to familiarize 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 headquarters.
EQUAL RIGHTS. All members are guaranteed equal rights in employment and as
members of the SIU. These rights are clearly
set forth in the SIU Constitution and in the contracts which the union has negotiated with the
employers. Consequently, no member may be
discriminated against because of race, creed,
color, sex, 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 ACTIV-
ITY DONATION (SPAD). SPAD is a
separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are
used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the
political, social and economic interests of
maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine
with improved employment opportunities
for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection
with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective
office. All contributions are voluntary. No
contribution may be solicited or received
because of force, job discrimination, financial reprisal, or threat of such conduct, or
as a condition of membership in the union
or of employment. If a contribution is made
by reason of the above improper conduct,
the member should notify the Seafarers
International Union or SPAD by certified
mail within 30 days of the contribution for
investigation and appropriate action and refund, if involuntary. A member should support SPAD to protect and further his or her
economic, political and social interests, and
American trade union concepts.
NOTIFYING 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 Michael Sacco at headquarters by
certified mail, return receipt requested. The
address is:
Michael Sacco, President
Seafarers International Union
5201 Capital Gateway Drive
Camp Springs, MD 20746
Seafarers LOG 15
�Paul Hall Center Upgrading Course Dates
The following is a list of courses that currently are scheduled to be held at the
Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Maryland
during the next several months. More courses may be added. Course additions and
cancellations are subject to change due to COVID-19 protocols. 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
Course
Start
Date
Title of
Course
Start
Date
Date of
Completion
Steward Department Upgrading Courses
September 27
November 1
October 29
December 3
Advanced Galley Operations
September 27
November 15
October 22
December 10
Chief Steward
August 23
October 18
September 17
November 12
Date of
Completion
Gap Closing Courses
Safety/Open Upgrading Courses
MSC Storekeeper Basic
September 13
October 1
MSC Supply Configuration Management
October 4
October 15
MSC Ship Clip
October 18
October 29
Combined Basic/Advanced Firefighting
September 6
September 10
Medical Care Provider
September 13
September 17
Basic Training
August 9
August 30
August 13
September 3
Basic Training Revalidation
August 30
September 3
September 10
October 1
October 22
November 15
December 3
December 10
August 30
September 3
September 10
October 1
October 22
November 15
December 3
December 10
Deck Department Upgrading Courses
Able Seafarer-Deck
September 27
November 15
October 15
December 3
Lifeboat/Water Survival
September 27
October 25
November 22
October 8
November 5
December 3
RFPNW
August 23
November 15
September 10
December 3
Fast Rescue Boat
August 9
August 13
Celestial Navigation
November 15
December 10
Leadership and Management Skills
December 13
December 17
Basic Training/Adv. Firefighting Revalidation October 25
October 29
Government Vessels
August 9
August 16
August 30
September 20
October 4
October 25
November 1
November 15
December 13
August 13
August 20
September 3
September 24
October 8
October 29
November 5
November 19
December 17
Engine Department Upgrading Courses
FOWT
September 20
October 25
October 15
November 19
Junior Engineer
September 6
October 29
Tank Ship DL
September 20
September 24
Marine Electrician
September 6
October 8
Tank Ship Familiarization DL
October 18
October 22
Machinist
October 18
November 5
Tank Ship Familiarization LG
Pumpman
November 8
November 12
August 23
September 27
December 13
August 27
October 1
December 17
Welding
August 30
October 25
September 17
November 12
Engineroom Resource Management
December 6
December 10
RFPEW
August 23
November 15
September 17
December 10
Steward Department Upgrading Courses
Certified Chief Cook
August 23
September 24
UPGRADING APPLICATION
Name ________________________________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Telephone (Home)_________________________ (Cell)_________________________
Date of Birth __________________________________________________________________
Deep Sea Member Lakes Member
Inland Waters Member
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? Yes
No
If yes, class # and dates attended __________________________________________________
Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? Yes 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 application, 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.
16 Seafarers LOG
COURSE
____________________________
____________________________
START
DATE
_______________
_______________
DATE OF
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, Email:upgrading@seafarers.org Mail: 45353 St.
George’s Ave., Piney Point, MD 20674 Fax: 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 students, 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.
8/21
August 2021
�Paul Hall Center Classes
Apprentice Water Survival Class #870 - Graduated June 18 (above, in alphabetical order): Paul Ackerman III, Donovan Armstrong, Brandon Coleman, Quinn Duarte, Johncarlo
Garibaldi, Carlos Ruben Gomez Hernandez, Jason Mananga Nsuami, Colin Sabitsky, Brandon Santiago Escobar, Jason White and Sean Wilson.
Government Vessels – Graduated June 11 (above, in alphabetical order): Gregory Crowder, Patrick
Dean, Porcia Johnson, Joseph Eligino Lacaden, Yoland Vina Legaspi, Mohamed Ali Noman, James
Osborne, Angela Porter, Reymond Potofsky and Tyrane Savage. (Note: Not all are pictured.)
FOWT – Graduated June 24 (above, in alphabetical order): Brianna Ashley, Nicholas Banks, Thomas Bateman, Toren Bolden, Darnel Bruno, Erl Jan Encina, D’mitri
Hill, Dequan Jamez Markell Joe, Kenneth Kauffman, Tyler Maddox, Timothy McDonald, Zeke Alec Pasquarelli, Shannon Peterson and Oscar Jan Bonite Vencer.
Tank Ship Familiarization – Graduated July 2, above, in alphabetical order: Adewale Isaac Adiat, John Billington, Jose Luis Borrero Rodriguez, Rudy Cesar, David Connelly, David
Denizac, Andrew Gronotte, Robert Haggerty, Deidra Hunter, Julio Cesar Ibanez Kunz, Loretta James, Alfredo Catha Nieto, Carlos Alberto Parrilla and Zeke Alec Pasquarelli.
August 2021
Seafarers LOG 17
�Paul Hall Center Classes
Government Vessels – Graduated July 2 (above, in alphabetical order): Bradley Albert, Xavier Burgos, Arlando Espin, Christopher Ferguson, Garrett Hargis, Emerson Jones, Salvatore Macaluso, Joseph Marino, Andrea President, Kyunjre Randall, Darian Riddle, Christian Sucher, Kenneth Townsend Jr., and Joel Williams. (Note: Not all are pictured.)
Government Vessels – Graduated June 16 (above, in alphabetical order): Julian Javier Abreu, Guy Butler Jr., Douglas Cash Jr., Elizabeth Remotigue Ibanez, Nala Johnson, Sean
Jones, Norasith N. Phetphommasouk, Alicia Plunkett, Keith Steele, Tyler Willette, Nathan Williams, Paris Williams and Hans Guenther Winkler.
Advanced Shiphandling –
Graduated July 2 (photo at
right, in alphabetical order):
Lindsey Austin, Myles Cameron, Robert Christiansen,
Jonathan Hendrickson,
Earnest Paulk III, Jared Waferd Smith, Chirel Thornton,
Kevin Vogt and Emmanuel
Wilson.
Importance Notice
To All Students
Students who have
registered for classes
at the Paul Hall
Center for Maritime
Training and Education, but later discover - for whatever
reason - that they
can’t attend, should
inform the admissions
department immediately so arrangements can be made to
have other students
take their places.
18 Seafarers LOG
August 2021
�Paul Hall Center Classes
Combined Basic & Advanced Firefighting – Graduated July 2 (above, in alphabetical order): Jose Argueta, Mark Canada, Derek Chestnut, Randall Craig, John Daunoras, Scott
Fuller, Travis Golightly, Byron Graham, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamed Eissa, Joseph Nicodemus, Javonne Simmons and Kevin Tyson.
Advanced Galley Ops – Graduated June 25 (photo at left, in
alphabetical order): Aurelio Dela
Cruz Esperanza, Paisami Gay,
Solymar Herrera Carreras, Rondell Richardson, Brittany Steward and Sheneisha Thompson
Certified Chief Cook
– Graduated June
11 (photo at right, in
alphabetical order):
Brandon Bradley, Arielle Collier, Laura Davies, Brice Jackson,
Jemell Jones, Kristine
Lacey, Kenisha Neal,
Emir Omar Quinones
Torres, Zarya Ward
and Hans Guenther
Winkler. (Note: Not all
are pictured.)
Chief Cook Assessment Program – Graduated June 25 (above, in alphabetical order):
Bradley Albert, Xavier Burgos, Arlando Espin, Andrea President, Kyunjre Randall and Joel
Williams.
August 2021
Chief Cook Assessment Program – Graduated June 25 (above, in alphabetical
order): Julian Abreu, Douglas Cash Jr., Norasith N. Phetphommasouk, Tyler Willette,
Nathan Williams and Paris Williams.
Seafarers LOG 19
�AUGUST 2021
VOLUME 83, NO. 8
Paul Hall Center
Class Photos
Pages 17-19
O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E S E A F A R E R S I N T E R N AT I O N A L U N I O N AT 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 AT E R S , A F L- C I O
Unions Welcome Ever Given’s Release
Officials Sound Alarm for Mariner Rights Worldwide
Maritime unions on July 7 applauded the
release of the MV Ever Given from detention in the Suez Canal by Egyptian authorities, but warned that more must be done to
safeguard seafarers’ rights and welfare during the pandemic.
Stephen Cotton, general secretary of the
International Transport Workers’ Federation
(ITF) (to which the SIU is affiliated), said
the release “will be an enormous relief for
the crew on board and their families. But
while we celebrate this outcome, our attention is still on the 200,000 seafarers trapped
working on vessels unable to go home due
to the worsening crew change crisis.”
He continued, “Thankfully the crew of
the Ever Given have been well-cared for
and well-represented by their unions – the
National Union of Seafarers of India, and
the Maritime Union of India – who have
worked closely with the shipowner and ship
manager to support the crew during this
trying time. From the moment that the Ever
Given ran into trouble in the Suez Canal,
the crew’s unions have been by their side.
The crew have been furnished with supplies, support, and had their unions standing
up for them nationally and internationally.”
Cotton concluded, “By being unionized,
the crew have been supplied with provisions, legal representation, crew change
opportunities, and counselling support for
them and their families. If this hadn’t been
a case of a ship with a union agreement, we
could have seen a very different outcome.”
The Panamanian-flagged ship got stuck
in the Suez Canal earlier this year and
blocked it for nearly a week, generating
worldwide headlines.
National Union of Seafarers of India
(NUSI) General Secretary-Treasurer Abdulgani Y. Serang emphasized that there were
no charges or negative findings about the
crew’s professionalism, but expressed disappointment that Egyptian authorities used
the crew as leverage in financial negotiations with the ship’s insurer.
“We are pleased that this ordeal is finally
over for the crew,” he said. “Their professionalism has been confirmed by a lack of
adverse findings. Like all seafarers, it is
through their passion and commitment that
they are able to rise to the challenge and
make the sacrifices required to move the
world. This has been a very stressful time
for the crew and their families, who have
had to suffer the uncertainty of whether
their loved ones would become … human
pawns in a wider game being played over
compensation.”
Serang added, “Society needs to reflect
on how so much attention was placed on
the commercial aspects of this incident – on
the possible impacts on prices and supply of
consumer goods – and so little attention paid
The flag-of-convenience cargo ship Ever Given (photo above) in late March became wedged inside the Suez Canal, one of the world’s
most important shipping waterways.
to the sacrifice, pain and uncertainty faced
by the seafarers whose welfare ought to be at
the center of the story.”
During the ship’s time at anchorage,
unions and employers secured access to
crew change for those on board so they
could be replaced on the vessel at conclusion of their contracts, as per normal practice in the industry. Eight of the original
crew signed off during that time, and 17 of
the original crew remain on board in line
with their contracts.
ITF Seafarers’ Section chair David Heindel (who is also secretary-treasurer of the
SIU) said the Ever Given was an important
reminder about the fragility of the international shipping system, which carries 90
percent of world trade, and the people at the
heart of it: the mariners.
“I think I speak for all seafarers when
I say it is a relief that the Ever Given crew
are being released and allowed to continue
their lives, but it shouldn’t have taken this
long,” said Heindel. “It’s fortunate that the
crew have had the strong backing of their
shipowner, ship manager and of course their
unions and the global ITF family. Many
seafarers aren’t that lucky.
“Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement
Union representatives and Ever Given crew members meet aboard the ship earlier this
year.
are one of the better companies in the industry and should be commended for their
sustained advocacy for the crew,” he continued. “But so too should the crew. The
tale of the Ever Given shows the value of
workers standing together and being active
in their unions.”
Heindel and other ITF officials pointed
out that while the Ever Given case made
the news, there’s an ongoing problem with
crew changes that often remains out of the
spotlight.
“Right now, more than 200,000 seafarers’ rights are being disregarded by many of
the world’s governments as the crew change
crisis drags on,” Heindel said. “Most governments still have not restored the pre-pandemic exemptions from travel and border
restrictions, and increasingly fatigued
seafarers are languishing at sea working
beyond their contracts with little hope of
relief. Seafarers are being stretched to the
limit because of the government-made crew
change crisis. We still urgently need exemptions for seafarers from border restrictions,
and still urgently need a global roll-out of
life-saving COVID vaccines.”
He concluded, “Frankly speaking, if
governments don’t take action to ease the
Abdulgani Y. Serang
NUSI General Sec.-Treas.
mounting pressure on seafarers, the risk of
events like the Ever Given happening, or
worse, will become more and more likely.
As the Ever Given shows, it doesn’t take a
lot to stop global trade.”
Stephen Cotton
ITF General Secretary
David Heindel
ITF Seafarers’ Section Chair
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Seafarers Log Issues 2020-present
Description
An account of the resource
Volumes LXXXII of the Seafarers Log and beyond
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Seafarers International Union of North America
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
August 2021
Description
An account of the resource
SIU CREWS STEP UP DURING EXERCISE
MORE CONTRACTS RATIFIED
GREAT GRUB ON MAERSK MICHIGAN
SHIPBUILDERS HONOR U.S. LEGISLATORS
UNION WINS MAJOR ARBITRATION AWARD
RECENT CASES REMIND ALL: PANDEMIC NOT DONE
THREE NEW CONTRACTS UNDERGO RATIFICATION
INDUSTRY PIONEER TOLAN DIES AT 88
TRUMKA UNDERSCORES PRO ACT'S BENEFITS
WEEK HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR MARINERS, SHIPS
MTD STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH UNION STRIKERS
NEW SAB ALLOWS FOR EXTENDED TOURS
SIU CREWS HELP ENSURE SUCCESS OF MILITARY EXERCISE
CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON USNS KENNEDY
REC NEW YORK CLOSES DOORS FOR RELOCATION
UNIONS WELCOME EVER GIVEN'S RELEASE
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Seafarers Log
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Seafarers Log Digital Copies
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Seafarers International Union of North America
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Newsprint
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
VOL. 83, NO. 8
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
08/01/2021